On a windy day in North Oxfordshire Kidlington always seemed to be on top in this encounter, but found Hooky a difficult nut to crack. Having played three sides from Division One lately I think it's fair to say Hooky were the team that certainly gave the best account of themselves, and belied their lowly league position.

The game started with Kidlington kicking down the slope and it wasn't long before the match had its first goal. The ball was played to Mike Duerden (pictured), he advanced to smash a worldly of a shot from 25 yards into the top right hand corner of the Hooky net, 1 - 0 and 4 minutes gone.

During the next few minutes Kidlington had several more chances to add to their total but some poor finishing put pay to that.

Hooky were seeing a fair bit of the ball and were passing it around extremely effectively, but defensively wise Kidlington were equal to it.

A rasping shot on 28 minutes had Kiddy keeper Matt Hyslop scuttling across his goal to save the shot, whilst at the other end Kidlington were still beavering away trying to create chances for a second goal.

As we neared the break Hooky were handed a life line as Tommy Boxer was adjudged to have pushed a Hooky player in the box and a penalty kick was the result. Chris Tillcock took it and blasted the ball home for 1 - 1 in the 44th minute.

H. T. 1 - 1

Kidlington had looked a little one paced during the first half and now attacking up the hill very little seemed to have changed. Kiddy Manager Martin Wilkinson was quick to act and an early substitution was forthcoming, Duerden off for Tommy Woodbridge.

Woodbridge came on on the right wing and Skipper Lewis Brownhill moved to lead the attack.

Within minutes of this change Kidlington had the lead. Brownhill took a free kick from around 20 yards out hitting it into the wall, the ball bounced back to him and he struck a super half volley low and into the far corner of the net for 2 - 1 in the 52nd minute.

Chances for Kidlington were starting to manifest themselves again and but for an amazing miss from Brownhill they would have had another goal. Brownhill chipped the home keeper and ran round him to guide the ball into the unguarded net, however he only succeeded in hitting the ball against his other leg and both the player and the ball ended up wide of the goal.

Just before the hour another striker was brought on this time for a defender, Liam Rice going off with Julius Muraga coming on to play on the left with Tommy Castle dropping to left back.

Kidlington were now pressing hard and it was Muraga who netted after moving in off the flank he ran with the ball and clipped it over the keeper for 3 - 1 on 82 minutes.

A couple of minutes later and with Kiddy in full flow Ben Fitzmartin powered home a 4th goal as Hooky now started to fold.

Kidlington were past the winning post and seemed to at last relax, but still a couple more decent chances we eked out, but the Hooky keeper wasn't to be beaten again.

The games last roll of the dice saw a late penalty decision given against Tom Woodbridge for what looked a dubious foul in the box. Again Tillcock took it and he finished well for 4 - 2, this goal came in the 2nd minute of injury time.

Kidlington it has to be said wern't at their best and had to battle for their win, but you always felt the quality of the Kiddy side was always there bubbling under the surface. The game will certainly be remembered for the strike in the 4th minute by Duerden, and as one of the locals shouted that's a good'un I hope it's on match of the day tonight!
So now it's into the hat for the 2nd round to see what lady luck has in store for the Greens.

COYG