Didcot entertain Bishops Cleeve at the Loop this evening in what is looking like a vital League game for both clubs.

Last season both the League games between us finished in draws and there will be very little in it again with both sides in pretty good form.  Cleeve have scored 16 goals in their last 3 matches and have won 15 of their 19 League matches this season.  They also managed to rest some of theitr squad for Saturday's match at Almondsbury which they won 3-1.

Didcot's injury worries seem to be clearing.  Andy Wallbridge and Grant Goodall both played in Didcot Reserves 1-0 win at Wootton Bassett on Saturday and Bradley Ward got the biggest cheer of the game when he came on as a late substitute for the Firsts at North Leigh.  All three players will be looking to be included in the squad tonight.

First news and report online here tomorrow morning.

Didcot produced an excellent performance to beat North Leigh 4-0 at Eynsham Hall Park this afternoon and book our place in the League Cup semi-final.  Full Report:

Didcot’s remarkable League Cup run continued on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-0 win at in-form North Leigh on Saturday. Town last tasted defeat in the competition in September 2002 and that record rarely looked threatened as North Leigh themselves fell to their first loss since Didcot beat them in the League in December.
Playing up the slope in the first half the visitors started brightly. Jamie Heapy dragged a shot wide of the goal from a good position and then Paul Powell’s dangerous cross into the area was cleared by Gary Wright under pressure from Ian Concannon.
At the other end North Leigh’s Simon Futcher always looked a threat on the left flank and he forced Chris Webb into a decent save early-on.
Andy Parrott’s forging run ended with a disappointing shot from just outside the box in the 18th minute but Didcot took the lead shortly afterwards.
Powell robbed Stuart Huxley on the edge of the box and he fired the ball high into the net past Richard Barrett.
Andy McCabe had a shot blocked for Leigh before Town lost make-shift striker Jack King with a facial injury that required a hospital visit and stitches.
King’s replacement, Matt Bianchini, almost made an immediate impact but his shot from 25 yards went well-wide of Barrett’s goal.
The home side finished the first half with their best spell of the game. Justin Miller brought a terrific diving save from Webb with a vicious free-kick and Miller was also just off-target with a shot in the 40th minute.
Skipper Joe Burnell headed the last chance of the opening period over Webb’s crossbar.
It didn’t take Didcot long to increase their lead after the break and again it was a piece of Powell magic that did the trick. Paul Bedwell’s free-kick was only half cleared and from a tight angle Powell drove the ball into the far corner of the net.
Hope should have pulled a goal back on the hour mark but headed narrowly wide from only 8 yards.
It was a costly miss because Parrott deftly headed home from Powell’s free-kick on the right to make it 3-0.
And Bianchini then rounded off the scoring with a fine individual goal in the 79th minute to make it 4-0 to the Railwaymen.
Futcher spurned a couple of late chances but by then the result was never in doubt.

Didcot: Webb, Beckett, Bedwell, Campbell, Green, Parrott, Jack (Jones 75), Heapy, Concannon, King (Bianchini 26), Powell (Ward 79)
 

The Reserves continued their great form with a narrow 1-0 win at Wootton Bassett - Billy Warner scored the late (but thoroughly deserved) winner.

Didcot travel to Eynsham Hall this Saturday to play North Leigh in the 3rd Round of the Hellenic League Challenge Cup.

Our record in the Competition recently has been superb - incredibly our last defeat was in September 2002 at home to Finchamsptead (a result that saw manager Pete Cox leave his post shortly afterwards).  But the game at North Leigh is arguably the toughest draw we could have got and to progress would be a terrific result.

With the postponement on Tuesday Stuart Peace will hope that the extra days rest may have improved the fitness of Bradley Ward, who continues to battle back from his groin strain, and also Grant Goodall and Andy Wallbridge.  Dave Green should be fit.

