Sophie Pymm lead out a buoyant Ducklington side, following the previous weeks victory at Charlbury, and having won the toss elected to play into the driving westerly wind. The crowd of 36 looked on as the first incident of the game came not from the players… but the referee. The Kidlington management were concerned that the match referee, Mr Ostle who was wearing a Ducklington coat, resembled a thirteen year old girl and could easily be mistaken for one of the home players!

With the offending article discarded to the crowd, the match continued. Ducklington took control of the game from the start. Three minutes in and a well worked build up saw Ella Butlers shot skim wide of target. A minute later and Ducklington were in the visitors goal mouth again with Lauren Major winning a corner only for the ensuing cross to come to nothing.

Eight minutes gone and Ducklington were still attacking this time the Kidlington keeper divided at the feet of the rampaging Ella Butler to thwart another home side attack.

Ten minutes gone and Kidlington found their feet, with the wind behind them, their first goal attempt stuck the cross bar to fall into the hands of keeper Viv Hughes. This was followed a minute later with another attack from Kidlington being ably dealt with by Katie Weavin and Emily Gee … then the visitors broke through the defensive wall, this time to be met by Viv Hughes diving at their feet to save an almost certain goal.

Fifteen minutes gone and a round of substitutions saw Laura Jones sand Katy Hoare on the pitch and another series of Ducklington attacks followed but none could pass the Kidlington keeper. It all looked set for a half time stalemate when Kidlingtons Leticia Cripps lobbed shot from just inside the halfway line dropped narrowly under the bar to take the visitors one goal up in the twenty third minute. 0-1

On the half time whistle Lauren Majors corner was again collected by the Kidlington keeper and the subsequent clearance drew the end to the half.0-1 This certainly was to prove to be ‘a game of two halves’ with Kidlingtons confidence bolstered by the one goal lead they started the second half as the dominant side with a goal by Jess Dale in the first minute. 0-2.

Two minutes later and Jess got her brace with another long range shot from the half way line screeching into the right hand side of the net. 0-3

Kidlington, trying to capitalise on their lead, laid down a series of attacks only to see these defeated by Ducklingtons Abbie Lloyd, Katy Hoare and Katie Weavin and some brave saves from Viv Hughes who literally laid her body on the line by diving at the feet of the Kidlington strike force.

There followed a period of attacks from both sides then in the twelfth minute a well worked build up from Ducklington and typical pin point though ball from Francis Hook found Laura Jones whose shot from the right was again saved by the keeper. A minute later and Kidlingtons Sabrina Simms took another long range shot which dropped again below the bar. 0-4

With sixteen minutes of the half gone Ella Butler crossed to Laura Jones who fed the ball through to the feet of Sophie Pymm whose shot was again saved to the frustration of the Ducklington faithful. Holly Keylock, possibly influenced by the success of the Kidlington Long range attack, tried her own in the eighteenth minute with a shot from just inside the visitors half skimming wide of the right post-a valiant effort.

Twenty one minutes gone and another well worked Ducklington attack saw Ella Butler in a goal mouth scramble with the Kidlington keeper with the ball eventually being secured in the keepers hand. Was there to be no justice? Just before the full time whistle it was Katie Weavin’s turn for a long range effort but this again failed to hit the target.

The final whistle signalled a 0-4 victory to Kidlington. It had been a story of long range shots paying off for Kidlington and well worked build ups for Ducklington being foiled by the Kidlington Keeper.

Ducklington’s player of the match was deservedly awarded to Viv Hughes who had thrown herself at the feet of the Kidlington attack and whose clearances and management have improved significantly over the season.

Francis Hook On The Ball (Photo By Ed Mullis)

Emily Gee Takes Over (Photo By Ed Mullis)

Oh Dear! (Great Photo By Ed Mullis)

Holly Keylock Gets "Stuck In" (Photo By Ed Mullis)