A MAGNIFICANT EIGHT

Reserves on the road... another away game and another away victory, showcasing the impressive depth and skill of the squad.

Today, the reserves participated in the highly anticipated first round of the new Oxfordshire Trophy, a prestigious county cup competition that brings together reserve, development, and third teams from across Oxfordshire County. This tournament is known for its competitive nature and provides a valuable opportunity for teams to demonstrate their abilities on a larger stage. Their opponents today were Bodicote Sport Reserves, a team competing in the Banbury and Jersey District Division 2, which has been known to pose challenges for visiting teams.

The reserves entered the match riding high on the momentum of their recent performance, following a staggering 12-0 victory in the Clarendon Cup against Bicester Park. The confidence gained from such a dominant display was palpable as they took to the field, eager to continue their winning streak and make a mark in the new tournament.

The game commenced with Bodicote creating several early chances, testing the resilience of the Woodstock defense. However, it wasn't long before the reserves found their rhythm, displaying a combination of skillful passing and strategic movement that began to generate opportunities in front of goal. The first breakthrough came in the 7th minute when Willian Flausino, showcasing his agility and technique, skillfully bypassed the defenders and slotted the ball past the Bodicote goalkeeper, igniting the Woodstock bench and fans alike. Just five minutes later, the reserves doubled their lead when Mauro Esteves expertly placed the ball into the net, demonstrating his composure under pressure.

In a remarkable display of attacking prowess, right-back Felipe Boeing joined the scoring spree two minutes later, dribbling past several defenders before finding the back of the net, further extending Woodstock's lead. The momentum continued to build as Iuri Esteves and Ricardo Carniero each found the net within a minute of each other, bringing the score to an astonishing 5-0 in favor of Woodstock within just 18 minutes of play. Just before halftime, Willian scored his second goal with a beautifully placed left-footed shot from outside the box, although he sustained a knock just before the break, raising concerns for his fitness going forward.

HALF TIME: Bodicote Sports Reserves 0, Woodstock Town Reserves 6

As the teams returned for the second half, Manager Adam Swift made five strategic changes to the lineup, aiming to refresh the team and adjust their approach. This tactical shift allowed Bodicote to gain a foothold in the match, and eight minutes into the second half, a misstep by goalkeeper Simon Ball presented Bodicote's number 9 with a golden opportunity, resulting in a goal that made it 6-1 and briefly reignited hope for the home side. The match became more balanced as both teams began to create chances, with Bodicote pushing forward in search of more goals while Woodstock sought to reassert their dominance.

Woodstock managed to regain their scoring touch when Ricardo netted his second goal of the match half an hour into the second half, restoring a sense of control for the reserves. The final goal for Woodstock came from center-back Danylo Silva, who capitalized on a missed penalty by Felype Mandu, further solidifying the team's commanding lead.

However, the match took a serious turn when it was unfortunately halted five minutes from the end due to a severe injury to a Bodicote player who landed awkwardly. The injury cast a shadow over the proceedings, and the safety of the players became the primary concern as medical staff rushed to assist the injured player.

Woodstock Town Reserves advance to the next round, demonstrating their strength and determination throughout the match.

FULL TIME: Bodicote Sport Reserves 1, Woodstock Town Reserves 8