After a week of conversations which included what fine establishment we would like to visit for post match teas… Weatherspoons or Weatherspoons, Windsor travelled to Oxford Hawks for a 12:15 PB.
Upon arrival and finding a plethora of sports drinks and “non sporting” drinks the guys were fired up. We made our way to the pitch and at this point for several reasons the team were contemplating taking up tennis all of a sudden!!!
After another questionable slow start for Windsor and a few “questionable” stick tackles from the self proclaimed “best left back in the league” Dev Mavar led to a break from the young Oxford side. Kai Ziemkendorf not wanting to kick another player from last week’s antic’s had regained his tackling ability but unfortunately lost the ability to judge 5 yards away from a player and Oxford were awarded a short corner. Still being at school he only can count up to three. Oxford took this chance and sent a rocket of a shot past Senior squad member David “Dive” Ive into the right corner of the goal. 1-0 Hawks. An uncomfortable start from Windsor however this did not stop the bombardment of shots placed at the opposition as Ollie Cook’s slap shot just missed the target and Martyn Essery’s quick fire shot surely looking to bring the away team level was turned away by a cat like Hawks keeper.

Windsor tried desperately to apply pressure on Hawks after this however a misplaced pass resulted in another goal after the ball being slipped under keeper Dive. 2-0 Hawks. Ali Parkes looking to add increase his goal tally received the ball into the D to rocket one in past the Hawk’s keeper. 2-1 Hawks. As half time grew ever closer Windsor had several strike attempts at goal to be denied by an agile Hawks Keeper. The pressure of running at top speed got to scorer Ali Parkes as he limped off the pitch after a potential Hamstring injury.
Luckily we had team first aider and head cheerleader Lucy Smith on the side line ready to bandage up and get Ali ready for a second half appearance.

A half time team talk led by coach Matt “John Snow” Wells came straight from the Alex Ferguson book of “severe hairdrying” and included some very colourful language…Winter had come!
The reality had hit us harder than the words of the coach that in order to contest in this league we must work and fight harder to strengthen the unity of the men’s side in order to grow together as a team.
Second half had begun and with team V12’s Charles Lambert and Jack Snell leading the charge in the midfield, both Hawks and Windsor knew this was anyone’s game.

Pressure was building minute by minute and Will “Willma” Mckegney knew it was his time to strike. Played from the middle of the pitch with support from Harley Jones and Alex Wright. Perfect movement being made led to a pass being played into the run only a Math's teacher could have calculated and tucking one away to make the game 2-2.

Score now level Windsor knew it was time to strike with several opportunities through open play and short corners.
Striving forward to push the attack with heavy pressure from Hawks making Kwesi Twerefoo fumble the ball at the top of the D. Confusion hit the opposition players as they knew they may have messed up here. A moment of silence hit the pitch with only the whispers from the spectators being heard, “who is he?” “where did he come from?”, “Isn’t that…?”. Yes your very Dev Mavar had made his way into the D controlling the ball from the legs of Kwesi Twerefoo and lining up his shot on goal. A moment of silence had hit me, my name was written in the stars, my eyes lit up, the fame, the fortune, tennis coach in my arms…. I hit the ground!
Was it the pressure or was it Pascal Van Han Huffel’s shouting across the pitch “Dev what are you flipping doing there!” that had let me to madness we will never know.

Leaps and bounds were being made by Captain Sean Wright and Jack Snell however we were not set to take the lead after some misplayed moments was replied by a Hawks counter to the dismay of a belligerent Ali Parkes.
Hawks had their eye set on winning the match as their efforts bought them a short corner late in the game. Windsor’s efforts to defend were thwarted as a misplaced ball into the opposition forward led to a goal being slipped past. Hawk’s 3-2.
Alas Windsor were not going to take this lightly as in the dying minutes of the game a well worked push forward gave us the opportunity to set things right. Short Corner for Windsor given.

The entire Windsor battalion readied at the top of the D as silence filled the pitch. The Hawk’s players readied on the line to defend this with all they have got. What Windsor needed was perfection. The audience held their breath. Ali Parkes readied himself.
Injection played, the ball was steady… stop made, the ball was still… drag flick, the ball was whipped.
The sound of the ball hitting the back board was drowned out by a cheering Windsor side and a skipping Kwesi Twerefoo as we had levelled the score and claimed a point leaving Windsor currently 6th in the table. Final Score 3-3.
Windsor meet with Oxford 3’s next week at Home.

MOM : Will “Willma” Mckegney
DOD : David “Dive” Ive and Dev “self proclaimed best left back in the league” Mavar