Didcot moved 10 points clear following a comfortable 4-0 win last night against Almondsbury at the Loop.  Ian Concannon grabbed all four in what was a comprehensive display by all the team.  Match Report...

Almondsbury’s young side were unable to seriously trouble the home side who enjoyed plenty of possession and for long periods camped themselves down in their opponent’s half.
Despite being in control Didcot were unable to test Almonds keeper Lionel Fear in the early exchanges. Ian Concannon rattled the crossbar with a brilliant free-kick and then Andy Parrott headed agonizingly wide following great approach play from striker Stuart Beavon.
The opening goal arrived midway through the first half and it was a moment that Almondsbury’s Grant Monelle will want to forget. He completely misjudged a back-pass and Concannon scored past Fear at the second attempt.
The goal seemed to spur Didcot onto the offensive and the second goal came after a period of intense pressure. Beavon brought a terrific save from Fear but the rebound fell to Concannon who made no mistake with a clever chip into the far corner of the net.
Concannon then had a good chance to claim a first-half hat-trick but he sliced a volley wide from close-range.
The first chance of the second period also fell to Concannon but Fear made a super save to keep the score at 2-0.
Fear then pulled off a diving save from Jamie Heapy’s long-range effort and then denied Paul Powell with another stunning stop.
Substitute Billy Warner was the next player to test Fear with a shot from distance but the in-form keeper was equal to it.
Didcot did manage to find their way past him in the closing stages however. Concannon grabbed his, and Didcot’s third goal, with a neat piece of skill and low shot in the 83rd minute.
The home side were then awarded a penalty for handball by Rob Sheriton. Grant Goodall was given the chance of scoring his first goal for Didcot in his 125th appearance but his spot-kick was saved by Fear low to the his right.
It was only a temporary reprieve for the Almonds because in the last minute Powell’s audacious shot from 40 yards came back off the post and Concannon couldn’t miss from the rebound.

Didcot: Webb, Goodall, Heapy, Campbell, Green (Bedwell 60), Parrott, Beckett (Jones 77), King, Concannon, Beavon (Warner 46), Powell
 

The First Team travel to Northcourt Road to play Abingdon United on Monday (See above Preview).  A Big game so be there to give the lads all the support we can.

Didcot entertain Almondsbury Town tomorrow evening (Friday 30th December KO 7.45pm) for what will be our last match of 2005.

We are on a good run in the League, ten wins in a row, and Almondsbury have had a testing season so far along with a change of manager.  However, our next three opponents (Almonds, Abingdon Utd and Wantage) all beat us last season and ultimately those results cost us the League title.  Stuart and the lads will be desperate to gain revenge over the forthcoming week.

Thankfully there were no new injury problems following the Milton game.  Bradley Ward attended that game and he is hopeful to be back playing within 3 weeks, a massive boost for us at this point of the season.

With the inclement weather around I will endeavour to post any news on conditions at the Loop on the Message Board tomorrow.  WE WILL BE SELLING FLEECY HATS AND SCARVES AT THE GAME TOMORROW.  THE CLUB ARE ASKING ALL ITS SUPPORTERS TO WEAR THEIR CLUB COLOURS AT BOTH THE ABINGDON AND WANTAGE MATCHES.  NO EXCUSES.

TODAY'S HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER MATCH AT HOME TO MILTON UNITED IS DEFINITELY ON!  See you there...

The First Team managed to put their Vase disappointment behind them with a good 2-1 win at Chalfont wasps today.  A goal in each half by Paul Bedwell and Stuart Beavon put us 2 up before a late Wasps goal put them back in it but we held-out to secure a place in the 3rd Round.  The First Team have no more matches until after Christmas when we play Milton United on 27th December at the Loop.

Congratulations to the Reserves who produced a stunning 6-2 win at North Leigh, a side containing a number of First team players coming back from suspension and injury.  Rod Dorrian and Matt Bianchini both notched hat-tricks - superb result lads.

