Hoops End On A High

Another short trip over the to The MGroup Stadium this Sunday. Unlike last week's Oxfordshire Cup Final, this Sunday there wasn't too much hanging on the result. Hosts Oxford City had long been well clear of the drop zone, but had not been troubling the top three either. Their visitors from Portchester had still been in the running for the title until their thrilling 2-2 at Winchester  two weeks ago. Coming into today they did have an outside chance of the runners-up spot, but in reality third was a far more realistic target. When these two met on the south coast, back in October, Oxford took the lead through Georgina Tayman before goals from Mia Adaway (just prior to her devastating ACL injury that ruled her out of the Gibraltar squad) and Millie Bradbury, gave Portchy the lead. However, a late Ellie White goal earned the Hoops a point.

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Shannon Betteridge gets a hand to a cross

Following their emphatic county cup victory last weekend, City made just the one change with Keira Maskell donning the gloves in place of Hannah Gerrow. Portchester, meanwhile, were without top scorer Becki Bath and defensive stalwart Laurie Potvin.
It was the visitors who showed first, Gemma Hillier sending a strike straight at Maskell in the second minute. However, neither side managed another effort on goal until the 12th minute, when City took the lead. The architect of the goal was Yasmin Edwards who did well to win the ball back on the right. She then left Sarah Butterworth and Kim Fuller in her wake as she drive towards the edge of the box before cutting back perfectly for Ellie White. The City striker took a touch to control the ball before lashing a shot past Shannon Betteridge. 1-0
As you would expect, the goal prompted a response from the visitors. Five minutes later, Maskell had to be quick off her line to head a long ball clear. With the keeper well out of goal, Amelia Riley went for the immediate lobbed finish but couldn't find the target. A few minutes later Lauren Aitken did well up the left for Portchy, sending over a low cross that Riley had to take on the run and could only put the difficult chance wide of the post.
As Portchy pressed forward, Maskell was lucky to get away with a slip-up in the 26th minute, presenting the ball to Aitken on the left-hand edge of the box. He effort, from a narrow angle, flashed across goal and out for a goal kick. Immediately, City broke up the other end, Edwards burst through on the right side of the box but lifter her shot over the bar. Merely seconds later, City won the ball back and Edwards was again presented with a shooting chance, this time forcing Betteridge into a full-length diving save to her right.
Portchester continued to have the edge in terms of possession, but couldn't find a way through the City defence. City, on the other hand, looked more dangerous especially up the right, where Yasmin Edwards was causing concerns for the Portchy back line.
The next strike at goal came with eight minutes remaining in the half. Hermione Prescott-Luke struck it well, but it was always rising and never troubled Betteridge, A minute later, however, Portchester set Sophie Bell free on their right. The midfielder drove forward before sending over a cross for Lauren Aitken, who couldn't quite keep her effort below the bar. Aitken came even closer a minute later, latching onto a ball that Maskell has already decided to race off her line to clear. Aitken beat the keeper to the ball, took it wide of her, and struck goalward, only to see her effort, from a tight angle, hit the outside of the near post.
Portchy had one last opportunity to level before the break but free kick specialist, Kim Fuller, struck her 25 yard shot straight into the arms of Maskell.

HT Oxford City 1 AFC Portchester 0. Portchester had more of the ball, but Oxford did more with it. 

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Keira Maskell clears from Sarah Butterworth

​Portchester had the ball in the City net within seconds of the restart. However, the assistant had already flagged after Gemma Hillier strayed offside. No complaint from the Portchy captain, who knew she was off.
Undeterred, Portchester continued to press forward. Layla Morgan did well to cut in from the left before sending a shot well wide of the target. Then Betty Barron-Clark split the City defence with a precision through ball for Sarah Butterworth. Once again the shot flew over the bar. Chances were being made, but not taken.
City, having weathered the immediate onslaught from their visitors, then pushed back themselves. Emily Harris was sent clear just before the hour, but Shannon Betteridge had spotted the danger, sprinting off her line to win a 50/50 with the speedy winger. Grace Craven then tried her luck from just outside the box, but in line with the theme of the day, put her effort over the bar.
Betteridge was then called into action again in the 67th minute when Ellie White, in full flight, sent a shot arrowing toward the top corner, only for the Portchy stopper to produce a superb, one-handed, save.
With just under twenty minutes remaining, Portchester had a big shout for a penalty when Layla Morgan and Keira Maskell collided whilst challenging for a ball played into the home penalty area. Both players were fully committed to the challenge and both ended up in a heap. Portchester were convinced that Maskell had taken their striker out rather than getting the ball. However, after consultation with the assistant, the referee brushed away their appeals for a spot-kick. I had exactly the same view as the assistant and, in my opinion, the decision was correct, although you could see why Portchester appealed.
To add salt into the Portchy wounds, just two minutes later, City doubled their lead. Ellie White did the initial damage with a burst of speed up the right and finding a cross, delivered perfectly for Yasmin Edwards to steer the ball past Betteridge. 2-0
Straight down the other end and a very similar 50/50 between the same two players, Maskell and Morgan. This time there were no penalty claims and only the City keeper was left requiring attention after being caught by the striker. Once again, both players were fully and fairly committed to the challenge.
The game had opened up even more by this point. Barron-Clark flashed a header just wide from a right-wing corner and Betteridge, once more, had to fly of her line, this time to block Yasmin Edwards, who had been found by a lovely Emily Harris through ball.
The visitors kept pushing and, two minutes into added time, got what was a deserved consolation goal. Lauren Aitken received the ball out wide on the left, cut inside and slotted a slide-rule ball diagonally between the City defence to find Kim Fuller, who then deftly lifted the ball over Keira Maskell. 2-1
With only a minute left on the clock, it was too late for Portchester to muster an equaliser before the referee drew a close to the game.

FT Oxford City 2 AFC Portchester 1. The defeat combined with Winchester's win at Fleet meant that Flyers would take the runners-up spot. However, both of these teams have lifted silverware this season, City retaining the Oxfordshire FA Cup and Portchester taking the League Cup. So, both can be pleased with their achievements as they look forward to what is shaping up to be an even more competitive Premier League next season.

Oxford City: Maskell, Gorman, Bough-French, Prescott-Luke, Ayres, Lester, Craven(c), Walecki, Harris, E.White, Edwards. Subs: Durham, L.White, Parsons, Tayman, O'Leary
AFC Portchester: Betteridge, Bell, Smith, Butterworth, Hillier(c), Fuller, Riley, Morgan, Barron-Clark, Nightingale, Aitken. Subs: Burchett, Meyer, Kelly

Ground Number: Re-Visit
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Portchy go close