"OW’s in the Hunt after unflattering result."By Adam Appleton
A new look OW’s football team came up short in the first of what will hopefully be many matches before playing in the Arthurian League next year.
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The OW’s were up against Old Cholmeleian’s away in High Barnet and in spite of a good showing were on the end of a harsh 4-1 scoreline.
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After trouble finding the ground, the game against Highgate School’s Old Boys began half an hour late on a loose and uneven playing surface.
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Despite the difficult conditions the OW’s were able to pass the ball around with some beautiful one and two touch play on many occasions. For a team that had never played as a unit with many players that had never even met, the OW’s certainly did not embarrass themselves on or off the ball and worked hard as a team.
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Unfortunately on this occasion the side had no recognised defenders so Leroy Marke and Jamie Hutchison – both of whom prefer a midfield role – were drafted in and performed ably as a centre back partnership.
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The cracks in this team were most visibly exposed whenever the opposition counter-attacked, and indeed their first and third goals came from such situations. Whilst these goals came against the run of play, the OW’s goal did not. After a long throw had been launched into the box, Cholmeleian’s failed to clear with the ball falling to Mark Hunter on the edge of the box. He then rifled the ball home powerfully to draw level.
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The equality did not last long after OW’s failed to abide by the oldest of footballing adages; always play to the whistle. Josh Hill stopped, thinking he had been fouled by the striker, the foul was not given and OW’s were punished sternly as Cholmeleian’s played to whistle and scored. Another counter-attack gave Cholmeleian’s their third goal, before an unfortunately directed palm from Bilsland in goal saw to the fourth.
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At the final whistle, the OW’s were left to dwell on an unreflective score-line. Steven Adjei and Kenzo Onumonu had worked well as a central midfield partnership, whilst Tom Molyneux and Brolin Stevenson-Twontoo probed well out wide.
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The OW’s will be hoping for better results when their playing schedule resumes in January.
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Team List – Ben Bilsland, Mitun Thaker, Jamie Hutchison, Leroy Marke, Joshua Hill, Brolin Stevenson-Twontoo, Kenzo Onumonu, Steven Adjei, Tom Molyneux, Mark Hunter, Adam Appleton, Tom Lloyd.