The Match tonight was called off at about 7pm after the pitch was deemed unplayable due to being frozen.  Clearly this is not ideal and we would like to apologise to the supporters who went over there for a second time only to be disappointed.  Game will now take place at Chalfont on TUES 7th Feb KO 7.45pm.

Didcot were unable to break-down a resolute Highworth defence yesterday and had to settle for a goalless draw at the Loop.  Full Report:

Despite dominating possession Didcot failed to create too many goalscoring opportunities and it was no surprise that the match ended goalless.
Most of the home side’s best moments involved Paul Powell and he almost opened the scoring in the 4th minute when his shot deflected just wide of the far post.
Jack King showed great technique with a left foot volley which also narrowly missed the target before Andy Parrott tested Highworth keeper Elliott Jackson with a shot which he saved comfortably.
Didcot’s best chance of the first half came after a terrific through-ball from Powell but King was unable to find a way past Jackson from close-range.
Jackson had no trouble with Ian Concannon’s 25 yard free-kick before the visitors created their first chance of the game. Sean Terry shot well-wide from just outside the box and then Nathan Holt should have done better with a volley which he put over the bar from 6 yards.
Didcot’s Stuart Beavon limped off injured at half-time and the re-organization saw Parrott move up-front and Paul Bedwell come into the defence.
The home side were still struggling to break down a well-organised Highworth back-line. Parrott did manage to engineer himself a chance but Jackson was equal to it and Powell had a long-range effort deflected wide.
Probably the save of the game, however, came at the other end when Chris Webb did brilliantly to turn Terry’s quickly taken free-kick around the post.
In the last ten minutes both sides had a good chance to claim the points. Concannon headed over from 6 yards following a good cross into the box by skipper Jamie Heapy.
Then Andy Minturn headed wide for Highworth after Terry had floated a free-kick into the box from the right.
There were no further opportunities for either side and a draw was probably a fair result.

Didcot: Webb, Beckett (Green 64), Jack, Campbell, Heapy, Parrott, Jones, King, Concannon, Beavon (Bedwell 46), Powell
 

Provided that the weather is OK we will play Chalfont St Peter away on Tuesday in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy.  Kick-off 7.45pm and all the news of the game online by wed morning.

Another great result for the Reserves yesterday, 5-0 at Headington Amateurs, to preserve our narrow lead at the top of the Reserve Division One table.

Didcot host the current Hellenic League Champions Highworth on Saturday looking to  consolidate our small lead at the top of the table.

We have already broken our terrible run against the Worthians with a 3-1 win at the Elm earlier in the season.  Those 3 goals were our first against them for nearly 4 years, a remarkable run given our fairly good form generally over the past few years.

Highworth a side that's showing renewed confidence and they are a different proposition to the start of the season when they were off-form.  John Fisher has really turned things around, they have one of the best squads in the League and can beat anybody on their day.

the match may have come too early for Bradley Ward who continues to battle back from his groin strain and both Grant Goodall and Andy Wallbridge remain a doubt.  Dave Green should be fit again however.  All the news and reaction from the big game on-line on Sunday.

Didcot's match with Chalfont St Peter was postponed this afternoon due to floodlight problems.  the game is likely to go ahead next Tuesday - details to follow.  in which case the Henley match would have to be re-arranged.

Draw for the Quarter Finals of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Trophy:

ROUND FIVE games to be played on Saturday 18th February 2006, kick off 1.30pm
Didcot Town Res V Cookham Dean
Kintbury Rangers V Chalfont Wasps
Aston Clinton V Stony Stratford Town
Eton Wick V Highmoor/Ibis

Didcot produced a terrific performance this afternoon in beating 2nd placed Shrivenham 3-0 in the League at the Loop.  A brace from Ian Concannon, and a brilliant strike from Paul Powell means we are now 11 points clear at the top...Match Report to follow...

