Reading Town 0 Ardley United 1- 13th February
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division

In a tough battle at Scours Lane Ardley United managed to inflict Reading Town's first home defeat since March 2009 with a goal from debutant Neil Lazarus late in the game.

The first half saw a determined fight from both sides but with precious few shots on target, the best of these falling to the home side who failed to convert two good opportunities. Ardley were not helped by an injury to Alex Feaver whose nose was broken by a kick to the face while lying on the ground, an offence which went unspotted by either the referee or his assistant. The player was able to continue after treatment.

The deadlock continued into the second half, but the visitors were reduced to ten men when Danny Bone was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Although Reading continued to press forward the Ardley defenders were resolute in their task and threatened on the counter attack, and it was just such a break that led to the goal when Troy Bryan broke free and cleverly played the ball to Lazarus on the left side of the penalty area and he shot past the keeper to score off the far post. The home side continued to enjoy most of the possession but were unable to seriously mount any real threats to the visitors goal and despite the referee finding nearly seven minutes of injury time Ardley retained their lead until the final whistle.

Launton 1 Ardley United 5 - 21st November
Oxfordshire Senior Cup

Ardley United progressed to the next round of the County Cup with a comfortable 5-1 win at Launton Sports on Saturday.

New Launton boss Roger Wise fielded a side showing no fewer than nine changes of personnel to that listed in the programme, but it was the visitors who predictably took control of the game. With a strong wind at their backs however, Ardley were guilty of over-hitting the ball on a number of occasions and when they did break through either hit the woodwork or shot wide.

Launton had two good chances to open the scoring midway through the half when the lively lone front man Steve Mulcock had his shot saved by Gareth Tucker and then hit the bar barely a minute later. Ardley replied two minutes later when Danny Bone crossed for Wayne Blossom (left) to open the scoring, although this was to be the only goal of the half.

Ardley continued to dominate in the second period, going three up via a Blossom header and then Stuart Bridges (right) rounded the keeper to score his first goal since joining the club.

Launton hit back two minutes later, however, when Luke Phillips cut in from the left and unleashed a shot which Tucker could only palm into the net.

That was as good as it would get for the home side though, as further goals from Danny Bone (b left) and the completion of Blossom’s hat trick saw the visitors through to the next round.

Ardley United 3  Oxford City Nomads 0 - 14th November
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division

Ardley United continued their recent run of good form in the league with a 3- 0 win over Oxford City Nomads at the Playing Fields on Saturday.

With a strong wind at their backs, the home side dominated the first half but were guilty of spurning a host of good chances to take the lead, and when the ball did find the back of the net from Wayne Blossom the goal was ruled out for offside. Despite their dominance, Nomads looked dangerous on the counter attack and had opportunities to score, but found Gareth Tucker in good form in the Ardley goal.

Ardley supporters were concerned that their side had not taken advantage of the conditions in the first half, but the team continued their domination into the wind and took the lead after 59 minutes when a high, hanging corner from Danny Clarke seemed to hold up in the breeze before dropping onto the head of a poorly marked Blossom (above) who headed powerfully home.

Two minutes later, Blossom returned the compliment when he swept a superb pass out to the left for Clarke (right) to surge into the box and bury his shot for Ardley’s second.

With conditions having severely deteriorated, both sides were still playing attractive football, but it was the home side who added to their tally in the 88th minute when Danny Mason (left) scored with an outrageous goal from fully 60 yards. A huge punt forward took one bounce before sailing over the reach of keeper Barsic in the visitors goal to give the home side a 3-0 victory.

Ardley United 3  Carterton Town 2 - 7th November
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division

A highly entertaining game at the Playing Fields saw Ardley United overcome Carterton by the odd goal in five.

The home side were boosted by the addition to the squad of Wayne Blossom  and Stuart Bridges, both signing from Zamaretto League Premier Division clubs ( Blossom (left) from Leamington and Bridges (right) from Didcot Town). As well as the return of Danny Clarke from a lengthy spell out with injury, and it was Clarke who provided the first of a number of good chances for the home side when he provided  a good cross for Tom Green whose shot brought a good save from the Carterton keeper.

