Set plays make the difference!

Wallingford made their short corners count as they left the city with an impressive victory.

Seven points out of nine from our opening three games in Division 5 North is a strong return and the win over Oxford is another confidence booster.

However, it was for different reasons than the previous week when a fluid performance full of fine link up play defeated Berkhamsted & Hemel Hempstead. We didn’t quite hit those heights against a strong Oxford side, but our short corners made the difference.

My old PE teacher once said ‘practice makes better, not perfect’ and our run throughs at training paid off as we scored from three of our four shorts. 

Ben H deflected in the first, before Oxford equalised to make it 1-1 at the break. Seven minutes into the second half and we retook the lead from open play, Harry A scoring his fourth of the season by beating the keeper on his reverse from a tight angle, with his fellow forward Rich H watching on proudly.

The visitors won their fair share of shorts, but we defended superbly - George G standing strong while we cleared his pads brilliantly. At the other end, we were clinical from our set pieces and we scored from our next two. Player of the match Fraser B swept home to make it 3-1, before Baz S got our fourth as he reacted quickest after another effort from Fraser was saved.

A morale-boosting victory against a tough team as we climb to second in the table.