After a disappointing game last week, The Oak looked to get a result and start climbing up towards mid table. Campton were sitting in 5th place and came into this match on the back of a disappointing loss to Marston Social in there last game.

Again, changes had to be made to the starting XI. Paul Stevens, Martin O Donovan and Michael Cox were all missing but The Oak welcomed back Danny Murphy who slotted straight in at centre back and Steve Armstrong replacing Lorenzo Jordan, who dropped to the bench. Andy Palombella also moved to the left wing back position.

Again, The Oak started this game strongly with Liam Boland having 2 early chances. Boland ran onto a Steve Armstrong through ball and hit a 50-50 with the Campton Goalkeeper. The keeper fumbled the ball and Boland tried to square it across goal only for a defender to clear it for a corner. Michael Cooney swung the corner in, Boland met it only to see his header go over the crossbar.

The game started to open up with chances at both ends. Campton worked the ball wide on the right and swung a dangerous cross into the Oaks box, but Cooney met it with his head (yes, he actually won a header!) and cleared the ball to safety. Campton then worked a one-on-one opportunity, which Martin White saved excellently with his feet.

The Oak started to work the ball and found Lloyd Turners feet. Turner turned his marker only for him to hit a late tackle. Turner went flying and screamed like a girl… but he did win the free kick! Steve Armstrong tried to swing the free kick on top of the goalkeeper nut unfortunately Boland had strayed offside and the free kick was given.

The ball was still being played around nicely… it can only be described as sexy football! With step overs, dummies, flicks… and they were all coming off! The Oak won a corner, which again Boland met with his head only for it to be cleared off the line. The ball dropped and there was a bit of a scramble but Campton managed to clear it to safety. Campton managed to work the ball straight up to the other end of the pitch and Claudio Jordan made a goal saving tackle inside the box when he threw himself at the feet of the Campton striker. No more chances came and the Oak went into half team with a 0-0 scoreline.

Chris Birdsall was forced to withdraw because of a pulled hamstring and Lorenzo Jordan came on. Palombella moved into centre midfield to replace Birdsall and Turner switched from striker to the left wing back position with Jordan going straight up front.

Straight from the kick off the Oak worked the ball to Armstrongs feet on the edge of Camptons box. Boland screamed for Armstrong to lay it off, but he chose to run inside the box and smash a shot over the crossbar.
Camptons next chance to break the deadlock came from a defensive mix up. An attempted through ball floated over Palombellas head and White called for Palombella to lay the ball back. As Palombella released the pass, White changed his mind and decided to try and claim the ball. The ball rolled past White and towards the goal. White turned and chased it but fortunately it went about 3 yards wide and a corner was given. The corner was easily gathered by White and normality was restored.

The Oak were really moving the ball around nicely and Campton seemed to burn themselves out. An attacking move started with Liam Boland in the centre circle, he played the ball square to his brother who in turn found Cooney. Cooney then laid it to Palombella who played in Boland Jnr and he gave the ball back to Boland Snr. Eventually the ball went wide to Turner who managed to win a throw deep inside Camptons half. Turner took the throw in quickly and Cooney squared the ball to Jordan. Jordans attempt at goal was charged down and the ball fell on the volley to Boland from about 30 yards out. Bolands attempt was safely gathered by Camptons goalkeeper and another chance had gone.

Campton managed to get out of there half briefly and Claudio Jordan chomped down the Campton striker just outside the Oaks box. The free kick was hit into the box and Boland Jnr won the header. The Campton striker floated a header back in which White claimed easily.

The game was now end to end stuff and was anyones for the taking. Cooney swung a cross in onto Jordans head but his tame header from 8 yards out was easily gathered by the Campton keeper. The keeper cleared and Campton broke forward. The ball was played to the left and the midfielder helped the ball into the box. Murphy seemed to be in control of the situation but mis-judged the flight of the ball. Murphys marker played it into the danger area to the Campton striker who appeared to be in an offside position and he smashed the volley in from about 6 yards. The flag stayed down and The Oak could not believe that the goal had been given.

The Oak pushed for an equaliser and broke straight from the kick. Armstrong received the ball on the edge of the box and managed to win a free kick. The keeper was lining up his wall and Boland decided to hit it early only for the keeper to realise and stop his low drive comfortably. The next chance saw Campton counter attack and work the ball again out to the left side. The midfielder swung the cross in low and Boland Snr stuck a leg out only to see the ball ricochet off of him goalwards. White was wrong footed and had to scramble across goal to palm it away. Nearly 2 own goals in the same game!

The last chance fell to the Oak, with Armstrong swinging in a cross slightly behind Jordan who attempted an Audacious overhead kick… but completely missed the ball! The final whistle went and the Oak felt like they had been robbed of what should have been a hard fought point.

Next week sees a real 6-pointer, with bottom of the table Elstow Abbey visiting the ‘Lions Den’. A result in that match would guarantee survival and allow Birdsall to begin preparations for next season.
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(3-5-2)
Martin White
Danny Murphy
Sean Boland
Dave Minney
Chris Birdsall (Lorenzo Jordan)
Claudio Jordan
Andy Palombella
Liam Boland
Michael Cooney
Steve Armstrong
Lloyd Turner

Sub Not Used:
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Dream Team Star Man: Dave Minney . . . Another Solid game and made no mistakes. His performances seem to go un-noticed every week and fully deserves this weeks award.

Report written by The Royal Oaks Official Journalist Wayne ‘Hes The Greatest Dancer’ Aylott.