Moneyfields 2 - OCFC 3

FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Thursday 12th October 2006

MONEYFIELDS YOUTH (0) 2
OXFORD CITY (2) 3 (Kamberi 3, Hepburn 14, Griffiths 88)

City won through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup, but made heavy weather of it at times against a committed Moneyfields side.

City’s coach had an eventful end to its journey to the ground, but the team showed no signs of being adversely affected as they raced into a two-goal lead. First Jetmir Kamberi capitalised on a mishit clearance from the opposition keeper, then Ben Hepburn showed great composure to drill home off a post when his free-kick rebounded back to him off the wall.

City then seemed to sit back, thinking the game was won. Moneyfields, flying into challenges as if their lives depended on it, contested every ball and every decision fiercely, and dominated the midfield. Their excellent winger found space time and again, but they never found the final ball to trouble City, who should have wrapped the game up on the stroke of half-time when Kamberi shot wide after good work on the right by Simon Reeves.

The second half was more even until a Moneyfields substitute was sent off for continued dissent after only 8 minutes on the field. A player up, City should have closed the game out, but Moneyfields put in even greater effort, and got a goal back in the 83rd minute from an excellent free-kick after Kieron Lewis was harshly adjudged to have fouled. Four minutes later, they were on level terms as a cross was stabbed home.

Within 45 seconds, however, City showed their great resolve by snatching the winner, as substitute Jack Griffiths bundled the ball in from six yards after an excellent Hepburn run and cross.

Credit to Moneyfields for stopping City from playing as well as they can; in particular, Stephen Davis had so much to do in a defensive role that his trademark runs and crosses were badly missed. Hepburn and Kamberi kept the Moneyfields defence busy with constant running, although they had to feed on scraps for much of the game. The whole team showed great character and – most importantly – are still in the cup.

Team: Alex Williams – Michael Betnay, Joel Meade, Kieron Lewis, Lewis Colwell (sub Brandon Shepherd 70 min) – Simon Reeves (sub Jack Griffiths 75), Jamie Coleman, Mark Bell, Stephen Davis – Ben Hepburn, Jetmir Kamberi (sub Ajay Lloyd 89).

Unused subs: Jason Evans, Russell Colwell.

Next round: away to Aldershot Town, week commencing 23rd October

Reporter: Hugh Simpson