Saturday 24th August - Chesteron MBLS 'v' Halse United First - KO 2pm

So Saturday was PSF number 6 and the final one before the start of the season on Saturday 31st August away against newly promoted Cholsey United First who only lost 1 in 18 games last season in Division 1 of the Oxfordshire Senior League.

The game was played at Kirtlington in Kidlington at the village hall pitch which had a great surface which helps Halse to play their style of football. Just 13 players available for the black and white due to holidays.

The game kicked off at 13.58 and Halse were off to a fast start and just 5 minutes in midfielder Blaylock split the Chesterton back line and slotting in wide forward Summers who gets the better of his man and squares it across for a tap in for young Durnin. Chesteron 0-1 Halse.
Halse have really found their rhythm early in this game with Halse seeing all the ball and on 8 minutes, this time skipper Simpson slips in VC Read in the middle of the park. Read composes himself and slots it to the left of the Chesterton keeper. Chesterton 0-2 Halse.
A forced substitution for Chesterton on 30 minutes when the Chesterton midfielder suffers a nasty knee injury and paramedics are called. Then another change for Chesterton with number 6 off and number 5 on.
First chance for Chesterton towards the end of the first half when a mix up in communication in the Halse defence leavers Chesterton number 10 one on one with the Halse keeper Matthews who stands strong and gets down well to tip the ball around the post.
It's another goal for Halse on 41 minutes when Summers picks up a loose ball and drives into the Chesterton box, Summers lays the ball off to Read who slots into the bottom left of the Chesterton net. Chesterton 0-3 Halse.

Half time Chesterton 0-3 Halse United

Two changes made at half time for Halse with Read & Ramsay off and Bewick and Humphries on. Also a change in formation moving to a diamond formation. Second half gets underway at 14.49.

Substitute Humphries breaks through on 46 minutes down the left and squares the ball Summers who swivels and thunders his strike against the post.
On 54 minutes Durnin scores his second. Simpson gets in down the left and cuts it back to Durnin and the Durnin slots into the bottom left. Chesterton 0-4 Halse.
The goals keep coming, Summers is in down the right again and hangs the ball to the back post for centre back Brady flies in at back post to net home the 5th black and white goal. Chesterton 0-5 Halse.
Were 73 minutes in now and it's another goal when Simpson is in again down the right who cuts it back to Mortimer who opens his goal account in pre-season. Chesterton 0-6 Halse.
Substitution on 74 with Durnin making way for Read.
It's 7! on 79 minutes with a long ball over the top sees Mortimer who has most of the Chesterton half. Mortimer then lays it off to Summers who slots it past the Chesterton keeper. Chesterton 0-7 Halse.
Just 2 minutes left and it's a hatrick for Read. Mortimer pokes the ball through the Chesterton defence on the halfway line and Read beats the offside trap and has the whole Chesterton half to himself and Read goes round the keeper to make it 8. Chesterton 0-8 Halse.
Then just before the referee blows the whistle for full time Humphries wins a penalty when he gets clipped in the Chesterton box. Humphries steps up to take the penalty and slots it away to make it 9.

Full time Chesterton 0-9 Halse United

Goals: Durnin x2, Read x3, Brady, Mortimer, Summers and Humphries
Assists: Summers x3, Simpson x3 and Mortimer x2
Man of the match skipper Simpson