Tonbridge Invicta Under 16's v Oxted & District

THAT OXTED JINX!

OXTED & DISTRICT 4 TONBRIDGE INVICTA 4

15.12.02

There is no doubt that we are a better side than Oxted but somehow they always seem to be particularly "up" for the game with us and perform above themselves. Unfortunately they did not break that habit on this occasion and we found ourselves two goals down and second to most balls by half time.

We started well and looked like we might score in the first ten minutes but gradually we took our foot off the gas and allowed Oxted to believe in themselves. Poor marking gave one of their forwards a chance to convert a header on 15 minutes and a little later a piece of bad luck struck, when a ball that seemed to be coming easily through to Ben Fitzer suddenly stopped dead in the mud and an Oxted player was able to nip in and prod the ball home.

About ten minutes into the second half sloppy defending gifted them another headed goal and we looked like we had a mountain to climb at 3-0 down. To our credit we now started to play in earnest and it wasn't long before our pressure got some reward. Aaron Medgett recorded his first goal for the side when he headed in a corner to give us some belief.

Then disaster struck once more. An Oxted break led to yet another goal conceded. We simply did not shut down one of their forwards well enough and he was able to fire a shot into our net! At 4-1 down it seemed unlikely that we would come back.

But we steeled ourselves for a last effort and really got some sustained pressure going. Daniel Powell received the ball just inside the Oxted half. He went on a mazy run which seemed to be going nowhere when suddenly he burst through the Oxted back line and fired an unstoppable shot into the net, giving their keeper no chance.

Now we were buzzing. Daniel Howse grabbed number three when he made a fine run from midfield into the box and slotted the ball just inside the post. Our comeback was complete when route one paid off. Andrew Jarrett launched a long kick up field and Daniel Powell ran on, beating the Oxted defence to the ball. He made no mistake in the one on one situation.

In truth we were by far the better side in the second half and failed to take numerous chances that we created. It was a great shame that we did not come out on top, but considering our precarious position at times in this match, we must be happy with a point.