The clash of two unbeaten teams had all the ingredients of a competitive afternoon of football, and so it turned out, as the seconds took on their counterparts from St Edward’s Oxford. However, Sherborne made a superb start, perhaps taking advantage of Teddies’ long coach journey, as they were caught napping early on as Wilf T slotted home after an early corner. A composed finish by Wilf added to his tally this season from attacking midfield. The game settled into a midfield tussle with both sides having early opportunities in front of goal. Sherborne were guilty of being offside on several occasions and this frustration became a recurring theme as opportunities to extend the lead were spurned by the assistant referee’s flag.

A Teddies’ equaliser seemed like a fair reflection of the game just before the midway point of the first half. Casper G almost keep out the long range shot, but the Teddies’ midfielder had put enough spin on the ball to see it curve away from Sherborne’s every reliable stopper. Indeed, Casper’s distribution and long clearances were causing havoc in the Teddies’ defence, and on more than one occasion, could have led to a further Sherborne goal. After a couple of scares, man of the moment Wilf T extended the Sherborne lead with a beautifully hit goal from a Harry S corner. Keeping his head when all about we’re losing theirs, to paraphrase Kipling, he slammed in his second, just reward for another fine midfield performance. Wilf’s midfield partner Ollie M was also finding some space and time to impose his silky skills on the game. Some rugged tackling had made for a slightly scrappy second quarter, until, after even more sustained pressure from the Sherborne wingers, James E being particular rampant on the left, Christian W rose to nod in the aforementioned’ s corner to take Sherborne into the half time break 3-1 up! Credit had to be given to the back line who had absorbed a lot of pressure in the first half. Ollie M and Oscar W formed an excellent centre back pairing, and when Ollie went off for a break, Charlie T deputised brilliantly, keeping the Teddies’ attackers at bay. Piers W continued his fine form at right back and was dominant at the back as well as linking up well with Harry S. Freddie CC was classy and composed at left back and made excellent incursions into the Teddies’ half, linking well with James K who himself fed James E and Arlo F, both of whom went close to scoring.

As the second half started, Teddies had the upper hand for the early skirmishes. Shooting downhill, Sherborne felt this would help press home their advantage but a neat finish after a penalty area scramble after seven minutes, Teddies reduced the deficit to 1. Once more, Sherborne were guilty of wastefulness, spurning several opportunities to score by being caught offside. James E stuck the ball in the net at least three times, but none counted to the score. With Ollie M dominating at CDM after Ollie M was rested, having put in a real shift in the same position, and James K deputing very effectively at left back after Freddie CC was side-lined, James E finished off the game in the sixty fith minute with a well taken goal, after excellent work from the ever-industrious Christian W on the right wing. Arlo F linked up well with his midfielders and, on another day, may have bagged a couple of goals.

As the game came to its conclusion, a Casper G continued to dominate his penalty area and stymied any further chances with calm authority. The defence held out and the team notched up another fine win against a skilful and energetic opposition.