5 March 2019
Week 7 of the football season was a special one seeing the first competitive fixture between Abingdon School and Oxford United, as well as the annual Corinthian Casuals fixture.
The week started however with U12 and U13 fixtures v Cokethorpe. The U12s unfortunately came off second best losing 1-3, whilst the U12 Bs won 6-0. The U13 As continued their good run with a 2-0 win, whilst hat-tricks from Thomas Mennie and Dillan Patel helped give the U13 Bs a 9-2 win.
On a wet Thursday evening, in horrible conditions the Abingdon U16s went toe to toe with their opposition, Oxford United Academy U15s and despite going 1-0 down early on held their shape and remained competitive throughout. An improved and energised second half display was rewarded as James Daly finished from close range to put the game in the balance at 1-1. A late Oxford United goal saw the game finish 1-2 however a great deal of positives to take away for the Abingdon U16 side.
Saturday was the annual Corinthian Casuals fixtures, however preceding this Abingdon welcomed and hosted the Dragon Preparatory School and Abingdon Preparatory School for their annual fixtures as a curtain raiser to the 1st XI game. It was great to see both schools playing some eye catching football, with all games played in the right spirit on an enjoyable afternoon.
At the same time, the Abingdon middle school sides were in action again Aylesbury Grammar. Hat-tricks from Max Struthers and Felix Kind held the U14 As to a 7-0 win whilst the U14 Bs drew 0-0. The U14 C game finished 2-2. The U15 As game was certainly one for the spectators. It finished with a 6-4 win as Eddie Good continued his run of goals with three, whilst Jay Patel, Theo Hinnells and Rory King also found the net. Across at Aylesbury the U16 Bs let slip a two goal lead, 2-3 the final score whilst the U16 As energised from their performance on Thursday won 4-3.
With the morning games all building up to the afternoon fixtures, Abingdon welcomed the Corinthian Casuals to Waste Court. This is a club with a rich history dating back to 1882 and since this time they have been playing school fixtures against for example Charterhouse, Brighton College and Westminster and they continue these fixtures today. Even during WW2 the fixtures took place when all other football was suspended.
The former Corinthian, Charles Wreford-Brown, who also captained the English National team in 1894 and famously coined the word “soccer” once summed up the ethos which the team espouse, saying: “Sometimes one is inclined to pay too much attention to the result of a game and not sufficient attention to the manner in which it has been played.”
In what was a highly competitive first half, Abingdon found themselves 2-0 up going into the break taking their chances well. Further clinical finishing in the second half saw Abingdon counter effectively as the Corinthians pushed on to get back in the game.
Hector Chambers netted four and Jasper Rolls on debut also picking up two before Huw Williams made the final score 7-1. The score was somewhat flattering in what was a much closer game; it was a lovely occasion where the Abingdon boys learnt a lot about themselves, and football, both on and off the field.
