HOT HIRST SMOKES IN THE RAIN FOR FORMIDABLE FREDS

On a rain soaked St Mary's at Alfredian Park, THE FREDS demonstrated a growing resilience, creativity and purpose against third placed Oxford Blackbirds.

The visitors were always going to provide a stern test and they didn't disappoint. But the green and white hoops were more than a match.

Hope and certainty are two very different mindsets and they deliver two very different performance levels. You don't get to be a champion without feeling it inside first. Today THE FREDS inched a little closer to the mentality that has brought them titles in seasons past, on their journey from the bottom of the Oxford Mail E League to the B.

Wantage were in rampant mood from kick off and threatened to open the scoring a number of times before the deadlock was eventually broken by Hitman Hall.

Jonny Hall and Alex Grimes both looked likely before James Hirst gifted Alex Grimes another opportunity with a nicely measured ball through the centre. Foul drawn. Penalty awarded. Hall scored.

Grimes was then rewarded for his endeavour, receiving on the left and nonchalantly sweeping the ball into the top corner. 2-0.

Wantage started the second half with a heavy foot on the accelerator. Hirst invited Ray Rwodzi to lose his marker early on, and the rapid winger raced clear to finish.

Christian Marsh hit a spectacular free-kick from thirty yards to compound the visitors' misery. James Hirst continued to probe thoughout and crowned a great individual performance with two goals of his own before the referee brought Blackbirds' suffering to an end.

Blackbirds did reply with an equally impressive free-kick hit from distance.

Although Lewis Jordan was unable to stop that effort, he did manage to slap another great hit from outside the box, over the bar to safety.

Jacob Haines, marshalled a competent back four, alongside Will Beynon, Matthew Lambe and Elliot Hayter. Matthew MacDonald and Ed Porter joined the defensive force after the interval and continued the good work.

Roan Stillion, Guy Woolley and James Hirst were outstanding in a midfield three - finding pockets of space and breaking lines in possession, recovering position and shape out of possession. When their attentions were focused in the core, they overloaded the opposition at the very heart of the contest, finding pockets of space time and time again.

Matthew Goodman returned after injury, looked to be more than comfortable and came through unscathed.

THE FREDS third win on the bounce sees them move menacingly up into fourth spot with games in hand.

Lewis Jordan, Matthew Lambe, Elliot Hayter, Will Beynon, Jacob Haines, Roan Stillion, Guy Woolley, James Hirst, Ray Rwodzi, Jonny Hall, Alex Grimes, Christian Marsh, Matthew Goodman, Matthew MacDonald, Ed Porter