UNDER 18'S MATCH REPORTS 2009-10
11.05.10 allied counties north division
old woodstock town 0
witney united 7 (Allmond 2, Zoldan 3, McNally, Wright)
United's youngsters ensured they clinched the title in style as they romped to a 7-0 win at Old Woodstock Town last night.
Needing only a point the nerves were settled just before the quarter of an hour mark when a Sam McNally knock down was met by Conor Allmond who shot home.
Four minutes later and United gave themselves some breathing space when top scorer Chris Zoldan was on hand to fire home.
Just before half-time and the title was pretty much wrapped up when Allmond struck home his second goal of the game to make it 3-0.
Any thoughts of sitting on that lead disappeared within ten minutes of the restart when Zoldan struck twice in quick succession to complete his hat-trick.
With quarter of an hour remaining it was McNally who added the sixth before a goal three minutes from time by Sam Wright rounded off the scoring with the seventh and sparked scenes of celebration amongst the players at the final whistle.
26.04.10 allied counties north division
aylesbury FC 0
witney united 4 (Zoldan 2, Craig, Wright)
United's youngsters moved to within a point of the Allied Counties North Division league title as they swept aside previously unbeaten Aylesbury FC last night.
The hosts started the game well and struck the woodwork in the early stages but it was United who started to get a grip on the game playing some excellent stuff and got their reward ten minutes before the break.
George Seacole swung in a perfect cross and there was top scorer Chris Zoldan to finish and give United the lead at the interval.
Five minutes after the break and United gave themselves a little breathing space as they doubled their lead with that man Zoldan scoring again.
Just five minutes later and United were in dreamland when a corner was swung in and David Craig powered home an excellent corner.
United kept playing their football and their excellent evening was rounded off seven minutes from time when Sam Wright struck home to give them one hand on the trophy.
19.04.10 allied counties north division
witney united 3 (Wright, Zoldan, McKinnon)
north leigh 2
United held off a brave fightback, the loss of a goalkeeper through injury and played out the last seven minutes with 10 men as they went top of the Allied Counties North Division.
Knowing they needed victory to keep the pressure on Aylesbury at the top United got a great start with just nineteen minutes on the clock when Sam Wright opened the scoring.
Just eight minutes after the break and United gave themselves some breathing space when top scorer Chris Zoldan struck to settle the nerves.
Midway through the second half and United were left stunned as the visitors scored twice in two minutes with two excellently taken goals.
With seven minutes left things looked like going from bad to worse as goalkeeper Jamie Zoldan was forced off with injury and with all the substitutes used United were down to 10 men.
Rather than the heads drop though the perfect reaction came just a minute later as Callum McKinnon struck a priceless goal to set up next Monday's clash at Aylesbury.
12.04.10 allied counties north division
witney united 1 (Craig)
Old woodstock Town 0
A goal five minutes from the end was enough to give United a crucial three points in their quest for the Allied Counties North Division title.
With the game scoreless it looked like it would be two points dropped for United but up popped David Craig to score and clinch a priceless three points.
18.03.10 allied counties north division
abingdon united 3
witney united 2 (Wright, Zoldan)
United squandered a 2-0 lead as they crashed to a last minute defeat at Abingdon United this evening in the Allied Counties North Division.
The first half went well for United as they grabbed a 1-0 with a strike from Sam Wright and it got better after the interval when top scorer Chris Zoldan doubled the advantage.
However United suddenly stopped playing and the home side hit a purple patch in the last quarter of an hour as they struck three times including a last minute penalty to snatch an unlikely victory.
08.03.10 allied counties north division
witney united 6 (McNally pen,Lonsdale,Zoldan 2,Elliott,Brown)
Kidlington 0
United bounced back to winning ways in style as they thumped Kidlington and moved to the top of the league at The Polythene UK Stadium this evening.
The visitors lost a man to a red card in the first half and with virtually the last kick of the half it was Sam McNally who slotted home a penalty.
