Match Report: Whose side are you on anyways?

Match Report: Whose side are you on anyways?

With last week’s game being cancelled, Oundle travelled away to Rugby and East Warwickshire 3s on the Saturday to start off their doubleheader weekend. The last time these two sides met back in October resulted in a very tight contest, with Rugby narrowly coming out on top 2-1 back at Pavillion Drive. Rugby have become something of a bogey team for Oundle, with Oundle only winning once in the past 5 meetings between the two sides.

Oundle travelled with a strong squad of 14, including recalls for Tristan Ashby and Neil Salvi, the latter hoping this game would end better than the last time he travelled to an away game. Skipper Ben Edis was away for the day, preferring to save his hamstrings for the Sunday game meaning that Adrian Millan took the armband for the day.

The pre match was very cordial between Rugby and skipper for the day Millan, with Oundle wondering which team’s shirt Millan would be wearing come full time.

Rugby started the game the stronger of the two sides, not allowing Oundle to settle into any rhythm. Despite this, for the first 10 minutes or so Oundle competed very well, more than matching Rugby with the defence standing firm and not allowing anything past. 

Rugby won a number of short corners which were well dealt with by the Oundle backline. The one drag flick which beat Youngy in goal didn’t beat Albi on the post who flicked the ball away with ease.

Oundle had a couple of short corners of their own, but were unable to convert, with George Martin eager to reclaim his place at the top of the goals tally. Dalley was looking to reclaim his ‘Goal a game’ record while Pickstone was hoping to extend his lead over George.

Rugbys pressure told in the end, agonisingly close to the half time whistle for Oundle, with almost the last play of the half, a drag flick from a short corner found the backboard, with Oundles dogged resistance finally broken.

The 2nd half started but Oundle didn’t, as almost instantly an intercepted pass in Oundles own half resulted in Rugby operating a quick counter attack, a pass found their forward in the D, an unfortunate deflection took the ball past Youngy, and into the goal.

Oundle nearly had a reply when Oundles version of Usain Bolt, Peter ‘Willow’ Wilson sped down the right wing, setting off every speed camera in Rugby simultaneously, Willow drove into the Rugby D, and unleashed a vicious shot which the Rugby keeper dealt with well.

Despite Oundle looking like they had found some form of rhythm again, the luck was still with Rugby after a forward pass wasn’t dealt with, another deflected shot found it’s way past Youngy taking the score to 3-0 to the hosts.

Some steely Oundle determination meant that Goerge Martin was able to claw one back, reducing the deficit back down to 2, a reverse shot into the side netting of the Rugby goal, gave Oundle a bit of hope and reminding Rugby that they were still in a game and couldn’t switch off.

With Oundle now only 3-1 down at about the midway point of the point of the 2nd half things took a turn for the worse when the umpire had heard enough from John Pickstone, brandishing a green card at Oundles South African forward and this season’s current top scorer.  

The final nail in Oundles coffin though came from a short corner 10 minutes from time, after a couple of rebounds the ball fell kindly for Rugby who were able to tuck the ball away for their 4th goal ending any resistance and fight back from Oundle.

The final whistle blew with Oundle being soundly defeated 4-1, a result which Oundle will feel hard done by as on another day the score could have gone either way. Oundle will look to pick themselves up tomorrow with the short trip to Peter Albi Alletts home club of Melton. HWTL.

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