Several chances were spurned by the home side before Troy Bryan put them in front with a header from a Darren Beckett right wing cross.

Carterton began to relieve the pressure and were unlucky when a corner resulted in a goal line clearance but they equalised 5 minutes later when Miles Mason turned a defender in the box and volleyed home. Ardley responded quickly with Bryan hitting the bar a minute later, the rebound just too high for Blossom to get his head to. Two free kicks in as many minutes saw a good save from Bridges and then Clarke hit the bar again.

Play then switched to the other end and Carterton won a penalty when Mason pulled his namesake down, which Jamie Butt converted to give the visitors the lead. Two minutes later Mark Odom hit the post and when played switched to the other end Ardley won a penalty from a corner which Danny Mason slotted home to leave the half time score 2-2.

The home side continued to press after the break, and in the 55th minute Blossom scored his first for Ardley when he followed up a Bridges shot which the keeper could only parry out.

The game continued to see-saw from end to end with Clarke hitting the bar from a free kick and Kevin Lewis striking the underside of the bar for the visitors. Blossom and Bridges both had shots well saved, and in the last minute Blossom was denied by the keepers feet when it looked like he must score, but the game finished Ardley 3 Carterton 2.

Almondsbury Town 5 Ardley United - 31st October
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division

Almondsbury Town continued their bid to win the Hellenic Premier Division title with a 5-3 victory over an injury-ravaged Ardley side.

With the visitors struggling with an unfamiliar line-up, Almondsbury could have scored three times in the opening five minutes had it not been for Gareth Tucker in the Ardley goal. The home side didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring as Marcus Mapstone put the ball into the visitors net from a corner in the 6th minute. Ardley were quick to reply when Adam Beckett won the ball on the left side and crossed  for Leon Gordon (right) to score at the far post.

Ardley were gradually having more of the play, and were unlucky not to take the lead when Troy Bryan pounced on a rebound but shot just wide of the far post. It was the home side which took the lead again, though, when Ross Stearn was scored from close range from a left wing cross. Almondsbury extended their lead three minutes later when Brad Andrews volleyed home from 15 yards after Stearne had made a good run into the penalty area and evaded several attempts to dispossess him. On the stroke of half time an Adam Beckett free kick was saved by the keeper, the same player striking the rebound just wide of the post.

The early part of the second half saw the Ardley keeper produce a fine save, but again the visitors came back into the game with plenty of possession. However, in the 66th minute Almondsbury substitute Sahr Kabba made a fine run into the box and put the home side 4-1 up with a fine goal. Ardley continued to press forward and were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Bryan headed just over from a Stidder cross. They were made to pay for this miss in the 85th minute when Stearne scored his second and Almondsbury’s fifth  following a cross from the left, but barely a minute later it was 5-2 when a quickly taken free kick resulted in an Adam Beckett cross from the left which Leon Gordon headed home.

Two minutes later this became 5-3 when Troy Bryan (left) headed home a Tom Green corner, but despite plenty of late pressure Ardley failed to add to the score and prevent the home side completing a seasons double.

Malmesbury Victoria 2  Ardley United 5 - 24th October
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division

A five time second half goal spree enabled Ardley United to claim three points at Malmesbury Victoria having trailed the hosts by two goals at the break.

Malmesbury began the brighter of the two teams with Adam Smith breaking down the left and firing just past the far post inside the first minute.

The visitors failed to take heed of the danger, and three minutes later Smith repeated the move but this time found the far corner of the net.

Despite this early setback Ardley took control of the game and constantly threatened the home goal, with Leon Gordon in particular looking dangerous and being denied by the keeper on several occasions. However, Malmesbury soaked up the pressure and against the run of play added a second when the Ardley defence failed to clear a corner and Adam Whitefield turned and shot past Ardley keeper Ryan Watt.

Kevin Brock’s half time talk clearly had the desired effect on his side as they continued to outplay the home side in the second half.

On 57 minutes, Troy Bryan dispossessed the Malmesbury right back and made no mistake after sprinting into the area, and this was followed by his second barely a minute later when he sent a looping header into the net after a mix-up between the home keeper and centre half.

