Vic’s View
Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division
Saturday 26th September 2026
Team: Bennington, Jackson (H) (45m Aidi), Clarke (80m Myers), Morgan-Allen, Robinson, Oliver, Shayler, Gray, Olawuyi (75m Morton), Ghrab, Holloway
On a bright sunny Saturday afternoon in September the Blanketmen travelled to the league leaders in a keenly anticipated fixture. It took just over a minute for the first goal scoring chance of the game as the Abingdon forward latched onto a through ball. He lobbed Witney goalkeeper Tom Bennington. Fortunately for the visitors the ball also cleared the cross bar. The visitors settled forcing a corner and a half chance which the keeper just beat Adam Holloway to. The home side were creating through some tight control and their favoured ball over the top, Bennington being called into action with a couple of comfortable saves. Just after the half hour Holloway produced Witney’s first shot on goal after excellent work from the impressive Will Shayler. Witney finished the half strongly but without finding any clear openings. End of first half 0-0.
A bright start to the second half for the visitors saw Oki Olawuyi fire just wide. Witney forced a corner that Ryan Oliver headed wide at the back post. After an hour of the game the tide seemed to turn as the hosts stepped up a gear. Witney were having to work hard to weather the storm but in the 73rd minute they conceded a penalty when the ball was handled by Jack Robinson. MacKenzie Castle stepped forward to take the penalty, but Bennington was up to the task, making a comfortable save. Witney were being restricted to long range efforts, Shayler hitting the best of these, just over the bar. With a little over 5 minutes remaining Abingdon forced a corner from which Bennington made a good save. From the resultant corner Abingdon took the lead as Castle curled the corner kick straight into the Witney goal. Witney weren’t finished as Jack Morton chipped the home keeper who just managed to tip the ball over the bar. With the last kick of the game Morton forced another save which was just kept out to earn the home side a hard fought 1-0 victory.
#Up.The.Blanketmen.
Report by Ian Dibley