Studley BKL FC      2    (Powell, Pountney)

Oxford United         0

Sunday always seems to be a stupid time to play a
football match, even the drive to Studley FC of the
Midland Combination seemed incongruous and low key.
Either way, the malaise seemed to have rubbed off on
the Oxford United XI for this was a preseason friendly
that the home side seemed far more interested in.
  The depressing fact that Ian Atkins pointed out to
us just after half time was that 5 of the side that at
first glance looked like a hotch potch of the U19's,
reserves and triallists had featured in the Darlington
game.

     United's attacks were principally through the
flanks with Hackett looking especially dangerous.
    In the 4th minute Louis found time and space on
the right flank but succeeded only in crossing on to
the roof of the net when a little composure would have
found Hackett lurking with intent on the back post.
    After 7 minutes a well worked Studley manouver
left midfielder Neath with a clear shot but he could
only screw his shot wide of the post.
    After 11 minutes a deep cross from Cruse found
Sylla in the centre but his header was well gathered
by home 'keeper Pugh.
    Oxford's best chance of the half came after 18
minutes when Powell's in swinging corner was headed
wide by Patterson.
     Unfortunately for United the best moment of the
half fell to the wrong Powell after 20 minutes when
Studley's Rob Powell found Patterson and Okikola AWOL
and he stroked past Cox completely unmarked.
     It would have been anticipated that this would
have concentrated the minds of the United players
particularly the, "Senior" members, but for the rest
of the half the majority of the possession fell to
Studley and consquently the chances. Oxford's one
further chance fell to Sylla who blasted Powell's
cross high over the bar.
      The second half proved to be a depressingly
disjointed as Studley made 10 substitutions and Oxford
4.
   Chances were at a premium but Oxford looked far
more dangerous with both Hackett and Aspta spurning
good chances, although the overall impression was to
wonder where the next goal would come from as neither
Louis nor Sylla looked capable of breaking down a
defence that will ply it's trade 2 relegations below
Southern League level.
    A goal mouth scramble on 62 minutes resulted in
Mike Ford clearing off the goalline as Cox was able
only to parry Jamie Hands' fierce shot from 10 yards
out.
     All things considered it was always going to take
a mistake to produce another goal and this is
precisely what happened after 77 minutes.A mix up
between Mike Ford and Keeper Cox allowed Fordy's
backpass to be easily intercepted by Pountney who
neatly chipped the ball over Cox into an empty net.
     This killed off the game apart from a long range
Hackett lob which landed on the roof on the net.

      Overall this taught the Oxford fan very little
as to the likely first XI this season. Both Louis and
Sylla seem a long way from being candidates for the
free scoring forward this squad so desperately needs.
Robert Cruse continues to develop his game but is one
possibly for 2003/4, but Powelly's game is still going
backwards. Hopefully Simon King will get a decent run
this season. He will learn little from games like
this.
      If a manager signs players on the basis that
they are better, or will be better than what he
already has then it is hard to see any future for any
of the triallists on show although Safi Aspfa is worth
another look. One can feel sympathy for Darren
Patterson but I cannot believe that there are not
better options available. Put simply, Sam Ricketts is
not a midfielder any more than Scott Guyett was.
     So, a rather depressing game and one can only
hope lessons are learned before Didcot.

OUFC
1. Simon Cox
2.Robert Cruse
3.Simon King (C)
4.Sam Ricketts
5.Sam Okikola
6.Darren Patterson
7.Paul Powell
8.Safi Aspfa
9.Jefferson Louis
10.Norman Sylla
11.Chris Hackett

subs used
15 Dwight Campioli for Louis 19'
9 Louis for Campioli HT
13 Mike Ford for 7 Powell HT
14 Matt Brandish for 8 Aspfa 58'
17 Josias Carbon for 10 Sylla 62'




            
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