Alexcars Junior Charities Cup

Oaksey 2

Blunsdon 1

OAKSEY'S victory over Cirencester League Division Two champions-in-waiting Blunsdon was well deserved, if a long time coming, with the winner netted six minutes from time.

Oaksey dominated the first quarter of the game against a generally bigger Blunsdon side.

But as is often the case, Oaksey let themselves down at a corner and as the ball bobbled in front of the home goal, Kane Wheatley got the final touch to give Blunsdon the lead in the 26th minute.

The remainder of the first half saw the visitors coming back into the game and right on the half-time mark, Oaksey twice found themselves feverishly clearing the ball off their goal line.

An unexpected, welcome and passionate half-time talk from George Blackah’s father Martin – who played a key role in running the successful Avonvale side – helped Oaksey to up their game and it was perhaps a surprise that it took nearly 70 minutes for the equaliser.

Jamie Jobbins' diagonal cross from halfway down Blunsdon’s right flank found Blackah on the opposite goal line and his pass to Connor Laidlaw was bundled into the net from close range.

Then with six minutes to go, a centre found Mark Lane in space and he dived to head the ball into an almost empty net from eight yards out.

Player-manager Tom Hainsworth and his fellow defenders played a big part in the victory and he explained: “We dug in, worked for each other and supported. No one gave up and everyone had an excellent game. "There is starting to be a real feel good factor around this club again and rightly so. We deserved that win today.”

Oaksey can finish in the top two of their five-strong round robin element of this cup competition but a win at Ashton Keynes Reserves on February 25 is vital while this Saturday’s clash between Kingshill and Stratton United will also have a bearing on the final qualifiers.