Didcot will be playing host to Reading Reserves on Wednesday 4th January when they play Millwall in the Avon Combination League - Kick-off 2pm.  All are welcome but we will be charging a entrance fee likely to be in the region of £2 adults, £1 concessions and 50p kids. 

Town's First Team match at home to Slimbridge has been re-arranged for Tues 21 Feb.

Didcot crashed out of the FA Vase last night with a 2-1 reverse at Mildenhall Town of the Eastern Counties League.  Match Report:

With a considerable slope in their favour in the first-half Mildenhall once again took the game to Didcot in the early stages. Striker Neil Docking had already brought a save from Chris Webb before the home side took a 6th minute lead. Alan North cut-in from the left and this time Webb was beaten at his near-post. Although Didcot were quiet in the opening quarter hour they did gradually impose themselves as the game wore-on. Stuart Beavon shot well-over from distance but it was Docking who came closer to scoring at the other end when he headed wide on the half-hour. Didcot, however, were unfortunate not to level on the stroke of half-time. Andy Wallbridge thumped a header against the post and Andy Parrott's follow-up shot was held by keeper Ben Nower.
Playing with even more purpose Didcot immediately hit back after the break. A nice move ended with Ian Concannon playing-in strike partner Beavon who thumped the ball home past Nower.
The home side came close through Owen Paynter but Didcot's Paul Powell missed a super chance in the 70th minute when he dragged his shot wide of the far post with the goal gaping in front of him.
Mildenhall grabbed an 85th minute winner in controversial circumstances when keeper Webb appeared to have been fouled and Tom Hobbs scored from the loose ball. Despite the protests the referee awarded the goal and the holders were on their way out of the competition they had won at White Hart Lane back in May.
Webb, Goodall, Heapy, Campbell, Wallbridge, Parrott, Jack (Bedwell 71), King, Concannon, Beavon, Powell

Apart from the opening few minutes Didcot were just about shaded it last night, the 'winning' goal probably should not have been allowed to stand, and we did everything but equalise in the last few minutes.  However, you have to give credit to Mildenhall who should have wrapped the tie-up in the first match with two glaring misses when 3-2 up and as underdogs they have performed with great distinction over the two matches.  We wish them all the best in the next round at Dorking and in the rest of the competition.

Clearly it's a bitter blow for us, as holders, to go out in only the 3rd Round this season.  But in many ways that says more about the Vase than any deficiency in our team - is there another competition in football where so many clubs (of similar ability) have a realistic chance of winning?  The Mildenhall manager said on Saturday that his players played 30% better than usual because they were playing the holders, and that sort of extra effort from our opponents was always going to make it extremely hard for us this season.  Time to move on...

On Saturday we are in Challenge Cup action at Chalfont Wasps.  Kick-off is 1.30pm.  Full preview of that match later in the week.

Didcot have been drawn away at Dorking of the Ryman League Division 2 should they come through tonight's tough looking Vase 3rd Round replay at Mildenhall.

All games are hard at this stage but the winners of tonight's match will feel they have a realistic opportunity of making the last 16 of the competition, which makes the Mildenhall game all the more important.

Didcot manager Stuart Peace was giving nothing away after the first tie on Saturday but he intimated that squad rotation may influence the decision on his starting XI.

Irrespective of the line-up Didcot will have to assert some dominance in midfield if we are to come away from Suffolk with a positive result.  Despite creating some decent chances Didcot failed to control the game for long spells, unusual for us in matches at the Loop this season.  But it will be interesting to see how Mildenhall's game plan may change with home advantage.

There were no new injury concerns on Saturday so we should have a full squad to choose from except for Ward and Hannigan.

Match Report and reflection of the game will be posted on-line by tomorrow morning.

Didcot somehow managed to stay in the FA Vase yesterday with a terrific late-comeback both in normal time and extra-time to force a replay at Mildenhall on Tuesday.  Match Report below.