Didcot returned to winning ways in the League with an impressive 3-0 win against second placed Shrivenham at the Loop Meadow on Saturday.
All the goals came in a 17 minute spell just after the break but in truth Town controlled the match for long spells and Didcot keeper Chris Webb was a virtual spectator until the closing moments of the game.
Paul Powell engineered the first opening but his shot failed to trouble Shrivenham keeper Luke Alford. Moments later Jack King fired a 20 yard effort over the bar and the Stuart Beavon’s volley deflected off defender Andrew Brien and narrowly past the far post.
The home side were attacking at will and Powell was causing the visitors all sorts of problems. In the 12th minute he beat three players before setting-up Beavon but the ball was scrambled away for a corner.
Andy Parrott was the next Didcot player to work himself space in the Shrivenham box and this time it was Glyn Jones who fired a shot inches past the far post.
Defender Danny Campbell’s volley was blocked by Alford following Ian Concannon’s corner and from Town’s next move Campbell headed just over the bar from another corner.
Powell created yet another chance for Concannon on the stroke of halftime but uncharacteristically the Didcot striker snatched at his shot and the danger was cleared.
But it took Didcot less than a minute of the second half to take the lead and it was a goal to remember. Powell was in inspired form and spotting Alford off his line he placed a precise shot from 25 yards over the head of the keeper into the roof of the net.
Within four minutes Didcot had doubled their lead. Jones broke down the left and his inside pass found Matty Jack on the edge of the 6 yard box. Initially Alford blocked Jack’s shot but the rebound was put back into the goalmouth where Concannon simply walked the ball into an unguarded net.
Powell and Jones both had long-shots off-target before Town went 3-0 up in the 62nd minute. A super Didcot move finished with Alford making a stunning save from King’s acrobatic volley. The resulting corner was played short and when it fell to Concannon in the penalty box he took his time to control the ball before thrashing it high into the net from 10 yards.
King almost scored with another audacious volley before the visitors exerted some late pressure. Steve Avenell brought a full length save from Webb and then Alex Green, who looked lively up front, headed wide from Brien’s cross.
Beavon almost embarrassed Alford with a shot from 45 yards which sailed just over the crossbar while at the other end Green should have grabbed a late consolation but with only Webb to beat his shot was smothered by the tall Didcot keeper.
Concannon came close to completing his hat-trick in the last minute after Beavon had unselfishly played the ball across the box but brave defending cleared the danger.

Didcot: Webb, Beckett (Learoyd 80), Jack, Campbell, Heapy, Parrott, Jones, King, Concannon, Beavon, Powell (Bedwell 65)
 

The Reserves beat Lambourn Sports 3-2 in the 4th Round Berks & Bucks Intermediate Trophy today, an astonishing result in the circumstances.  Manager Mark Janes always loses half of his team in the competition due to players being ineligible but this result sees us into the last four.  Billy Warner (2) and Nathan Morris were the goal scorers.  That's 10 matches unbeaten for the ressies!

Didcot look to get back to winning ways in the League on Saturday at the Loop against in-form (and 2nd placed) Shrivenham.

Shrivy have won 6 on the bounce, including big wins against Wantage and Slimbridge, and this is a big test for us just 7 days after we fell to our 2nd League defeat of the campaign at Alfredian Park.  Fortunately the clubs around us (apart from Shrivenham) also seem to have dropped points of late and there is a small gap between us and the chasing pack.

Stuart Peace looks set to welcome back Bradley Ward to his squad within the next couple of weeks, and more good news on the horizon is the likely return of Paul Hannigan in February following a knee operation.  Defender Andy Wallbridge is doubtful with a hamstring problem but otherwise we have no new injury concerns.  All the latest news and Match Report on-line on Sunday.

The Reserves play at Lambourn Sports in the 4th Round Berks & Bucks Intermediate Trophy - a terrific achievement just to get there.  Unfortunately the absence of many players through being cup-tied means Mark Janes will have a real battle on his hands - we wish them all the best.

And good luck too to the U17 who have a vital League match at Charlbury on Sunday.

