The Grand Tour of the The Vale of White Horse See’s The Boys Draw 4-4 In A Thrilling Game!

Travelling away to Pinewood for the first time with this spirited bunch of lads was an absolute delight. The journey through country roads, accompanied by the tunes of Heart FM and the picturesque sights of the Vale of White Horse, set the perfect tone for what turned out to be an unforgettable matchday experience.

Taking on the role of officiating the game was truly an honour. It was evident from the get-go that this was going to be a thrilling encounter, and it certainly didn't disappoint with Pinewood scoring within the first two minutes. Within seconds Moulsford drew level as Knight, playing for the other team, handled the ball after the keeper shouted ‘swapsies’ on a corner. Playground rules weren’t the rules today and Hannigan scored the resulting penalty.

Every time Pinewood found the back of the net, our boys showed tremendous character by promptly equalising. Special thanks to Knight and Houghton for graciously offering to bolster the opposition's ranks when they were short-handed. Their presence certainly added to the intensity of the game, and it was heartening to witness their strong performances, albeit in a different coloured shirt!

Despite some brilliant saves from Morris, a few well-placed shots managed to find their way into the back of our net. However, Morris pulled off what I can only describe as one of the most remarkable saves I've seen, ensuring that we walked away from the game with a well-deserved point.

Warren and Bull were absolute powerhouses in the midfield, tirelessly driving the team forward. Their efforts nearly paid off with some late chances that could have clinched us the win. Carter's composure and technical ability in midfield were commendable, and his clinical finish off a rebound was a testament to his quality.

Houlihan-Smith was a constant menace on the wing, tormenting the opposition defence with his pace and skill. His two assists for Hannigan's hat-trick were a reflection of his creativity and determination. Hannigan, with his lethal shooting ability, proved to be the difference-maker, showing remarkable composure to find the back of the net on three occasions.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the lone travelling fan whose unwavering support spurred the team on throughout the game. And to my boys, I couldn't be prouder of your desire and hunger to fight back from behind four times. Your resilience and determination epitomise the true spirit of Moulsford football, and I have no doubt that we'll continue to achieve great things together for the next three weeks! We host the Oratory Prep next week who mix their Year 3 and 4 teams so this will be a test. Looking at their results they have picked up wins against Abingdon, Davenies and drew with Chandlings. Similar to ours but we are constantly improving! Let’s just try and keep a clean sheet!

Squad - Morris, Houlihan-Smith, Houghton, Knight, Carter, Warren, Hannigan and Bull

Mr Chaffey