There is a coach going to Mildenhall on Tuesday, leaving the Loop at approx 3pm.  Places on here will be limited so there is no guarantee of a seat - priority of course to regular supporters.  Car drivers will find the Recway ground in Mildenhall by following this link

The Slimbridge match, scheduled for Tuesday, is therefore cancelled.

FA Vase holders Didcot Town, and Eastern Counties Premier outfit Mildenhall, contrived to produce an astonishing 3rd Round tie at the npower Stadium on Saturday. Late equalizers, two own goals, a sending off and a 4-4 draw after extra-time means the two teams meat again at Mildenhall’s Recway ground on Tuesday evening. But that is only half the story as both sides attacked relentlessly from the kick-off.
Mildenhall arrived as underdogs but that clearly suited them and they started in confident style. Gareth Simpson forced Didcot’s Grant Goodall into a goal-line clearance with the games first meaningful opportunity.
A long goal-kick from Chris Webb gave Ian Concannon the first chance for the home side but he volleyed over from a good position and only keeper Ben Nower to beat.
Didcot’s Dave Green almost opened the scoring when his deflected header bounced inches wide before Graham Rush headed off-target for Mildenhall from a corner.
In the 13th minute Stuart Beavon missed a great opportunity when he broke clear but Rush made a brave block and the ball was cleared.
It was end-to-end stuff as the visitors broke away and Neal Docking volleyed narrowly over.
Didcot gradually took control and they duly opened the scoring midway through the first half. Concannon interchanged passes with Matty Jack, the ball was then played into Jack King who turned smartly a rolled a left-foot shot past Nower into the far corner of the net.
The home side almost added another when the impressive Paul Powell fired a swerving shot from 25 yards that was deflected just wide of Nower’s near post. Unfortunately a young supporter took the full force of Powell’s effort and he was knocked clean off his feet.
The first half ended with Mildenhall’s Niall Inman firing over from close range and Beavon bringing a low save from Nower but there were no further goals before the interval.
HT 1-0
Whatever Mildenhall manager Trevor Munns said to his team at half-time he would do well to make a note of it because his players responded magnificently.
A mistake from Goodall let-in Owen Paynter within moments of the re-start but the busy striker stabbed the ball wide.
However, it took the visitors just four minutes of the second half to equalize. A thumping free-kick from Alan North caused Didcot’s defenders in the 6 yard box and Green inadvertently deflected the ball past Webb for an unfortunate own-goal.
Mildenhall were totally in control at this point and Paynter wasted a great opportunity to play-in Docking with only Webb to beat before Goodall cleared another terrific cross from North from underneath his own cross-bar and away for a corner.
It was no surprise at all when Mildenhall took the lead on the hour-mark. Poor Didcot defending gave Docking a chance and while his fierce right-foot shot took a slight deflection Webb would have been beaten anyway by the ferocity of the shot.
Didcot looked stunned but falling behind did seem to galvanize their players and they immediately exerted some pressure of their own. Beavon’s 25 yard shot flew wide and then Concannon saw his header saved comfortably following another Powell cross from the right.
Mildenhall weathered the pressure and looked to have settled the game when Didcot conceded another own goal with 20 minutes left. North caused problems with another inswinging free-kick and Town substitute Jamie Heapy’s flicked header gave Webb no chance.
With a two goal deficit Didcot threw caution to the wind and threw players forward in attempt to hit-back immediately.
Andy Parrott was extremely unlucky not to score when his shot struck the crossbar and Powell brought a smart save from Nower while, at the other end, Docking shot wide with Webb beaten.
Just when it seemed that Town’s hold on the Vase was finally coming to an end Beavon burst clear to score with just 6 minutes of normal time remaining.
At 3-2 down, and time running out, the home side pushed everyone forward and inevitably Mildenhall had chances at the other end to settle things.
Beavon’s header was saved by Nower, Concannon had a goal-bound shot blocked and Goodall’s left-foot volley was saved just under his crossbar by Nower.
But the telling moment of the match came when the visitors broke away deep into stoppage time. Paynter side-stepped Webb and with an open goal, and only 8 yards out, he inexplicably put his shot wide of the goal. He actually had another opportunity seconds later which Danny Campbell cleared off the line, and these misses would be a pivotal moment in the game. With the referee set to blow for time Didcot broke up-field and Concannon was on-hand to bundle the ball home after Nower failed to hold-on to Powell’s shot.
FT 3-3
It was the last action of normal time but this action packed match was far from over.
Extra-time started in dramatic fashion when the visitors took the lead again with their first attack. Substitute Tom Hobbs fed Paynter inside the box and he put his earlier profligacy behind him with a stunning shot which flew into the top corner of the goal to put Mildenhall 4-3 up.
Didcot were once more chasing the game and Beavon almost equalized within a minute but for Nower’s brave save lowdown.
Mildenhall were defending resolutely and despite the home side’s best efforts chances were few and far between. However, King shot wide from distance and Beavon headed over from Heapy’s cross.
HT ET 3-4
In the second period of extra-time Campbell headed narrowly wide before North was sent-off for the visitors, presumably for dissent, in the closing stages.
Fittingly there was another twist to come and Didcot made it 4-4 in the last minute. Substitute Andy Wallbridge played a great ball into the box, Powell broke away from his marker and thumped a terrific volley high into the roof of the net past Nower.
The final whistle came moments later and this remarkable game had seen its last action. Both sides were warmly applauded off the pitch at the end, but that was no more than the players deserved.
FT AET 4-4

