WORDS BY SAM RATHBONE

Kidlington look to make things right and push themselves out of the relegation zone against Leverstock Green in an absolute crucial six pointer at the bottom of the table, a game that could be regarded the biggest all season. 17th v 18th, it's all to play for.

Kidlington will need to be better after their recent result against Flackwell Heath losing three zip at Yarnton Road. A flurry of goals in the second half from Heath, Jack Shakespeare on the hour mark, Wiktor Makowski and Jamie Ayres wrapped up all three goals and three valuable points for the Heathens, mistakes were made but it's time to dust ourselves down and give it our all for the remaining 10 affairs.

This makes Saturday's trip to Leverstock Green, inevitably the biggest game of the Greens’ season. Kidlington held their own and made it to the interval with a choice to make; should they attack or play it safe? They gambled and paid the price. Now, they must react fast and bounce back as they travel to Hemel Hempstead to compete in a major six pointer, this could defy Kiddy’s season, whether they start to extend a gap on the bottom two or fall deeper into the drop zone.

The Hosts, Leverstock Green, also known as the Trees, sit a point behind Kidlington in the table and come into this game off the back of a miserable, lacklustre 3-0 home defeat to Berkhamsted with the Trees struggling to get going from the start to the end. Leverstock Green have hosted thirteen home games this season, only winning one and picking up six draws, whilst losing the other six.

Their last positive result came away when Leverstock travelled to Ware, battling well to earn a point on the board to try to push on and gain on Kidlington. December was the last time these two faced each other over at Yarnton Road, Leverstock Green held out well defensively and picked up three goals and all three points in OX5.

The Gaffer, Fergus Moore will be looking for a bit of deja vu when Kidlington travel to The Lords Builders Merchant Stadium this Saturday. Talking about away form, Leverstock Green’s only away win came at Yarnton Road near Christmas for the Trees. Since then, their record isn’t pretty: one win, six draws and nine losses. (W1,D6,L9).

Twenty-eight goals in 29 games does portray that the chances created and threat in front of goal is a real struggle for the Trees. Aswell, they have conceded 54 goals this season, these goals have come from games such as Welwyn Garden City when they conceded four, four goals away at Kings Langley and three against Berkhamsted.

ALL IS ON THE LINE FOR THESE TWO! SIX POINTER! WHO WANTS IT MORE?

Back the Kiddy all the way, in what will be an entertaining game worth the travel.

Recent Form
Kidlington:

Two first half goals put the Pirates in control back in Feburary, all was calm and settled from Bedford, but as Kidlington started to fight back, the nail was put in the coffin with the score finishing 3-0 to Real Bedford.

Aylesbury at home, Kidlington knew they had to make their home games count, an early setback from Kassim and Burton gave Aylesbury a major advantage, Fraser Allen on the 33rd minute gave the Greens a lifeline going into half-time. An impact was needed. 25 minutes to go, Matthew Gunn squeezed in a shot to equalise the game for the Greens and push the
momentum forward to potentially grab a winner. The game was flowing, creative action all over the pitch from Kidlington, they went for it before Sonny French pounced on a loose ball miscleared by Kidlington. A first-time volley couldn’t be stopped and gave Aylesbury an 89th minute winner winning by three goals to two.

Back-to-back Yarnton Road afternoons occurred for the Greens, this time facing Stotfold looking to keep the positive performances flowing throughout the team. Momentum worked; Kiddy took the lead after 19 minutes on the clock with Fraser Allen’s strike before it was pegged back to 1-1 going into the interval. Shortly into the second half, Kidlington saw themselves fall behind, a pinch of motivation was needed. Repetitively banging at the Stotfold defence, Michael Hopkins finally found a way to net the equaliser and his first goal for the Greens. Opoku got on the end of a cross to give Kidlington their first three points of 2025.

A trip to Hertfordshire waited for Kiddy, Enfield away. They started off sluggish and un-prepared going five-nil down at halftime before a calmer, more relaxed Enfield added two more to see off Kidlington on Saturday. Poor from start to finish. Craig McKay, a true leader of Kidlington with all due respect, resigned from his role leading into the Flackwell Heath home matchup, where the Greens successfully held out until the hour mark before the Heathers netted three goals in half an hour to pick up all three points in OX5.

Leverstock Green:
An inform Biggleswade travelled to Leverstock and really struggled to break down their backline which ended up resulting in an 1-1 draw to give Leverstock green a pivotal chance to pick up form and push to get out of the relegation dogfight.

The Trees travelled to Leighton Town and yet again defensively held out and frustrated Leighton’s attacking line to end the match in a stalemate, 0-0. Another crucial point against good opposition. Three draws approached as another away fixture ended in a 1-1 draw as the Trees nicked a point off midtable Ware, where a point was the right result based off the momentum of the game. Barton Rovers' forward Rhiney rised from a corner to give Barton the lead, the only goal of the match and all three points for Barton Rovers away at Leverstock
Green. Berkhamsted rolled all over the Trees, with the away team scoring two within fifteen minutes and with ten minutes to go put what could be potentially the nail in Leverstock Green’s survival chances.

All to play for Saturday!

Match Information
Leverstock Green v Kidlington FC
Southern League Division One Central
Pancake Lane
Saturday 8th March | 15:00