Report

The two teams both came to the match in order to secure third place in the league table. The winner would consolidate their position above the other. In the end it was the ability of each team to harness the strong crosswind that would decide the outcome of the game.

Oadby worked a good passing game at ground level, whilst Foxes play worked best using a high ball to bypass Oadby’s midfield, to allow the superior speed upfront of Alex Henfrey, Sam Davis & Josh Tapsell to  outpace the defence.

Play was concentrated on the downwind side of the pitch, but a break by Thomas Bennett on the windward side found space, which allowed him to take a clean strike over the head of the goalkeeper to open up an early lead.

The second goal from Foxes came with a pass from Josh Tapsell to Sam Ripley coming straight  back to Josh Tapsell on a run through; his resulting shot managing to end in the net, somehow bypassing a packed box.

Oadby kept their heads. A run by Sam Davies in to the Oadby penalty box looked a sure goal, but he was brought down by the last defender. As Melton protested for a penalty, Oadby had returned the ball straight back up the field where Melton was short of players and the made the score 1-2.

The second half started with a determined Oadby making the running, pressing Melton back until the inevitable equaliser came, the heroic efforts of Melton’s goalkeeper Jack Baker stopping any further goals.

As the wind picked up, play became a frustrating battle along the downwind side, becoming so difficult, that during free kicks, the ball had to be held down by a second player, as it refused to stay still when placed. A period of close quarter play ensued, with neither team able to gain significant advantage, with the wind constantly driving the ball out of play on the downwind side.

A crunch tackle left Josh Tapsell being carried off with a suspect knee injury.  The substitution and reshuffle left Calhoun Shear on the left wing for the last 10 minutes, where he found previously unused space on the upwind side to suitably worry the Oadby defence. The extra space meant that speed was useful instead of the game of attrition prevalent on the other side of the pitch.

The change in pace was too late though to change the score. With both teams just about equal in the league, it will be each team’s performance in their remaining games that will determine which of the two teams comes highest on the league at the end of the season.