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Marston Saints v Oxford University Press

2.30pm  9 March 2013

Oxfordshire Senior League, Premier Division
Marston Saints 4 Oxford University Press 4 (att 23)

I picked this game largely for its location. Travelling from Manchester to London I needed a match that was on the way, ideally somewhere where I my other half could happily spend a couple of hours while I was at the football.

Oxford ticked all the relevant boxes, and Marston's Boults Lane ground, in Old Marston, is just a short drive from the city centre.

As a ground, there's not much to enthuse about, but as a game this was among the most entertaining 90 minutes I've seen all season.

OUP are challenging to regain the league title they won last season, and might have expected an easier ride against mid table Marston. The visitors started very poorly, and were soon a deserved goal down.

Two goals in quick succession put OUP in front, but Marston came back again. The sides traded more goals and by half time it was 3-3. Needless to say, both teams were much better going forward than at the back.

The second half was unlikely to follow the pattern of the first, and it took a while before Marston scored the game's seventh goal. OUP then lost a player to a red card, and as the 90th minute approached lost their keeper to a nasty-looking injury.

But despite the numerical disadvantage, deep into the extended stoppage time it was OUP who scored the game's final goal, earning a deserved draw.

Boults Lane is a cul-de-sac with the football club based at what is basically a recreation ground at its end. From the car park and clubhouse the pitch runs lengthways, and was roped off behind the near goal and up to around the half way line on either side.








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