This mid-week tie never looked like going the Oaks way right from the start of the week.

Chris Birdsall struggled to find 11 players right up until Wednesday afternoon, when he managed to pull in 3 old faces from earlier in the season. Ben (Cant remember his surname), Michael Cox and Lee Embleton all returned to the squad. Claudio Jordan, Liam Boland and Martin O Donovan all recovered from the knocks that they picked up in Saturdays loss but Dave Minney & Steve Armstrong both missed the game with injuries and Andy Palombella only made the bench following his knock that he aggravated on Mondays 6-a-side win.

Paul Stevens and Lorenzo Jordan were also out. With 5 members of the usual starting XI missing, Birdsall was forced into changing the whole side. As usual, Martin White started in goal with a back three of Chris Birdsall, Danny Murphy and Martin O Donovan. 2 changes in midfield saw Ben come into the centre with Lloyd Turner playing on the left hand side. The front line (with a combined age of over 70!) was made up of Sean Boland and Michael Cox.

Kick off was delayed when the referee didn’t turn up. One of the Marston supporters stepped in and offered to officiate. Apparently he was a qualified referee and had the ability to referee our match.

The game finally kicked off, but the Oak still started slowly. A long hopeful ball straight from the kick off fell to Murphy. Murphy had a chance to clear it, but bought it back inside and passed it straight to the feet of a Marston striker. His shot was blocked and the ball was cleared. Similar to Saturdays game, the Oak struggled to create clear chances and Marston kept trying the long through ball for there quick strikers to chase.

The first real chance came when a through ball fell to the feet of a Marston Striker. His shot was blocked by Martin White but fell straight back to the Marston player. He hit a shot on the half volley which beat White, only to be blocked by one of his own players. The rebound was then cleared from the danger zone.

The Oak started to create chances, with Cox and Boland Snr linking up well and had a couple of chances to break the deadlock. The Marston goalkeeper was called upon to stop both of the Oak strikers and Ben.

The Oaks centre midfield hardly saw the ball during the first half and it was clear that they were getting frustrated. Half time came and the Boland Jnr relinquished the captains armband following a number of run ins with team mates. He passed it to Boland Snr who in turn gave it to Martin White, who has now been installed as the Oaks new skipper.

The Oak returned to the pitch for the second half and tried to break the deadlock. A Cox through ball found Cooney on the edge of the box. His attempted pass to Boland Snr was intercepted and another chance had gone.

Marston then made a couple of changes, but still seemed to just keep hitting hopeful balls over the top. One managed to go over the head of Birdsall to his marker. The Marston player ran clear, but Birdsall caught up with him and Chomped him about 5 yards outside if the box. I think if we had a proper referee, he may have walked for that tackle.

The free kick was hit straight over the bar. Another through ball was easily gathered by White, but as White stood back up the Marston striker swiped at him and White had to jump over the top of him. No decision was given.

Embleton and Aylott replaced the tiring duo of Birdsall and Cox to try and create chances.

Another late tackle, this time on Claudio Jordan was ignored, but Jordan had the last laugh minutes later. Jordan ran onto a through ball and beat the offside trap. No defenders followed him and he had all the time in the world to pick his spot. Jordan scuffed his shot to the goalkeepers right, but the goalkeeper had already gambled on the shot being hit across him and the ball trickled into the net. 1-0 to the Oak and the Soulja Boy dance was unleashed for the second time this season.

No more chances came following the goal for either side. Martin O Donovan started to feel the effects of his knock that he picked up in the game against Caldecote and had to swap with Boland Snr. That’s right. . . O Donovan played up front!

The last action of the game saw Boland Jnr receive his first red card of the season. Boland Jnr took exception to a very late tackle from the Marston number 8 and as he was getting to his feet, Boland kicked him in his side. The player got up and a 22 man ruck followed. The referee came rushing towards Boland Jnr with his hands up. Thinking that the referee was going to swing for him, Boland Jnr pushed the referees hand away and he hit himself in the face. Boland Jnr was then sent off for ‘striking the referee’. . . Which he didn’t do.

The 10 men held on and claimed the win.

Saturday sees the Oaks last game of the 2007/2008 season against top of the table Henlow. The Oak will follow tradition and pull the positions out of the hat! Followed by the inaugural (that means first Claudio!) Royal Oak Crossbar Challenge.
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(3-5-2)
Martin White

Danny Murphy
Martin O Donovan
Chris Birdsall (Lee Embleton)

Claudio Jordan
Liam Boland
Michael Cooney
Ben
Lloyd Turner

Sean Boland
Michael Cox (Wayne Aylott)

Sub Not Used: Andy Palombella
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Dream Team Star Man: Sean Boland . . . Worked tirelessly up front to try and create any sort of chance and filled in at the back for the last 10 minutes following O Donovans chest injury.