Having achieved parity, Ardley really took control of the game and Leon Gordon had two more chances in as many minutes but failed to convert them.

The visitors took the lead for the first time in the game when substitute Tom Foley scored in the 80th minute, and then went further ahead when Foley scored his second two minutes later after good work by Troy Bryan.

The game was won in the 90th minute when man of the match Bryan netted brilliantly from an acute angle to complete his hat trick.

Ardley Utd 3  Ascot Utd 1 - 17th October
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division

After an early set-back, Ardley United claimed their second 3 point haul of the week with a win against newly promoted Ascot United.

Ardley were rocked in the third minute when Danny Mason missed a ball in the area allowing Jon Bennett to square for Steve Curtis at the back post to fire past Gareth Tucker in the Ardley goal.

Despite this, Ardley began to put pressure on the Ascot defence which was struggling to cope with the movement and pace of the opposition forwards. In the 13th minute, Leon Gordon crossed for Ben Williams to put the ball in for Troy Bryan who missed the ball when it seemed he must score.

Three minutes later Danny Bone hit the post following a free kick, but it was not until the 22nd minute that Bone levelled the score when he beat the offside trap from a Tom Green through  ball.

Half time 1-1

Ardley increased the pressure on the visitors at the start of the second half when Andrew Stidder shot straight at the keeper when played through. The home side took the lead on 65 minutes when Stidder (right) fired home after good work on the Ardley left.

Six minutes later Jordan Ayris (left) put the result beyond doubt when he skipped past two tackles to score after a superb pass from Danny Bone.

The home side were awarded a penalty in the 83rd  minute when Stidder was brought down in the area but Ascot keeper Dave Lyon was equal to Stidder's spot kick to prevent Ardley going further ahead.

Substitutes, Andy Lunn for Ascot and Ardley's Tom Foley, had opportunities to increase their respective side's scores in the final minutes, but the scoreline remained 3-1.

Ardley United 1 - 0 Witney United - 13th October
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division
(Match report courtesy of WitneyUnited)

Witney United produced a much improved display in this local derby fixture but were left frustrated as their efforts had no rewards at the end. There were a number of changes for United with Jon-Paul Mills, Dan Szczukiewicz and John Okole all in the starting line-up as Witney looked to stop the rot.

It was the home side who had the first real opening of the game though when a free-kick landed at the feet of Troy Bryan but he shot over the bar from close range. Going down the slope Witney were gaining in confidence as they played some nice stuff and had the home side on the back foot. Stuart Cattell was inches away with a header which had Gareth Tucker beaten from a well flighted Tom Butler corner.

John McMahon was next to go close after some excellent reading of the game by Dean Smith as he cut out a pass and fed the skipper whose attempt to beat Tucker at his near post went the wrong side of the upright. Chris Harper's pace up front was giving Ardley a tough time and his determination to win the ball in the corner ended up with Butler's stinging drive narrowly going over the crossbar.

Harper himself maybe should have scored after his pace saw him get away from his marker chasing down a long kick by Okole but he got the ball stuck between his feet and the shot lacked any real power. Set-pieces were giving the home side trouble and McMahon's corner picked out Lee Henderson whose firm header again went the wrong side of the crossbar. Three minutes before the break and the away fans thought the goal was about to arrive, Harper was sent clear by Jon-Paul Mills and as the striker prepared to shoot a superb challenge by Danny Bone ensured the scores remained level. From the resultant corner the ball was partly cleared to Mills whose low drive beat Tucker but not James Lambert on the line who kicked the ball to safety.

Half Time: 0 - 0

It was a game where the first goal was going to be all important and kicking towards the clubhouse it was Witney who went close again when Butler chipped the ball over the top but Tucker saved well from a snap shot by Harper. Ardley were always going to have a spell of dominance and they got that off and running when a free-kick broke to Danny Mason whose powerful effort was pushed away well by Okole and he came to Witney's rescue again just after the hour as he first pushed out Tom Green's long range effort but then showed great reflexes to block two efforts from Wayne Blossom.