A goal well into stoppage time gave Wantage a 1-0 win yesterday and condemned us to our 2nd League defeat in 20 games.  Full Report:

Didcot’s winning run in the League came to an abrupt end at Wantage on Saturday after a goal deep into stoppage time from Adam Giles earned the home side a narrow 1-0 win. The FA Vase holders must hate Alfredian Park and it’s now three years since they last scored a League goal at their near-neighbours’ ground.
In all honesty Didcot should have scored and they will feel slightly aggrieved that they didn’t take something from the game.
On a heavy pitch both sides started brightly and the game flowed end-to-end. Giles missed an early opportunity for the home side and Jack King fired a free-kick well-over for Didcot.
The visitors were extremely unfortunate not to take an 18th minute lead. Stuart Beavon headed the ball across the box for Ian Concannon to fire home only for it to be controversially ruled-out for offside.
Midway through the first half and there was another moment that will have enraged Didcot manager Stuart Peace. Beavon broke clear and Wantage keeper Sean Purcell’s desperate challenge saw him handling the ball well outside his penalty area. The referee’s assistant had a clear view of the infringement and despite flagging furiously referee Peter Smith overruled him and waved play-on. It was a key moment as the referee would have had no choice but to give show Purcell a red card.
Referee Smith wasn’t having the best of games and he then upset the home support by ignoring a clear foul on Paul Day which seemed a cast-iron penalty.
Both sides continued to play decent football on a saturated pitch. Ellis Langford brought a good save from Didcot keeper Chris Webb before Concannon had two efforts from outside the box which both went narrowly over the bar.
The first half ended with two great opportunities at either end. Giles looked certain to score after turning his defender only 10 yards out but somehow screwed his shot wide of the far post.
Didcot broke straight down the other end, Beavon’s superb cross was met by Concannon and Purcell pulled off a terrific save to deny him. The ball wasn’t cleared however, the rebound fell to King and his 25 yard shot flew just inches over the bar.
Beavon had the first chance after the break but his free-kick was comfortably saved by Purcell.
Purcell then pulled off a remarkable save to keep the scores level in the 54th minute. Jamie Heapy’s run and cross found Concannon in the box and his header was destined for the bottom corner of the net before Purcell, at full stretch, tipped the ball round the post.
Day’s shot then made Webb dive low to his right to pull-off a smart stop.
In the 73rd minute Concannon should have done better with a good chance at the far post from King’s cross. A minute later Beavon missed a glorious opportunity when he failed to beat Purcell when he only had the keeper to beat.
The closing stages of the game were filled with incident. Darren Beckett produced a brilliant last ditch tackle to deny Giles a clear goal-scoring chance while at the other end Purcell was again the hero for Wantage. Andy Parrott had two headers cleared off the line but when the ball fell to Beavon he looked certain to score from close-range. Just as the large Didcot support were set to celebrate Purcell blocked his shot and the resulting scramble eventually saw the Wantage bravely keeper claiming the ball from a tangle of legs.
The home side then had a couple of good chances to score themselves. Giles hit the side netting following a corner and then Day brought out a great save from Webb. Once again the rebound fell nicely to an attacking player but this time Beckett was on-hand to clear the ball off the line for Didcot.
With 5 minutes left Concannon put a header onto the top of the net from King’s driven free-kick.
Paul Powell had a relatively quiet game but he almost snatched a late winner for the visitors with a dipping shot which missed the target by inches.
With the game well-into stoppage time there seemed no danger whatsoever when Giles picked the ball up at least 30 yards out. He tried his luck from a narrow angle and Webb, who had otherwise had a very assured game, somehow let the ball squirm under his body and into the net to give the home side the winner.
The final whistle came seconds later and while Wantage can take great credit for bringing Didcot’s 13 game winning run to an end, ultimately it was Didcot’s inability to convert chances into goals that cost them a least a share of the points.

Didcot: Webb; Beckett; Bedwell; Campbell; Green; Parrott; Heapy; King; Concannon; Beavon; Powell.
 

