Shortwood 1 Wantage Town 0 – UHL Hellenic League Division 1
Despite the monsoons that have hit the area this week, Shortwood provided a perfect pitch and credit must go to Simon and Roger Grant for all their hard work in getting the pitch into excellent condition, writes Jim Cunneen.
Wood welcomed back striker Dan Gayner to the squad following his transfer from Longlevens.
This game was settled by a superb goal from Nathan Payne after 23 minutes – a real goal of the season contender and Wood will feel they should have won by more but manager Marcus Foxwell will be pleased with the points.
Wood were dominant in the opening stages and Jack Gardner had a shot blocked and supplied a cross that was just taken off Alfie Bradshaw’s head as he was about to finish. Wantage broke away after 11 minutes through Fountain and it took a superb tackle from captain Joe Tryner to deny him – setting the standard for his whole game.
Wood had a very strong appeal for a penalty after 15 minutes when Gardner was unceremoniously wrestled to the floor but inexplicably their appeal was waived away.
Wood took the lead after 23 minutes. Wantage had a corner and when it was cleared the ball found Payne just inside his own half. Looking up he spotted Wantage keeper Rees standing well out of his goal and wasted no time sending a superb lob over him and under the bar.
Wantage were far more positive at the start of the second half but Tryner marshalled his troops well.
Rees continued to be the busier keeper and did well to keep out a low shot from Payne and Bradshaw headed a cross from Finlay Byrnes inches over.
Finally, Wright was called into serious action to deny McKeon. The game became fractious and scrappy with a flurry of bookings.
The returning Gayner had a half chance but shot at Rees and in the dying seconds Payne fired over.
Shortwood: Wright, Williams, King T (King E 57), Byrnes, Tryner, Smith, Gardner (Cooke 80), Kent, Bradshaw (Gayner 80), Duncan (Martin 71), Payne
MOM – Joe Tryner