With quarter of an hour remaining disaster struck as the home side took the lead when a cross ball dropped invitingly to Tom Green who poked the ball home giving Okole no chance. It was time for the visitors to throw caution to the wind as they chased an equaliser and on three separate occasions they came agonisingly close. Mills who had been instrumental in the midfield made himself some space and his clever pass saw McMahon break into the box and as you waited for the net to ripple somehow he fired wide.

With the game going into added time Witney had Vinny Byfield on as an emergency striker and from the left flank he almost scored a stunning goal as Tucker had to claw the ball out from under the crossbar and from the rebound Dean Smith was left holding his head in his hands as his effort flew inches wide and with it went Witney's hopes of a positive result.

Shortwood United 1 Ardley United 0 - 10th October
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division
(Match report courtesy of Shortwood United)

A solitary goal from Ross Casey was enough to give Shortwood the points over Ardley United at Meadowbank on Saturday. Ardley battled well but Rich Thomas was rarely threatened and Shortwood should have won by a much clearer margin. Still the three points takes Wood to within one point of league leaders Reading.
Wood welcomed back Ben Pugh – possibly only for a short time as Forest Green are looking to loan him out to a Conference North or South side – and his presence on the wing helped overcome the absence of the injured Matt Collins.
Shortwood almost took the lead in the first minute. James Singh crossed low into the box and Mish Green totally miss hit his shot which was going wide until it was deflected - almost past visiting keeper Tucker for a fluke own goal. Then Luke Bennyworth was allowed far too much room as he raced forward but hit his shot too close to Tucker. Ardley forced their best chance of the game after 7 minutes when slack defending allowed Beckett in one on one with Thomas but he shot too close to the advancing keeper who saved to his right. Wood played some free flowing football. Singh sent a header just wide from a Pugh cross. Casey headed an Allard cross straight at the keeper and twice Singh was denied by last ditch tackles as he ran through. Finally Wood scored the goal their play deserved after 34 minutes. Mike Green found Pugh wide on the left and his curling cross was headed back across goal and in at the far post by Ross Casey. Wood almost made it 2-0 three minutes later when a superb end to end move was finished by a low shot from Singh that Tucker did well to save.
The second half continued in much the same fashion with Wood attacking and Ardley relying on a long ball forward. Generally the impressive pairing of Joe Macklin and Ash Thomas dealt with any threat and what shots Ardley had were from distance.  Only once did Ardley have a real chance when, after 55 minutes, Ash Thomas slipped and Bryan crossed low but Bone blazed over the bar.
At the other end Tucker saved well from Singh and then produced an even better save to deny Ben Pugh. Wood had a reasonable shout for a penalty when a Casey shot was blocked by a hand and Allard had a goal bound shot deflected narrowly wide. Only desperate defending, good goalkeeping, and an inaccurate final ball kept the score down to one and the game finished with Casey heading narrowly wide from a Greenhough cross and Tucker again denying Pugh.

Afterwards John Evans said: “This was a tight game and Ardley battled well. A second goal would have killed them off but they made it difficult for us. Ross Casey was my man of the match today.”

Fairford Town 2 Ardley United 3 - 6th October
AM Print & Copy Hellenic League Floodlit Cup

The Floodlit Cup gave a chance for players to relax a little from the constant demands of league football, but in saying that the game started at a great pace, and was hotly contested by both sides.

The visitors first real chance came when the ball was squared across the goal to Adam Beckett who should have put it away .
With 20 minutes on the clock Ardley were gradually taking control of the midfield, a fierce drive from Adam Garner was well saved by Lee Clathortin. At the other end Gareth Tucker had to push a drive round the post for a corner.

Just before half time a mix up in the Ardley defence saw them fail to clear the ball, allowing Matt Boucher to give the home side a half time advantage.

Half Time: Fairford Town 1 Ardley United 0

It took only a minute of the second half for the equaliser, Danny Bone (left) crossed from the right, and to his delight the ball went over the keeper and into the far corner.

Ardley’s second was a well worked affair , a through ball found Beckett who got his shot away and was parried by the home keeper, the ball was played wide to Leon Gordon (right) who jinked the defender a cooly played it into the net.