The First Team now have a week off and return to League action next Saturday at home to ever improving Shrivenham.

The Reserves went back to the top of the Reserve League Div One with a 2-1 win against Highworth yesterday - goals from Matt Bianchini and Ben Sutton proved decisive.

Didcot Town's U18 Youths managed a 3-3 draw against a very good Oxford City side at the Loop last night.  Very tight at the top now in the Allied Counties League between Diddy, City, AFC Wallingford, Carterton and Buckingham Athletic.

Didcot Town Reserves are at home against Highworth tomorrow in a another important League match.  If you can't get to Wantage with the Firsts they would appreciate some support!

Didcot Town's U18 Youths are in action for the first time in the new year at the Loop tomorrow night against highly rated Oxford City.  Kick-off 7.45pm and the lads would appreciate your support!

Didcot started the new year in some style and a 3-1 win at in-form Abingdon United yesterday.

Match report:

Didcot stretched their lead at the top of the Hellenic Premier Division courtesy of two late goals in this entertaining Bank Holiday derby at Northcourt Road.
A bumper crowd of almost 600, many of which had travelled the short distance from Didcot, witnessed a game of swinging fortunes but ultimately it was the visitors who put an end to United’s incredible 14 match unbeaten run in the League.
Playing down the slope in the first half Didcot applied early pressure without really troubling United keeper Nick Heritage. Grant Goodall pulled a left foot shot wide from the edge of the box and Stuart Beavon fired over the bar, both chances coming in the first five minutes.
Heritage was soon called into action, however, when he made a fine save from Ian Concannon.
United’s first chance fell to striker Mark Simms who thumped a superb shot narrowly wide with Town’s keeper Chris Webb rooted to the spot.
Beavon finished a good move with a slightly wayward shot and his strike partner Concannon also failed to find the target midway through the half from just inside the box.
Didcot’s Andy Parrott was unfortunate to see his goalbound effort deflected wide while at the other end Michaes Herbert volleyed over the bar from a good position.
The last action of the opening period almost saw Didcot take the lead. The ball came to Jack King on the edge of the penalty area and his swerving volley was brilliantly stopped by Heritage.
It was a temporary reprieve for the home side because the visitors managed to open the scoring with their first attack of the second half. Beavon was fouled about thirty yards out and Concannon deflected King’s firmly hit free-kick past Heritage.
United nearly hit straight back when Simm’s volley from close-range flew straight at Webb.
Beavon should have doubled Didcot’s advantage following a poor clearance from Julian McCalmon. He broke clear and with only Heritage to beat he dragged a right foot shot agonizingly wide of the post.
United substitute Adam Hamp almost punished Didcot with a clever shot on the turn which missed by inches but it wasn’t long before the home side levelled in some style.
McCalmon’s free-kick was nodded into the box and Nathan Woodley showed good composure to control the ball and fire home past Webb.
It was end-to-end stuff now as both sides looked desperately for a winner. Danny Campbell volleyed over for Didcot and the Goodall cleared off the line from Abingdon’s Anaclet Odhiambo.
King then had a shot blocked on the goal-line after Heritage had fumbled a cross as Didcot exerted some late pressure. King had yet another free-kick cleared before Didcot re-took the lead with 6 minutes to go. Beavon’s shot would have been easily stopped but for a wicked deflection off McCalmon which took the ball into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later the outcome was settled and there was nothing lucky about Town’s third goal. Paul Powell broke down the left and King’s stunning finish from just outside the box gave Heritage no chance.
Powell almost added a fourth with a left-foot shot from 25 yards but Heritage saved low-down.
The last chance fell to United’s Hamp but Dave Green capped a superb defensive display with a last-ditch tackle to clear the danger.

Didcot: Webb; Goodall; Heapy; Campbell; Green; Parrott; Jack Beckett 60); King; Concannon (Bedwell 88); Beavon; Powell.
 

Our next First team match is as Wantage on Saturday - Full preview of that game online later in the week.