Didcot: Webb, Goodall, Beckett (Heapy 63), Campbell, Green (Wallbridge 105), Parrott, Jack, King, Concannon (Bedwell 109), Beavon, Powell
 

Please note that the Almondsbury game is now on Friday 30th December at the Loop, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Reserves went top of the League with a stunning 5-1 win against Henley Town. 

Didcot return to Vase action on Saturday with a home 3rd Round tie against Mildenhall Town of the Eastern Counties Premier Division.

Mildenhall are in good form, winning their last 3 matches, despite their lowly looking 16th position in the League.  They have won 7 of their 16 League games and they are particularly impressive on the road having already beaten one of the Vase favourites (and last season quarter finalists) Bury Town 2-1 away from home.

Didcot manager Stuart Peace is not taking them lightly: "This will be a massive test for us.  People forget that until last year making the 3rd Round of the Vase was almost breaking new ground for this football club.  Our record over the past 10 years was very modest but the expectations are now much greater.  This is the last 64 of the competition and Mildenhall will be coming here with nothing to lose and fancying their chances.  I would hope that we can make home advantage count but we will still have to perform or we'll be punished."

Stuart's squad has been boosted with the addition of Andy Wallbridge and the return from suspension of Paul Bedwell.  Bradley Ward and Paul Hannigan remain sidelined.

The Reserves will look to boost their League title chances with a victory on Saturday against fellow high-fliers Henley Town.  The match goes ahead on our second pitch at 1pm - the first competitive adult fixture to take place there.  We are producing a small 12 page A5 programme to commemorate the event - there will be no admission charged but the programme will cost £1.  There will be ample time for spectators to watch both the Reserves and the First Team on Saturday.

Didcot Town are in the process of completing the paperwork which will see defender Andy Wallbridge return to the club from Brackley Town.  Wallbridge (who started out as a youngster at Oxford Utd before spells at Oxford City, Banbury Utd, Wantage Town and most recently Brackley) played 24 times for Didcot in season 2003-2004, scoring twice, and he will further boost a squad which, when everyone is fit, will pose manager Stuart Peace a few selection headaches.

BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...

Didcot Town FC won the BBC TV South Award for the Non-League team of the Year this evening at an award ceremony in Southampton.  At an event which also saw Kevin Pieterson, Hampshire Cricket Club and Dame Ellen MacArthur also claim awards, Stuart Peace, John Bailey, Jamie Heapy and Mark Roberts received their trophy in front of 200 famous guest and dignitaries. Highlights due to be shown on BBC South News on Monday evening at 6.30pm - Congratulations to all.