Fairford were not to be denied and fought hard to get back on terms, a free kick on the hour found Jaques Tertois unmarked in the box, and a simple header levelled the scores at two apiece.

With 10 minutes left on the clock Manager Kevin Brock brought on Jordan Ayris for striker Andrew Stidder, pushing Leon Gordon into the attack to try for the winner. A perfect through ball behind the defence gave Danny Bone his second , his pace took him through and he shot wide of the keeper to keep Ardley in the Floodlit Cup.

A well contested game by both sides that could have gone either way, but a relief by all that it did not go into extra time on this Autumnal evening.

FA Vase First Round Prope - 3rd October

Ardley United  0   Moneyfields 1

Moneyfields progress in the FA Vase courtesy of a 37th minute penalty.

The game got off to a dramatic start, with only 4 minutes on the clock a collision of heads between Adam Garner and the visiting keeper Andy Smallpiece, saw Smallpiece leave the field of play with a nasty wound to his head and suffering concussion, his place taken by Tom Boyle. Garner was patched up and  able to play on with his head heavily bandaged.

The substituted keeper looked a little suspect, and when he dropped a ball from a cross Jordan Ayris was first to react but his shot went wide denying the home side an early advantage.

Ardley looked to take control of the game, but in the 37th minute a sloppy back pass to the home side keeper allowed Jason Prior to challenge for the ball. Gareth Tucker (left) came racing out of his goal  upended Prior leaving referee Aylott no option but to award a penalty, and dismiss Tucker to the dressing room. Jordan Ayris had to be sacrificed to make way for Ryan Watt to come off the bench and take his place between the sticks. Owen Alias put away the spot kick and left a 10 man Ardley a uphill challenge.

Both sides had a couple of decent chances in the second half but the spoils were heading back down the A34 to Portsmouth.  

Hellenic League Premier Division - 29th September
Flackwell Heath 4 Ardley United 1

A three goal advantage possibly flatters Flackwell, but make no mistake they are a slick outfit that will upset many a side this season if they can go through the season playing like they did against Ardley.

The early exchanges were fairly even, with both sides looking to force their dominancy in the game. A defensive error, when a high ball was not dealt with, allowed Ricardo Cannon to use his pace to get behind and tap in from a metre out .

Seven minutes later Callum Coull made it two from a free kick, when he headed behind and found the corner of the net.
Ardley always looked dangerous from the set pieces and saw two chances cleared of the line.

Two down at half time the visitors came out determined to claw one back, Troy Bryan rattled the cross bar , but again it was Flackwell that found the net increasing their lead through Matt Glynn from a free kick outside the area that he reacted to first.

Three down Ardley were thrown a lifeline when Adam Garner (pictured) was unceremoniously upended and referee Paul O’Hare pointed to the spot. Garner dispatched the kick, and the visitors tried in vain to get back into the game, but it was all over when with 8 minutes left on the clock Robert Charles made it 4.   

Hellenic League Premier Division - 26th September
Ardley United 0 Old Woodstock1

A lacklustre Ardley allowed a resilient Woodstock to steal the 3 points in this local derby.

Ardley took the opening exchanges and forced a corner from which they should have gone ahead when a glancing header from Jordan Ayris went narrowly wide.
Minutes later a ball over the top of the defence allowed Ardleys’ Andrew Stidder a one on one with the keeper, the ball bounced awkwardly for him, and a grateful Dan Smith in the Woodstock goal smothered the ball.
With the visitors pinned back it was Ali Robinson who had a speculative shot, but again it was well covered by the keeper.
With 26 minutes on the clock a high ball dropped to Danny Wise who promptly lobbed it goal wards finding it’s way over the Ardley keeper to drop in the net.
Woodstock now took the game to the home side and they were unlucky not to score again before the half time break.
The second half was a non-event, with Woodstock happy to defend and hit on the break, Ardley never looked threatening inside the box. Despite substitution’s to try to get back in the game, the match petered out with a joyous Woodstock happy to take the points.

