Greens undone in first friendly

Kidlington 1-3 Thatcham Town

Kidlington started their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Hellenic League side Thatcham Town.

The visitors outplayed the Greens in the first half and deservedly lead 2-0 by the end of it. Kidlington improved greatly in the second half, with Lewis Gabbidon pulled a goal back, but a late goal confirmed the Kingfishers’ win.

Julian McCalmon has made some notable signings for Kidlington so far, with new arrivals James Organ, Eddie Odhiambo, Declan Benjamin and Callum McNish all given starts.

However with the duo of Harry Whitehead and Callum Harvey up front, they struggled to really threaten at any stage in the first half.

Poor defending led to the first Thatcham goal ten minutes, with their number 7 allowed to run straight through before beating Bojan Tetek. The Kidlington goalkeeper was beaten again just before half time, with a well-placed finish.

With their full complement of substitutes brought on at the break, Kidlington were a completely different force in the second half. By the time Gabbidon’s shot was deflected in with just over 20 minutes to go, they had put more than enough pressure on Thatcham to deserve a way back into the game.

Try as they might, they couldn’t find an equaliser, and Thatcham’s win was sealed when their number 10 added a third with a perfect lob over substitute keeper Sam Warrell.

Kidlington will take heart from the second half performance as they look forward to a trip to Marlow in midweek, whilst on this evidence, Thatcham should remain a force to be reckoned with in the Hellenic this season.

Kidlington: Tetek (Warrell HT), Quainton (Williams HT), Willoughby (Castle HT), Organ, Franklin, McNish (Gabbidon HT), Eddie Odhiambo, Benjamin (Rice HT), Whitehead, Harvey (A. Odhiambo HT), Coyle (Osborne-Ricketts HT).

Selected other results
Adderbury Park 2-3 FC Kidlington
Ardley United 3-1 Fairford Town
Brackley Town Saints 1-5 Thame United
Didcot Town 0-1 Eastleigh
Hull City L-L Oxford United
Kidlington 1-3 Thatcham Town
Letcombe 3-0 Marlsborough (game 1)
Letcombe 5-1 Marlsborough (game 2)
Lydney Town 0-5 North Leigh
Milton United 0-6 Badshot Lea
Oxford City 0-1 Banbury United
Wallingford Town 0-2 Shrivenham
Wantage Town 2-2 Headington Amateurs