After the break United turned the screw and were rewarded when Jack Lonsdale doubled the advantage before the visitors were reduced to nine men following another red card.
United made their extra numbers count as Chris Zoldan and Liam Elliott made it 4-0 before further indiscipline saw Kidlington reduced to eight men. They were punished further as Zoldan fired home from the free-kick to make it five.
The scoring was rounded off in the final minute of the match when Ben Brown scored a debut goal as United got back to winning ways.
04.03.10 allied counties north division
witney united 1 (McNally pen)
aylesbury FC 3
United suffered their first league defeat of the season as they left themselves too much to do after a disastrous opening ten minutes.
With a 100% record up against an unbeaten league record something had to give and the visitors got off to a flyer when they scored twice in the opening ten minutes.
United though pulled one back when Sam McNally netted from the penalty spot as the deficit was cut to one goal. Chances came and went and United were punished as Aylesbury scored on the break to lead 3-1 at the interval.
The second half saw some intense United pressure but they couldnt find a route to goal and the chance to extend the 100% league record had gone.
07.02.10 Joe wroughton oxon youth cup quarter final
oxford irish 3
witney united 1 (Bridgewater)
United went out of the Joe Wroughton Oxfordshire Youth Cup when they suffered a shock 3-1 reverse at the hands of Oxford Irish.
With most of the squad having played on Thursday and Saturday there were a number of regulars missing but United still took the lead just before half time when Will Bridgewater headed home.
Irish however came out after the break and levelled the game up within a minute of the restart before two goals in the final quarter of an hour gave the home side a shock win.
04.02.10 Allied counties north division
witney united 3 (Zoldan 2, Wright)
Abingdon town 0
United made it seven league wins out of seven with a victory over bottom side Abingdon Town at The Polythene UK Stadium last night.
The visitors offered stubborn resistance for the opening half hour but were undone when a deep cross was headed home at the back post by top scorer Chris Zoldan.
The game was effectively killed off in a three minute spell on the hour mark when first off Sam Wright fired in a low drive from the edge of the area before Zoldan netted his second of the evening to ensure United claimed all three points.
26.01.10 Allied counties league cup
witney united 2 (Zoldan 2)
hanwell town 3
United suffered last gasp cup agony on Monday evening as they went down 3-2 to Hanwell Town in the Allied Counties League Cup.
After a goalless first half the game exploded into life after the break as the visitors took the lead but the home side responded well with an equaliser from Chris Zoldan.
A thoroughly entertaining game of football saw the visitors go back in front only for top scorer Zoldan to level matters up once again.
However the sting in the tail came with virtually the last kick of the game as Hanwell grabbed a winner to clinch their place in the next round.
30.11.09 Allied counties north division
witney united 4 (Harrison, Zoldan 2, Amer)
didcot town 0
United's youngsters kept up their 100% record in the Allied Counties North Section as they completed the double over Didcot Town at The Polythene UK Stadium.
The result was made all the more impressive by the fact that a chunk of the side had played just 24 hours previously in the Oxfordshire Youth Cup.
From the whistle Witney were dominant, always looking dangerous whilst keeping solid/composed at the back.
It was no surprise when in form striker Chris Zoldan slotted home from a Jack Longsdale drag back.
To there credit Didcot kept trying but were no match for a in form Witney who seemed to win every 50/50 & were first to every ball. A sublime strike from Frank Harrison doubled Witney’s advantage & was instrumental in the move of the match & Witney’s third goal.
After collecting the ball in his own area Harrison tip-toed past two Didcot players before laying the ball off to an overlapping Jamie Amer who drove to the corner out pacing the Didcot defence before delivering the perfect cross for Zoldan to smash home and give United a 3-0 half time advantage.
The second half saw much the same Jamie Amer had a goal disallowed, heading in from a corner before scoring Witney’s fourth a drive/cross from outside the box found the top right hand corner.
As well as victory another clean sheet for the meanest defence in the North Division with just six goals conceded in six matches.