Hellenic League Premier Division - 15th September

Ardley United 1 Wantage Town 0

Wantage suffered their first defeat of the season when they came across a resilient and hard working Ardley.

It was the home side who opened lively, and some last ditch tackling by Wantage gave Ardley a free kick just outside the area. The resulting kick by Adam Garner was vicious and low testing the keeper early on.

Wantage playing the short game, managed to get behind the Ardley defence on a couple of occasions and a fierce shot by Richard Guy had the home keeper beaten only to see it drift wide of the post.

With 21 minutes gone Troy Bryan worked his way into the box , beating two defenders, turned and opened his account with a well finished move.

With play now switching from end to end Ardley looking to capitalise and Wantage anxious for the equaliser, it was a welcome half time whistle for both sides.

Wantage started the half strong and it took two good saves by Gareth Tucker in the home goal to keep them at bay. Ardley looked to hit on the break, and it was on one such occasion that a Header from Danny Bone struck the post to deny the much sought second goal.

With time ticking away Wantage pushed further on in an attempt to equalise,but were lucky not to concede at the other end, but come the final whistle a jubilant Ardley climbed to 5th place in the table, looking a real threat to those around them at this early stage.

A&M Print Floodlit Cup - 8th September

Ardley United 2 Wootton Bassett 1

First Division West Wootton Bassett made the long evening trek to Ardley,took the lead and returned empty handed.

The match started with the home side pressing hard. With four successive corners in the first two minutes Bassett were always going to find it difficult to suppress the Premier Division side, but they stuck at it with determination.

Chance after chance went begging, Ardley followers could only worry that it was going to be one of those nights when the ball would not find the net, or the visitors would nick one against the run of play. It was just the latter when Alan Blake received the ball out wide left, whipped in the cross and Gavin Thomas was unmarked to give Bassett the lead after 39 minutes.

Undetered, Ardley stuck to the passing game, but went in one down at half time.

Half Time: Ardley United 0 - Wootton Bassett Town 1

Ten minutes into the second half the reward came when a corner was only half cleared and Adam Garner (left) blasted home from the edge of the area, to level the score.

With the visitors tiring due to the fast pace of the game Ardley were awarded a corner. Tom Green drove it in, with Troy Bryan(right) heading it into the net, much to the relief of the home side. Ardley were happy to play keep ball  for the last five minutes and progress to the next round.  

FA Vase 1st Round Qualifying - 5th September

Calne Town 2 Ardley United 4 aet

It was Calne who nearly had the dream start when a early cross could have caught Ardley cold, but with everyone failing to get a touch on it, it went out for a goal kick allowing the visitors to regroup and put their house in order.

Ardley worked there way back into the game, and on 9 minutes it was Jordan Ayris who found himself through with just the keeper to beat, but his stinging shot was pushed over for a corner. It was from that resulting corner that the home side could only clear to the edge of the box , where Adam Garner was lurking to fire home, to open the scoring.

Calne did not take this lightly and had a period of sustained pressure, which paid dividends ten minutes later when Tom Green was robbed of the ball by Blaine Fitzgerald who shot from an acute angle to level the score. Play was now fairly even , but the visitors had a chance of a half time lead when Ayris again forced the keeper into a first class save.

Ten minutes into the second period Troy Bryan jinked his way into the box, forcing a rash tackle from Mat Ralph to leave referee Tim Wood no option than to point to the spot. Captain Adam Garner stepped up to dispatch the kick with venom.

Ardley were now in the ascendancy , yet against the run of play Calne were awarded a free kick wide right, which found it's way into the net from the outstretched leg of Dan King top level the score. Minutes later Ardley Keeper Gareth Tucker pulled of two great saves to keep the game alive, and when Striker Andrew Stidder was forced off with a groin strain things were not looking good for the visitors.

Into extra time and with 112 minutes on the clock a replay was looking good value for money, when a rerun of the first half penalty took place, again Troy Bryan was unceremoniously brought down with Adam Garner leaving the keeper little
chance.

Two minutes later it was all over when Jordan Ayris played a one two withTroy Bryan and put away his chance to seal thevictory.