Macclesfield and District FA
Alderley Royal Oak 4 Oxfford 1
By Matt Eagles
Apr 19, 2009, 22:59

Macc & District FA Sunday Cup

(sponsored  by Gradus Ltd )

Action from Sunday’s Semi Final

Alderley Royal Oak      4      Oxfford     1

 

Oxfford team photo

Alderley Royal Oak made it an all East Cheshire Sunday league  final as they defeated Oxfford in a entertaining encounter  at Congleton Towns’ Booth Street Ground in glorious spring sunshine. The game  got off to a blistering start  with both sides having chances in the opening minute .Oxfford  should have opened the scoring but a smart save from keeper Mike Ratican denied them . His quick throw  out found  midfielder Joe Ingham  who’s ball over the top released Andy Hurst who slotted the ball home  to give  Royal Oak a 1-0 lead with only thirty five seconds on the clock. Oxfford were stunned but came back immediately with captain Carl McCurrie  going close.

Dave Billington is sent crashing

On fifteen minutes Oxfford were level.  McCurrie  made it eight goals in the competition this season  from the penalty spot  after Dave Billington, in mid dribble,  was dumped   unceremoniously to the floor by the combined efforts of Zeki Istanbul   and James Ingham. Referee Peter Lloyd   was left with absolutely no choice but to award  a spot kick .

 Oxfford  continued to attack and  forced a series of corners but poor delivery cost them and minutes later it advantage  Royal Oak as it was they who took the lead on twenty eight minutes.  You had to feel for Oxfford keeper Harry Shatwell who was finally beaten at the third attempt  after making two world class saves,  first some how palming away an Andy Hurst  header from point blank range , then blocking a goal bound  shot from Scott McGowan . It was left to Chris McCabe   to finally beat Shatwell as the ball fell to him on the edge of the penalty area and his half volley found the net through a crowd of players  with the keeper unsighted .

Mike Ratican in goal for Alderley Royal Oak

On thirty four minutes Royal Oak had the chance to extend their lead as referee Lloyd awarded his second penalty of the game having spotted a handball . Andy Hurst stepped up but could only watched open mouthed  as his penalty  sent Shatwell the wrong way  but then rebounded to safety off the foot of the post. It was just  the tonic Oxfford needed just before half time  but it appeared to have the opposite effect .  Injury to right back Chris Mason  forced a defensive reshuffle in the second half  but that aside the second half  was one way traffic and belonged to Alderley  .Substitute Duncan Warrender  was unstoppable as  he ran at Oxfford’s depleted   defence to set up Scott McGowan to make it 3-1  and eleven minutes from the end McGowan wrapped up the tie with his second  and send them to the final at the  Moss Rose on 9^th May .