FOOTBALL: Hatherop get on top as Oaksey's mature defence runs out of steam

Hatherop 6 Oaksey Reserves 2

ALMOST 24 hours of continuous and torrential rain meant that this was the only game played in the two divisions of the M4 Karting Cirencester & District League. However the pitch had stood up very well to the weather.

Oaksey Reserves struggled to raise a team and first team manager Dave Littler came into the heart of defence along with makeshift keeper Innes Miles.

Hatherop took advantage of the wind to pepper shots from all directions, but some dogged defending meant that it was the 44th minute before the home side took the lead.

However, with Jimmy Horwood's pace to the fore, Oaksey Reserves were optimistic of making a game of it in the second period, particularly as they had the strong wind at their backs.

But within a minute of the restart Hatherop had doubled their lead. Five minutes later Oaksey pulled one back through Joe Topping.

With renewed confidence Oaksey equalised when a great move started on the right hand side of defence; Jamie Jobbins brought the ball 40 yards before finding Bradley Wickson and he slipped Joe Baptiste in to score a great goal.

It all went wrong for Oaksey from then on with Tom Topping having to go off with suspected ligament damage.

Oaksey had three defenders whose combined age was more than 150 and they understandably tired leaving Hatherop to score four times to run out 6-2 winners.

The Hatherop scorers were David Legg, Adam Ockwell, Mani Randhawa and evergreen colossus Richard Stearn with Jake Page adding two.