Posted by ChrisB on March 22, 2008, 9:38 pm
The first day of Spring saw AFC Hayes and snow showers descend on Court Place Farm this afternoon with City looking to bounce back from two successive defeats.
The Hoops looked lively from the start and Kieron Jimmy in the visitors’ goal had to stretch to punch the ball clear as Jon Gardner got his head to a cross from James Saulsbury in the third minute; while in an early attack for Hayes Dean Clark shot straight at Steve Smith after the City defence were slow to clear a long ball.
After only five minutes, though, City moved in front as another high ball into the Hayes area was headed clear by Sean James, but only as far as Michael Lyon on the edge of the box who met the awkwardly bouncing ball well and sent a dipping volley beyond a stationary Jimmy.
It was looking as though the ten day’s respite from matches had given the City players a renewed edge as they were keeping the visitors’ defence penned in the final third, and on eleven minutes Lyon was given room to run on the right and his efforts won a corner. Mark Bell’s well-flighted kick was flicked on by Andy Gunn and Darren Pond headed home.
The home players had their tails up now and Steve Davis got in on the act, bursting through on the left to produce a shot that Jimmy parried, juggled and eventually held, before the insistent pressure produced a third goal after 17 minutes. George Redknap spotted Lyon’s run and produced an accurate pass inside the defender for Lyon to collect and finish confidently beyond the keeper’s left-hand.
The Hayes attacks were generally being dealt with efficiently by a back line that now seems to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses well, and twice as Danny Jordan and Clark drew diving saves from Smith first Saulsbury and then Davis were in close attendance to clear the danger.
On twenty minutes Hayes had a good chance to pull something back as a run by Clark eventually drew a foul from Pond in a potentially dangerous position right on the edge of the penalty area, but Clark cleared wall, goal and clubhouse with his kick.
Five minutes later and Bell won a corner after some neat footwork on the right and as the ball came across from his kick Jimmy was a little late off his line and Gunn placed his header just beneath the bar for goal number four.
The pace slackened a little for a while after this avalanche of goals but as the half was nearing its close Jon Gardner brought two saves from the keeper and Mark Bell hit a terrific shot that unfortunately was straight at Jimmy.
In the final action of the half Jordan came very close to reducing the deficit in a crowded area, but his shot was some scrambled clear, and Ashley Cook pulled up sharply just as he forced his way into a good shooting position.
Half-Time: Oxford City 4-0 AFC Hayes
After the excitement and goals of the first forty-five minutes it was perhaps to be expected that the second period was a little flatter, but City came close to extending their lead early on as an accurate free-kick by Bell produced a solid header from Gunn that Jimmy did well to push behind, and then a shot from Gardner was parried by Jimmy, but just beyond Liam Malone waiting by the far post.
Jordan had a good chance at the other end but pushed his shot wide and Saulsbury pulled out a great last-ditch tackle as Charlery threatened to race clear.
Hayes pulled one back just after the hour when a loose ball reached James and he finished well with a right-foot shot across Smith and into the far corner of the net.
The visitors were reduced to ten men for the final twenty minutes when Charlery left the field with all three substitutes already used, and then City’s substitute, the returning Alex Stewart, was fouled on the edge of the box to give Bell a chance to bend the ball around the wall for Jimmy to save low-down by the post.
It looked as though the home side had won a penalty as Stewart went to ground under the ministrations of two defenders, though player and supporters were equally perplexed when he got to his feet only to be welcomed by a yellow card from Mr Bate.
As time ran out two penetrating runs from Jon Gardner on the City left caused defensive problems for Hayes. The first produced a ball into the area that just flicked Yashwa Romeo – with Stewart perhaps better placed just beyond him – and scuttled past the far post. The second, with time up on the clock, was finished by a ball hit low into the box for Bell to crash his shot high into the net giving City a well-deserved fifth goal.
Full-Time: Oxford City 5-1 AFC Hayes.
City: Smith, Saulsbury, Davis, Gunn, Pond (Romeo 66), Avery, Gardner, Malone, Redknap, Lyon (Stewart 66), Bell.
Message Thread:
« Back to thread