Watch Oak TV on the Members Pages to see what the First Team Manager has to say about games once the season starts. Details of Player of the Match also on Members Pages along with League Tables. | Sunday 29th August 2010.
Pre Season Friendly Fixture.
Newington Village 2 - 2 Oak Athletic
In their final friendly fixture before the start of the league season the Oak team took on higher division opponents in Division Two Newington Village. Oak were still missing several regular first team players but the nucleus of the First Team squad was on show. Newington took the game to Oak in the first few minutes and went close when one of their lively young forwards attempted to lob Dempsey in the Oak goal only to see his effort drift wide in the strong wind. Newington continued to hold the upper hand for the first twenty minutes or so as the new look Oak defence were taking time to work out how to play together. As the half wore on the new Oak formation began to gel and to dominate the game. As Oak began to get on top of the game a rare Newington break away was rewarded with a penalty kick as a hard cross ball struck the hand of Phil Rixson. The Newington keeper came upfield to take the spot kick and duly put it a yard over the Oak crossbar to keep the score at 0-0. Justice was done. Within two minutes Oak were again on the attack and this time the Referee awarded a penalty to Oak when Chris Wood was tripped in the box following fine link up play from Neal Parkes and Luke Friday. Dion Dempsey in the Oak goal stepped up and slotted the ball home to give Oak a deserved lead. With two minutes to go before half time a fantastic passing movement from Oak saw Alex Brett hit a curling shot into the top corner of the net to give Oak a two goal advantage to take into the break.
In the second half Oak were playing up the slope and against the wind but still continued to frustrate their higher division opponents. With Ed Harrison and Rob Welsh dominating the Oak defence and with Damian Kennard and Luke Friday providing outlets for Oak on the right and left flanks it was really quite easy for Oak to keep control and with 5 minutes left to go Oak were still comfortable. However a free kick awarded to Newington some 30 yards out was hit hard and low through the Oak wall and into the Oak net before the Oak keeper could really see it. This spurred Newington into life and they threw everyone forward in the final few minutes and managed to scramble an equaliser with the ball bouncing around in the Oak penalty area following a disputed corner kick. |
