Match Preview

Kidlington will look to take January‘s impressive form into February, as we travel to fellow Oxfordshire side Thame United for a derby tomorrow afternoon.

Kidlington went unbeaten in January completing an impression run and picking up eight points on the way. Kidlington started the year on new year's day with a crucial 3-2 victory over fellow Oxfordshire side Wantage Town. The following week we were due to play AFC Dunstable but due to a water logged pitch the game was called off very late in the day meaning full attention turned to the following weekend after where we welcomed promotion challengers Berkhamsted, a late goal from Kidlington's Owen Cox meant the game ended 1-1 and an even later red card for Berkhamsted meant it was a bad day at the office for them. The following week we made the trip over to Barton Rovers and following an impressive performance from Kidlington it ended in a 3-0 victory and meant all three point's came back with Kidlington. Last weekend we welcomed Didcot Town to Yarnton Road and following previous games between the two side we was expecting an enthralling game. But this wasn't to be as a dull game was played out and it ended in a 1-1 draw. Going into tomorrow game Kidlington sit 16th in the league with 24 points on the board and one point clear of 17th placed Hertford Town who have played one on more game. Just above Kidlington in 15th are Barton Rovers who sit on 27 points.

Thoughts From Ben Sadler:
We welcome Dan Stokoe back into the squad after he came through an hour in our reserves game. We have a couple of players who we will make a decision on last minute, but apart from that we have a fully fit squad to choose from.
I went to watch Thame in the week and they were impressive. An organised side, who have a number of lively attacking players.
In the end we were pleased to take a point against Didcot. The pitch and the conditions did not help either team and it was game of very few chances, with the defining moment being their miss at 1-0 up.
COYGs

Our host's tomorrow Thame United come into the game on a good run, having won three of their last five games. The most noticeable of which came on Tuesday with an 1-0 win away at out of form Aylesbury United. Also in the last five games for Thame United they have only lost one which came at the hand of North Leigh as they lost 3-1, during this time they have only conceded five goals and kept three clean sheets and have also netted nine in their last five. Thame United come into the game in 7th place just 5 point of the playoffs places. With Ware Fc sitting in 6th place with a four point cushion on Thame, and just two point behind in 8th place sit Harlow Town having played two less games than Thame United.

Head to Head:
This will be the third time this season Thame and Kidlington have met with Thame winning the first two meeting, the first of which came in the league back in October as Thame took a narrow 1-0 victory at Yarnton Road, only four days later the team's met again the league cup, a much closer game ended 1-1 in normal time but Thame took the Victory (7-6) on Penalties. Kidlington last to victory against Thame United back in The Emirates FA Cup (September 2020) wining 1-0. To find the last time Kidlington won in the league against Thame United you have to go back to the 26/08/2019 when Kidlington took a 3-0 win with goals coming from Christopher Jordan and 2 from Leam Howards.

*All statistics from: https://southern-football-league.co.uk