Rhubarb

St Edward’s

Football

A hastily assembled yet relatively

experienced team of OSE football stars

took to the hallowed turf of Corfe pitch.

A formidable defence, pivoted by

Simon

Barrington-Ward

(E, 2006-2011) and

Henry Maas

(H, 2004-2009) in the

middle with the ever energetic duo of

Joe Robinson

(H, 2003-2008) and

Harry McHugh

(E, 2004-2009) in the

fullback positions. The Martyrs, setting

themselves up in a 4-3-1-2 formation,

had

ZackTaylor

(B, 2004-2009),

Ben

Clayton

(B, 2003-2008) and Anders Fries

anchoring the midfield, with

Rob Morgan

(B, 2007-2009) and

Folarin Bajomo

(C, 2006-2011) playing free roaming roles

linking the midfield to the attack. Up front

was the secret weapon, our very own

WMD,

DuncanWilson MacDonald

(H, 2004-2006) - supported by the tireless

Mikey Standing.

After a fairly positive start from both

sides the game soon settled into something

reminiscent of a Stoke v Sunderland

match. The game needed a spark, and out

of nowhere a relatively harmless cross was

sensationally headed in by the St Edward’s

XI star striker. What followed was equally

as bizarre, a philandering goalkeeper

stranded awfully out of position (Maas had

picked up the gloves at this point) was left

embarrassed after a fairly mediocre shot

rustled in the back of the net.

2-0 down at half time, with the majority

of the old-timers complaining about one

injury or another, it was looking bleak for

the Martyrs. A quick reshuffle in defence,

with McHugh taking the gloves and a

switch to the unorthodox 3-5-1-1, the

Martyrs set out to restore some pride.

However, with only 13 minutes left on

the clock the old boys were still 0-2

down. A stonewall penalty provided the

inspiration they needed, with Taylor calmly

slotting home to make it 1-2. Two quick

fire goals in the space of three minutes,

the latter a goal mouth scramble with

WMD and Morgan both claiming it, did

the job for the Martyrs who managed to

hold on for a well-deserved ‘W’ and the

beers that followed during lunch in the

Martyrs pavilion.

Henry Maas

(H, 2004-2009)

2005 Martyrs

On a cold crisp winters morning the Class of

2005 Martyrs descended on West London

to set about avenging last year’s penalty

shootout defeat to the old enemy. After the

success of last year’s game which was set up

Ben Riley

(A, 2000-2005) and Marcus

Turner of Radley, there was a great turnout

with 14 of the 2005 leavers coming from

near and far for the match.

The opposition featured mainly old boys

from the same year group with a few ringers

from other years, fittingly with connections

to the 2005 Teddies year group. After a

solid warm up of corners and long shots,

the match began at noon with the dull

drone of the M40 in the back ground. The

Rhubarb team started strongly with some

good early possession and a couple of shots

from distance that failed to trouble the

Radley gloveman.

The first clear cut chances fell to the boys

from North Oxford in identical fashion, first

Adam Reeve

(C, 2000-2005) and then

Ross Kerr

(F, 2000-2005) managed to

sneak in round the back off corners and head

wide when unmarked. With Teddies failing

to convert their early chances and use the

low sun to their advantage, the Reds went on

the attack testing

Nick Gleave

(F, 2000-

2005) between the sticks and forcing him

into a couple of smart saves in the frosty

goalmouth. The rest of the half was an

even contest with no side really taking

the upper hand and chances were few and

far between.

Radley started the second half the

stronger forcing a corner and managed

to capitalise where the Teddies boys

had spurned chances earlier, heading in

unmarked to the back post to take the lead

like they did last year. The Rhubarbs tried

to get themselves back in the game but

were caught on the counter attack with

the Reds captain playing in their left winger.

Two Teddies defenders went diving in but

could not stop a lovely strike from going

into the far corner.

The OSE were up against it and had

to emulate last year’s comeback to draw

with the South Oxfordshire side, just to

force penalties and avenge their shootout

heartbreak. Yet, the midfield were caught

too far up the field, as was the referee

missing the Radley captain a good couple

of yards offside when he duly slotted past

the hapless Gleave in goal.

Back Row -Ross Kerr, Jonathan Skull, Bertie Conibear, Mark Perry, Nick Gleave, Ben Ridgway, Tom MacDonald,

John Barrett. Front Row - Tom Allen, Georges Haines, Jack Teasdale, Ben Riley, Adam Reeve, Will Power

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