SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Oxon close in on semis (From Bicester Advertiser)

SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Oxon close in on semis

10:00am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Sport

Oxfordshire Under 16s boosted their hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the South West Counties competition with a 2-1 win over Berkshire at Newbury Town.

Oxon have now completed their league programme with victories over Dorset and Berkshire, but a defeat by Hampshire.

The top two teams in the section will join Somerset and Cornwall, who have qualified from the south west group, in the last four.

With three members of the squad withdrawing on the day of the match against Berkshire, Oxfordshire only had 11 fully fit players.

However, they dominated the game and missed numerous chances, although Berkshire always looked dangerous on the break.

Kaylem Patterson was thwarted by excellent saves from home keeper Matt Jones twice in the first half.

And it wasn’t until early in the second half that Oxfordshire broke the deadlock.

A curling free-kick from George Reid eluded everybody and flew into the net via the far post.

Berkshire equalised when a through ball allowed Callum Ferguson to score.

But Oxfordshire secured victory when Patterson’s shot deflected off a defender into the Berkshire net for an own goal.

VALE of White Horse Under 15s swept aside Mid Oxon 3-0 in the Wright Cup semi-final at Milton United.

Joel Thompson lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Joe Whittingham to give Vale the lead after 20 minutes.

Jack Westhead sidefooted home No 2 early in the second half after good work from Jack Powell, whose corner led to David Wilcox scoring Vale’s third from close range.