14/09/2014 FARINGDON 0 v CUMNOR MINORS 11

The first game of the new season - a sunny, early autumnal day in Faringdon and the team scrubbed up nicely modelling their new aqua marine (or is that cerulean blue?) strips.  Anyway it's a great colour because you can spot see the boys from a mile off.  Everyone looked up for it - and there were some really special haircuts on display.  The game started with the boys playing up hill into a bit of a wind.  But it didn't seem to put them off and they started to move the ball around well.    Cumnor were getting forward from the start playing some attractive football around the penalty area.   A rather vocal Cumnor supporter on the touchline felt it was all a bit 'tippy-tappy' but the rest of the crowd were rather enjoying the tips and the taps.  Mehmet and Harry were combining really well up the left, and making his Cumnor debut Will provided pace and options with George M and Dom up the right. Cumnor were camped in the Faringdon half.   The first goal game after Harry blootered it against the bar from close range, Dom headed the rebound and Tom tucked it in.  The chances started coming aplenty - Harry blasting over, Will running into the box and Tom hitting the post.   In their first real attack a free kick from Faringdon was deflected onto the bar. Cam and George M looked strong at the back setting Will off up the right, with John using his speed to clear up when Faringdon threatened to break.  Then the goals started to come - Harry's crosses were inch perfect. Dom slotted in the second.  Then Mehmet slipped in Tom for a delightful dink over the keeper - pure class 3-0.  Another two crosses from Harry found Dom for 4 and 5, Dom's hat-trick.  Everyone was pushing forward and there were some great passing moves.  Tom laid off the ball for Jamie to rifle in the sixth goal.  George M surged forward for a shot saved at the near post.   Then Harry yet again crossed with real precision - this time for Jamie to head home.   It had been a busy half with George D putting himself about in midfield.   Just after half-time playing with the slope Will burst through and blasted it through the keeper's hands to score on his debut and make it 8 .  Scott also came on to make his debut in the second half and played with real strength and quality at right back. And Matthew attacked with purpose further up the field and came close to scoring.  With everyone pushing up, Faringdon were starting to pose more of a threat, and having had little to do, Adam was called into action in a one-on-one to pull off a save.  The management started to rotate the subs, providing some interesting combinations.  Jamie was strong attacking down the left and Will's speed was causing trouble and he had a few chances but found the net a bit elusive. Then Harry's eighth penetrating cross of the game found Cam fully extended sliding in at the far post to score. Will then burst through again and beat the keeperand this time slotted

home his second.  And finally to round off a strong first game Will and Tom combined for goal 11.   Respect to Faringdon who kept going to the end.  Thanks to Ollie for forcing himself out of bed after a late-night out to run the line.  A convincing performance, a clean sheet and a great start to the season. Come on you cerulean blues!

Man of the match:  Jamie 'The Quiff' Taylor