Didcot's First Team managed a fine 1-0 win against 2nd placed North Leigh in the League at the Loop yesterday.  Full Report:

A single goal just after half-time from Didcot’s Ian Concannon settled a hard-fought top-of-the-table clash against North Leigh at the npower Stadium on Saturday.
There was little to choose between them but ultimately it was the home side’s cutting edge up-front that extended their winning run to twelve matches.
North Leigh started well and almost took the lead in the third minute. Robbie Wyatt caught the Didcot defence napping and his through-ball gifted Justin Miller a glorious chance which he flicked wide of the post.
Didcot were soon onto the offensive themselves and Concannon should have done better with a close-range chance following good work by Andy Parrott.
A smartly worked free-kick from the visitors ended with Andy Helby firing a shot narrowly over from 30 yards, and Didcot’s Jack King was similarly unfortunate to see his long-range effort miss the target by inches.
Paul Powell engineered Didcot’s next opportunity but Dave Green headed wide from 12 yards but it was North Leigh who came closest to taking the lead just before the break. While the Town defence waited for an offside flag Wyatt scampered clear but with only Chris Webb to beat his slight hesitation allowed the big keeper to clear the ball at the expense of a throw-in.
North Leigh would probably reflect that they had edged the first half but it was Didcot who applied all the early pressure after the interval. A brilliant run from Powell was eventually cleared for a corner, which was taken by Concannon, and Stuart Beavon should have at least hit the target with a header from 6 yards.
It was a temporary reprieve for the visitors and the winning goal arrived very shortly afterwards. Grant Goodall worked himself some space on the right and Concannon was on-hand to force his resulting cross home from close range.
Beavon should probably have doubled the lead on the hour but he was foiled when clean-through by a brave save by Leigh’s keeper Richard Barrett.
Danny Campbell miscued his shot following another good break by King before Webb saved smartly at the other end from Wyatt.
Despite plenty of possession North Leigh were unable to seriously threaten the Town goal and whenever the ball did go into the box they found Didcot keeper Webb in confident form.
Didcot had a great chance to score just before the end when Beavon chose to go it alone with Concannon better placed to score but with the final whistle coming seconds after it wasn’t a costly moment.

Didcot:Webb, Goodall, Heapy, Campbell, Green (Bedwell 83), Parrott, Beckett (Jack 63), King, Concannon, Beavon, Powell
 

The First Team have no midweek games but are next in action in the Fa Vase next Saturday.  Full preview to come later in the week.

Arguably the result of the day came at Letcombe as Mark Janes's Reserve team beat them 1-0 in the B&B Intermediate Trophy.  They are now the last Reserve Team left in the competition (quarter finals).  Top stuff.

Apologies for all the confusion, our next Away fixture is now definitely the Challenge Cup tie at Chalfont Wasps on Saturday 17th December.  This weekend's programme is wrong (again!!!!)

Didcot entertain 2nd placed North Leigh in the biggest Hellenic League match of the season so far on Saturday.

Town are on a terrific run with 11 straight victories but North Leigh are themselves having a great season and will provide a very real test of our credentials at the Loop Meadow.  Despite a 1-0 reverse earlier in the week at Ardley, Mark Gee's side have been the League frontrunners until we overtook them a couple of weeks ago.

What will be in the back of Stuart Peace's mind is the fact that Highworth's double over us last season ultimately cost us the title. With Cleeve, Abingdon United and North Leigh yet to play us this year these matches have extra significance, and they look ever more likely to decide the destiny of the title this year.

Didcot will be without Bradley Ward, but otherwise everyone who was available for the Carterton game should be available.  Paul Bedwell returns from suspension but is likely to get his fitness back with the Reserves.

All the news and reaction from Saturday's game can be found here on-line on Sunday.