YMCA played their penultimate game of the season on a Wednesday evening at Scours lane against a Woodcote side who had already secured runners up spot and warming up for a Mad Stad Final appearance. YM still had a good chance of finishing in 3rd place had they earned 3 points here which would have been a remarkably achievement considering the number of players missing from last season's title winning squad.

The game began in frenetic fashion with both times working hard to win the ball and playing some nice attacking football. The game, as against Wokingham the previous match, had a feel of a cup tie. Both teams appeared keen to show that they were the best of the rest with Highmoor/Ibis dominating the division this term. 

With both teams committed to attack and leaving vast gaps at the back, goals seemed likely. YM’s Sam Jennings broke the deadlock when he found a path for a shot from 15 yards in a heavily congested box.

YM looked to consolidate their lead but all too often YM failed to track Woodcote midfielders and the defence were frequently overrun.

Woodcote’s Toby Nowell was able to capitalise on increasing Woodcote pressure when he beat YM’s offside trap and slotted past Chris Rackley from a tight angle.

Woodcote soon found themselves 2-1 ahead after a Woodcote free kick was partially cleared, it fell to ex YM man Andy Bullett and he lashed home the sweetest of volleys from 25 yards which gave Rackley no chance as it smashed into the YM net. YM manager Mark Lemm may have feared the worst at this stage but YM responded almost immediately when Adam Cayzer curled a pin point shot into the top corner of Woodcote’s net from the left hand edge of the 18 yard box. It was another stunning strike which really ignited the game. Woodcote and YM were now matching each other blow for blow with both teams having plenty of chances however it was an excellent piece of individual work from YM man Leon Mannion as he collected a pass on the left side touchline. He knocked it past his marker, out ran him to the ball then turned towards the Woodcote box, Mannion then scuffed his shot but it was enough to take it past the Woodcote keeper.

YM went in 3-2 up after a breathless first half. The second affair was very similar for YM with rampant attacking play counter balanced by glaring defensive frailties. YM gifted Woodcote 2 goals in quick succession and both in similar fashion. Firstly Ross Weatherstone met a cross unmarked on the edge of the six yard box, he couldn’t and didn’t miss. Next another cross from YM’s left found James Worsfold in an almost identical position unmarked and the result was also identical as Woodcote took a 4-3 lead.YM only had themselves to blame for the two goals and they only had Leon Mannion to thank for dragging them back into the game. A harmless YM throw in seemed destined to roll back to Woodcote’s keeper but Mannion used all his pace to snatch the ball away from the keeper and then in a blink of an eye he used some excellent footwork to round the keeper and slot into an empty net.

YM then began to take the game to Woodcote with Jamie Froude bursting forward from deep on regular occasions to unsettle the shape of Woodcote. Chris Lemm was also enjoying more time and space in the middle of the park and was able to run at Woodcote’s defence with regularity. One such run saw Lemm pick the ball up on the half way line, dribble past 4 Woodcote players then, under heavy pressure, ruined his good work with the most pathetic of efforts on his weaker right foot. Mannion then fed Lemm down the left who in turn fed Jennings in the 18 yard box but Jennings was unable to get a shot off.

Lemm was involved again a he was put through by Froude. Lemm found himself with acres of space and was one on one with the keeper but lifted his shot over the keeper and over the bar from 20 yards. It was a glorious chance and one which would surely have settled the tie in YM’s favour. YM continued to press but frequently their final ball was lacking and a hugely enjoyable encounter ended YM 4 Woodcote 4. YM may have felt that they edged the game and deserved the 3 points especially on the balance of chances.

LEMMYS MOM - ADAM CAYZER