FREDS BEAT OXFORD CITY AT COURT PLACE FARM TO SECURE ANOTHER PROMOTION

It looked like a record attendance flanking Court Place Farm on Sunday morning, it sounded like an optimistic buzz in the travelling fifteen, it felt like all things were possible. Although nostrils were filled with a distinct whiff of promotion, there was also enough 'reward uncertainty' to trigger a dopamine hit of substantial proportions. But the players and parents didn't have to wait too long for a complete assault on their senses, when Hitman Hall rounded the keeper to give THE FREDS family another taste of success.

THE FREDS were alive! Lewis Jordan and the defensive rearguard were quick to react to any Oxford City threat, and Harry Buckland in particular, like the Bear In The Big Blue House, stopped just short of song in the form of 'Where, oh where, oh where is shadow?' (Apologies if nobody remembers that one) He provided exactly that, as he attached himself to an equally imposing figure in the blues' forward line and policed him for seventy minutes. Luis Hill, Matthew MacDonald and Will Beynon were resolute and switched on.

Matthew Goodman, or Pirlo - select from any number of superlatives to describe his presence - read and countered all midfield threats in the core like he had scripted it himself. He was quick to screen, intercept, make tackles and provide moments of majesty on the ball too. Matthew Lambe and Harry Howard were disciplined in recovery, worked tirelessly, and linked up well. George Santacana-Melvin hunted effectively on the blind side of the City midfield and stifled all threats on the box edge when defending set plays.

Busy after the initial breakthrough, Hitman Hall chased what looked like a lost cause to force an error in distribution from the keeper outside the box. With a brutal exhibition in finishing, the Alfredian Assassin set himself and executed from the channel. Not content, the sharp shooter then pounced on a beautifully weighted through ball and scored his third! Tom Todd almost added another after some tidy approach play, shooting narrowly wide of the keepers' left hand post.

THE FREDS shuffled their pack at the interval, with Jacob Haines, Joe George, Nat Haddon and Stan Herbert brought on to suit. It was a successful twist, with Stan Herbert driving a low shot inside the keepers' right post and Jacob Haines then hitting 'top bins' (can't believe I typed that) with a thumping drive from distance. Matthew Lambe also produced a very smart save from the City keeper.

The blue and white hoops continued to respond and were rewarded for their endeavour, scoring nicely from an acute angle after rounding Lewis Jordan wide of his goal. But even that late muddying of a potential clean sheet couldn't spoil. With their unique brand of mixed approach play, dubbed by the dads - TOTAL FREDS, Wantage Town had done enough to secure another promotion. Back-to-back successes, hard earned, have now taken them from the E League to the B League.

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