29.11.09 Oxfordshire youth cup 2nd round
thame youth 2
witney united 9 (Lonsdale, Benoist, Allmond, Burton, Whadcock, Craig, Zoldan 3)
United's youngsters made sure there were no slip ups in the pouring rain as they crushed Thame Youth 9-2 in the Oxfordshire Youth Cup 2nd Round.
With a howling wind to contend with as well United produced an excellent performance with the goals coming from Jack Lonsdale, Guy Benoist, Conor Allmond, Sam Burton, Sam Whadcock, David Craig and a second half hat-trick from substitute Chris Zoldan.
05.11.09 allied counties north division
kidlington 1
witney united 2 (Allmond, Zoldan)
United celebrated Guy Fawkes Night by rocketing themselves to the top of the league as they ended Kidlington's unbeaten record and at the same time kept their own 100% record in tact.
All the damage was done in the first half as United fired in two goals without reply on a crisp night at Yarnton Road. The first goal came just after the quarter of an hour mark when Conor Allmond netted the opener.
Seven minutes before the interval and the lead was doubled and top goalscorer Chris Zoldan fired home his 12th league goal of the season.
The home side hit back after the break and pulled a goal back midway through the second half but United saw the game out and hit the top of the league despite having played four of their first five matches away from home.
29.10.09 allied counties north division
abingdon town 0
witney united 4 (Zoldan 4)
United won their fourth straight league match last night to keep up their 100% record with in form striker Chris Zoldan grabbing all four of the goals.
The first goal came midway through the first half when Zoldan headed home well from Frank Harrison's well flighted free-kick.
Two more goals of real poachers instinct by the young striker saw him complete his hat-trick and give United a 3-0 half time lead.
A good nights work was completed in the second half as Zoldan grabbed his fourth of the evening and the defence kept a clean sheet to ensure a record of only five goals conceded in four matches.
21.10.09 allied counties north division
north leigh 2
witney united 4 (Zoldan 3, Wright)
A second hat-trick in two youth matches and an amazing eleventh goal in four matches from in form striker Chris Zoldan gave United a well deserved victory in the local derby at North Leigh last night.
United it was who broke the deadlock on 10 minutes when that man Zoldan pierced the home defence to open the scoring.
North Leigh hit back moments later but a third goal of the season for Sam Wright made sure that United held the lead at the interval.
After the break United upped their game further and another two strikes from Zoldan completed his hat-trick but also gave an un-assailable 4-1 lead.
Lye did pull one back in the closing moments but victory was United's and they moved into second in the table with their 100% record still in tact.
12.10.09 allied counties north division
witney united 4 (Zoldan 3, Ross)
abingdon united 3
After last weeks cup disappointment at Conference side Basingstoke the boys were back in league action last night and what a great performance against early pace setters Abingdon United at the Polythene UK Stadium.
After a slow start which saw them twice fall behind in the first ten minutes, the home side dominated the next 60 minutes with some excellent neat controlled passing football and were a little unfortunate not to extend there 4–2 half time advantage.
Following his hat trick from the bench for the reserves on Saturday Chris Zoldan repeated the feat in the first half with three spectacular strikes. The other goal coming from right back Tom Ross, a sensational left footed effort from 25 yards.
The defenders played there part in the final quarter as the classy Abingdon outfit stepped up a gear and pulled the score line back to 4-3 with 10 minutes still on the clock. The boys held on defiantly through a nervy eight minutes of added time for a memorable victory!
05.10.09 fA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Basingstoke Town 1
Witney United 0
Travelling to play a club such as Basingstoke Town, their senior team in the top half of the Conference South and all manner of rumours about how good their youth set up is, could leave a team with an inferiority complex. It seemed that way, certainly, for the first quarter of the game as the home team were quicker to the ball, precise in their passing and very quick to close down the visitors on the rare occasions they had possession. For all that, Town couldn't fashion any real chances on goal and United's county 'keeper Eddie Dale remained largely untroubled.
