03/10/2026
Today we entertained Ryan Davies and his Summertown Stars team and I expressed yesterday i though it would be a hard match as they had started well this season.
You will see The Oak ran out 4-2 winners but that score does not tell the story of the game.
We wish SS all the best for the rest of the season.
With Josh our manager on family duty it was left to Luke Saunders, his Assistant, to manage the side and team selected by Josh.
Preparing and selecting the lineup today, I thought, would be difficult as Luke Dandridge was recovery from a bad cold and The Blade Frazer Kernan was back in the squad after many weeks off through injury with no real idea of his fitness.
There was a strong 16 in the squad today but would Josh start with Dandy and The Blade, knowing that if they faded we had a great bench to replace them.
The alternative was just too dangerous to consider as removing players to introduce the subs could leave The Oak limited in how to influence the game later.
This did mean a bit of rotation and I just say with such a great squad these actions will be inevitable.
But we are all fighting the same fight and everyone will be treated fairly.
So the game got underway and The Oak started on the front foot with Lewis James Mannerings and Frazer Kernan failing to convert 2 pretty good chances in the 1st 10 mins.
The next 30 mins was a stalemate and nothing to write home about but everything changed on 39 mins.
SStars were awarded a freekick on the left corner of the 18yd box about 20 plus yds out.
The Oak bitterly contested it to no avail.
Kick/shot taken to the right of the wall and , the ball was deflected off a SS attacker.
I think it just hit him but good for him as the deflection left Mickey with no chance.
The half time whistle went and despite being the best side, The Oak were not clicking.
Time for a rethink and some rejigging of the lineup as we needed to be more clinical up front.
What we needed was a Knight on a white horse riding to the rescue to start the comeback.
It just so happened one came along, not able to come till halftime.
I am talking about Daniel Digges.
But before he had even mounted up The Oak were 2 nil down.
On 46 mins Tom Beckett was adjudged to have kicked a player on the floor who was laying over the ball.
It was disputed but the penalty stood and scored and SS now had a lead to defend and could afford one mistake.
Now The OK revival had to start and I knew that we would not give up trying get back into the game especially with so much time left.
After a few changes in personal, Dandy and Frazer having given everything, the fightback began.
More ball on the floor and not in the air and more pressure on the ball was paying dividends and now with Diggesy up front things looked more promising.
On 58 mins he struck. A ball put through to him and he was on it like a flash and fired it into the net.
Now we were cooking and it was Tom Beckett who now joined the party.
The flying winger had suffered a frustrating afternoon up to then but a ball inside the fullback was right up Tom's street and he raced onto it and buried it into the far corner.
His general play is outstanding but I feel he needs to do more of what we saw today.
It is in him, perhaps slow things down and relax.
But what do I know.
What I do know is now The Oak had all the momentum and the crowd including those prawn sandwich bunch in the Director's Box were urging the boys to go for the win.
They needed no encouragement and it was now the Diggesy show as on 70 mins he chased a through ball and beat the keeper to it tucking it away nicely.
The air in the SS balloon had gone and on 83 mins Diggesy finally burst it when again chasing a ball played forward beat the keeper once again looping the ball high over his head and into the net.
4-2 and the comeback was complete and Diggesy's hatrick was a joy to witness.
The Knight on the white horse had rescued a win from the jaws of defeat.
So 3 more points and we go equal top but 2nd on goal difference.
But plenty of time to look at league tables later, for now keep knocking down all those put infront of us.
Well done today boys.
Now for a few thank yous
Simon Meakin for another great pitch
All the shop volunteers for staying open till 3.30pm
All the Chandos pub volunteers for opening at 3pm for our post match drinks
I would like to thank all our supporters for coming including legends such as David Cherry, Geoff Bradley and Richard Hopcroft.
A personal thanks to Richard as he is a fantastic help to me on matchday. I am sure I don't tell him that enough but thanks Rich.
Finally we had a lovely surprise when our main sponsor came to see us today.
Although he has sponsored the club for many years prior the cessation, without this man we would not have restarted.
I am talking about Ian Curran, over from America.
I hope he enjoyed it, well the 2nd half anyway and we look forward to the next time we see him.
Top man.
So onto the next one, home again next Sat versus AFC Chesham in the Thomas Field Shield.
Come along we would love to see you.
See full details of the game later in the week.
Thanks
Tony Walker
