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Weston-super-Mare AFC - Match Reports

Match reports - Season 2007 - 2008

Oxford City 3 v 4 Weston-super-Mare

29/09/2007 -FA CUP 2nd Qualifying Round - 3.00pm

Rain

At five past four on Saturday Weston were coasting into the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, having overcome a couple of early scares the Seagulls had stamped their authority on their Southern League hosts, by four thirty that afternoon Weston were hanging on for dear life after conceding three goals in an inspired fifteen minute spell which threatened to turn the tie completely on it's head. Thankfully though this rejuvenated Seagulls squad had the final say and finally made it through to Monday's draw.

Still without the injured Matt Hale the Seagulls were boosted by the news that both Ryan Harley and Barry McConnell had overcome their injuries and were able to take their place in the starting line-up. Craig Rand was also fit enough to take a place on the bench.

Weston started brightly and missed an opportunity as early as the third minute when Ben Willshire and Harley worked to set up Aaron Wilson but his touch let him down and the ball drifted out of play. The lively Dean Grubb then set up Gareth Hopkins but he was tackled as he was about to shoot. Oxford then went close when George Redknap burst down the right but his cross into the box was too strong. Hopkins then got his head to a cross from Grubb but glanced his header wide. On 14 minutes the hosts should have taken the lead when a quick break down the left saw Jon Jon Gardner put over a pin point cross to the far post, Mark Jones, standing all alone, seemed to hesitate before shooting form just three yards, his effort smacked against the post and the rebound spun off his foot and over the bar.

Willshire then gifted Oxford a chance to open the scoring when his woeful free kick saw James Faulkner intercept the ball, put Gardner through on goal, but as keeper Ryan Northmore came out to narrow the angle, Gardner shot into the side netting.

This finally woke Weston up and within a minute they had taken the lead when Grubb and Harley exchanged passes to set up Ashan Holgate and his low left foot drive crept inside the near post with City keeper Gareth Tucker unable to keep the ball out.

Two minutes later and Weston had doubled their advantage when veteran defender Billy Clark got his name on the scoresheet when he picked up a loose ball and drove the ball into the roof of the net from just inside the area.

The second half began with Weston on the attack and within three minutes of the restart they had seemed to put the tie out of reach. Again it was Clark who provided the finish, he got on the end of a cross from McConnell and hooked the ball home from 12 yards. It was the first time in 14 years that the 40-year old had scored two goals in a game.

At this point the game was over and done with, or so it seemed. The home side then made an inspired triple substitution which completely changed the aspect of the game. On came Ikechi Anya, his pace and trickery was to cause problems all round, the giant 6' 5inch Alex Stewart, who then proceeded to win every ball in the air, and Liam Malone.

Within 10 minutes the home side had got on the scoresheet when Anya, twisted and turned his way along the by-line, picked out Redknap, unmarked in the box, and his fierce shot gave Northmore no chance. 10 minutes later and City had scored again when a long punt upfield by keeper Tucker was neatly controlled by Anya who then proceeded to turn and coolly lob Northmore from all of 30 yards. Five minutes later and the tie was level, a free kick out on the left was swung over and Andy Gunn outjumped the static Weston defence to head home and send the home fans wild.

Weston were stunned, but this side have a very different cutting edge to them than the team of a year ago. They responded in the best possible way, within two minutes they had regained the lead when substitute Marc McGregor swept the ball wide to McConnell, his forward pass allowed Grubb to run at the defence, twisting and turning past three defenders he finished the move by stroking the ball wide of Tucker and in off the far post. A fitting way to end an enthralling cup tie, both sides had given their all and were warmly applauded as they left the pitch. Weston can count themselves fortunate that they managed to win the tie at the first time of asking, but once again they have showed that when the chips are down, they have the bottle to fight to the very end.

Game Statistics

Oxford City scorers - Redknap 60, Anya 69, Gunn 74.
Weston-super-Mare scorers - Holgate 30, Clark 32 & 48, Grubb 76.
Shots on target -
Shots off target -
Corners -
Offsides -
Freekicks -
Bookings -
Refereee - Paul Forrester

Tucker, Saulsbury, Davis, Gunn, Pond (Malone 55), Cattell, Gardner, Redknap, McSporran (Stewart 55), Faulkner (Anya 55) Jones. Subs Not Used: Merritt, Weirich.

Team Summary

Player	Played	Goals	Yellow	Red	MOTM	Ratings
Ryan Northmore [Goalkeeper]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 90/150 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Ben Willshire [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 92/160 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Barry McConnell [Midfield]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 88/145 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Billy Clark [Defender]	Full Game	2				Official: 4/5 Fans: 106/210 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Aaron Wilson [Midfield]	Full Game					Official: 3/5 Fans: 104/180 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Andy Robertson [Defender]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 102/175 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Ryan Harley [Midfield]	Subbed Off	1				Official: 3/5 Fans: 91/155 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Michael Taylor [Defender]	Subbed Off					Official: 5/5 Fans: 102/165 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Gareth Hopkins [Forward]	Full Game					Official: 3/5 Fans: 90/150 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Ashan Holgate [Midfield]	Full Game					Official: 4/5 Fans: 98/160 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Dean Grubb [Forward]	Full Game	1				Official: 4/5 Fans: 90/150 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Marc McGregor [Goalkeeper]	Subbed On					Official: 3/5 Fans: 92/160 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Craig Rand [Goalkeeper]	Subbed On					Official: 3/5 Fans: 94/155 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Craig Loxton [Goalkeeper]	Sub					Official: n/a Fans: 222/285 Vote: Currently 4/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5

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