Old boys seal the spoils for Kidlington

Kidlington began what they hope could be an Hellenic title-winning season with a 2-1 victory over the heavily-fancied Thatcham Town, with goals from Tommy Castle and Lewis Coyle providing the difference between the two sides.

For all the talk about their new signings, it was two old boys in Castle and Coyle who got Kidlington the goals, with new signings Ryan Brooks, Anaclet Odhiambo and Elliott Powell, who came on as a sub, failing to score on their debuts.

The equivalent fixture last season saw a 6-1 victory for the Greens, however that was never likely to be repeated against Thatcham side that has also brought in a wealth of new players this season, although they were apparently depleted here by injuries, suspensions and holidays.

It was Thatcham who got off to the quickest start, with Callum Wllmoth testing another of Kidlington’s debuants, Sam Warrell, with a very dangerous cross-cum-shot, with Warrell just about able to jump high enough to catch. Former Wantage man Daniel Lachacz also sent a shot over in the early exchanges.

But against the run of play, Kidlington then took the lead. Brooks instigated their first attack, charging down the right although Lewis Gabbidon and Brooks himself couldn’t get a shot away. They did earn a corner though, with which Coyle found Castle who headed it into the back of the net.

There were then appeals for a penalty when Coyle was brought down in the box, however the referee wasn’t interested. In any case, they won a free kick around 25 yards out just after, which Coyle struck superbly to his right to double the advantage.

Unsurprisingly the hosts were now in command. Coyle had another free-kick from a similar position (pictured), he went the other way this time but went wide. Brooks then tried a audacious lob over Chris Rackley, which the Thatcham keeper was able to save but not without injuring himself, and he required several minutes of treatment before being able to carry on.

Odhiambo had one of his quieter games for the Greens, but had two great chances either side of half time. Just before the break, he ran clear of the Thatcham defence and beat Rackley with his shot, which just drifted wide. He then had a chance within ten seconds of the restart, but this time his shot was straight at Rackley’s chest, and went out for a corner.

Thatcham tried hard to reassert themselves on the game in the second half, but there was a big moment of controversy when Mark Hughes was sent off for a second bookable offence just before the hour. He went heavily into a challenge with a Kidlington player, and whilst it appeared to many to be a 50/50, the referee decided to show him his second yellow.

Brooks, with 40 goals in 33 games in 2013-14 for Ardley United, might not have scored on this occasion, but it wasn’t with lack of trying, with several second half efforts to show for it. Odhiambo was quieter, but came closest to making it three when his shot smashed the bar. Gabbidon headed the rebound in, but he was in an offside position.

With manager Martin Wilkinson on holiday and left to follow the game on Twitter, it was down to assistants Julian McCalmon and Paul Harwood to lead the side, and they would have been very happy with the team’s performance. However some of the Kidlington fans were left sratching their heads when Lewis Brownhill came on for the impressive Castle, and they appeared to lose some of their rhythm following the change.

And the ten-men then made it a nervy few minutes when Mark Thompson finished off a counter attack to half the deficit with eight minutes to go. Kidlington were rattled, yet Thatcham were unable to push on for an equaliser, leaving the hosts to celebrate what could be a crucial win, even this early in the season.

Kidlington: Warrell, C Weedon, B Weedon, Lawrence (Chalmers 42′), Franklin, Morris, Coyle, Gabbidon, Odhiambo (Powell 80′), Brooks, Castle (Brownhill 70′). UNUSED SUBS: Quainton, Willoughby
Thatcham: Rackley, Hughes, Lachacz, Taplin (Jewel 65′), Moran, Baines, Morris (Melledew 65′), Mealing, Thompson, Willmoth (Paglioroli 79′). UNUSED SUBS: Helmore, Burt

Attendance: 86