As the first half progressed, United deserved credit for the way they worked their way back into the game. Up front Sam Wright and Chris Zoldan began to see more of the ball which gave them the opportunity to bring other players into the game. By the time the referee had blown for half time, Witney had created the best chance of the game, David Craig's viciously powerful shot hitting a team mate and deflecting away from it's goal bound course.
It was clear at the start of the second period that these were two reasonably well matched teams. Basingstoke started this half slower than the first, perhaps their respect for the Witney team increased following the first 45 minutes. As United's confidence grew they pushed forward more and more, but it was an attack breaking down on their right that proved to be their undoing. Caught for pace from a quick left sided player, United were unable to close him down before her fired what, to be honest, was the type of shot that deserved to win a game into the top of the net.
But, rather than let their head's drop, Witney found another gear and ran Basingstoke ragged. Although the home side came close to adding to their score on the break Will Bridgwater and Sam McNally held firm at the back. Jack Lonsdale found increased space on the right and Callum MacKinnon, on for the injured Zoldan, gave United fresh legs up front. On more than one occasion the ball pinged around the home penalty box but sometimes the luck you need is missing, and it was on the night for Witney. United's young team may well have benefitted from someone putting their foot on the ball and slowing things down as the search for an equaliser became more and more frantic. However, on the night it wasn't to be. All the players involved can be proud of their efforts. The team worked hard for each other, played some very good passing football when they could and were a credit to themselves, their management team and the club. A disappointing result but a good night for Witney United FC.
Team; Eddie Dale, Tom Ross, Jamie Amer, Sam McNally (c), Will Bridgewater, Conor Allmond, Jack Lonsdale, David Craig, Chris Zoldan (Callum Mackinnon), Sam Wright, Frank Harrison. Subs not used; Ben Horne, Sam Whadcock, Mark Haigh, Tom Rogers
27.09.09 FA Youth cup 1st qualifying round
witney united 3 (Harrison, Wright 2)
flackwell heath 2
United produced a pulsating display at a warm Polythene UK Stadium this afternoon to progress to the next round of the FA Youth Cup.
As it looked liked the sides would go in level at the break it was United who grabbed the lead with a goal from Frank Harrison.
The real excitement came after the break though as the lead was doubled with Sam Wright firing home before the visitors made it game on again as they pulled one back.
The goal of the game saw United restore their two goal lead with a passing move from defence ending with a stunning volley from Wright.
The visitors gave United a nervy final few moments as they scored in injury time but United held out and will now travel to Basingstoke Town in the next round.
10.09.09 Allied counties north division
Didcot Town 0
witney united 2 (Zoldan, McKinnon)
United kicked off their Allied Counties League campaign with a professional display to see off Didcot Town last night at the NPower Loop Meadow Stadium.
The first half saw both sides compete in a decent encounter but the half remained goal-less.
However after the break it was United who stepped the pace up and were rewarded with an early goal in the 2nd half through Chris Zoldan.
United continued to look to kill the game off and did so midway through the half when Callum McKinnon struck to seal an excellent opening victory.
27.08.09 pre-Season friendly
witney united 4 (Allmond, McNally, Harrison, Bridges)
Oxford City 3
United continued their impressive pre-season campaign last night when they beat near neighbours Oxford City 4-3 at The Polythene UK Stadium.
It was scintillating stuff from the youngsters in the first half as they raced into a 3-0 lead with goals from Conor Allmond, Sam McNally and Frank Harrison but the visitors did pull a goal back before the break.
The second half was a tighter affair but a goal from Ricky Bridges was enough to cancel out the two City goals and give United another victory.
05.08.09 pre-Season friendly
banbury United 0
witney united 4 (Wright, Lagan, Allmond, Zoldan)
United kicked off their pre-season campaign in excellent style with a 4-0 win at Banbury United this evening.
The first half saw United start brightly and were rewarded with goals from Sam Wright and Cameron Lagan.
Things continued in a positive manner after the break as United added further goals through OG and Chris Zoldan.
