Local rivals Cropredy and Adderbury Park where finally facing each other in this midweek clash in late April. The two clubs haven’t played each other much in the recent past but a rivalry has developed with the only two Banbury based teams in the Oxfordshire Senior League. However the fortunes of the two clubs have been differentiated and this was 9th versus 1st going into kick off.

Cropredy we’re able to call upon a full squad for the first time in months and welcomed back James Cutts in goal and Dan Reeves in midfield to the starting line up. Development team regular Luke Butterworth came into midfield and Oslo resident Maxie Earle who is back in the country and has been banging the goals in for the development team answered a call to lead the line in attack. Both players making their first team debuts. Cropredy also had former assistant manager John Clark returning to the home dug out. Adderbury also had their full complement of players so it was game on for the local derby.

The Williamscot Road road pitch held up well after a day of incessant rain which fortunately stopped in time for the game but the conditions made for a derby day type feel. The early exchanges were as you would expect with balls being contested keenly. Adderbury tried to assert their authority early doors with a couple of pot shots that went over the bar from distance. Cropredy were creating chances themselves and Earle had a header on target saved by Adam Rimmer in the visitor’s goal.

With tackles flying in the yellow cards soon came out too from referee David Burn’s pocket. Butterworth and Reeves for Cropredy and Clynes for Adderbury going into his notebook. Cutts was needed in the Cropredy goal to make a point blank save from Chay Buckingham inside the six yard box to keep the scores level. But from there it was perhaps Crop that should have gone into half time with the lead. Midway through the first half Harry Walters blazed a shot over before another Maxie Earle header was saved from a corner which eventually found its way to Luke Ulla Thomas who saw his driven shot saved by Rimmer.

Early in the second half a curling effort from Josh Wynne for Adderbury was flying into the top corner but for an excellent intervention from Cutts tipping the ball over the bar. A couple of minutes later, a wide free kick after Jack Welch was fouled presented Cropredy with a chance. Karl Woodcock found himself relatively unmarked at the back post and made good connection with his head but missed the target. The golden opportunity for Cropredy came on 61 minutes. Earle was played in by Harley Claydon and forced his way to the byline but blazed his effort over the bar. Not to be disheartened Earle created two more efforts for himself in the next 5 minutes and was almost having his own personal duel with Rimmer. The latter firstly saved the former’s volley and then another good effort on target was thwarted.

Adderbury have only been denied all three points once this season and that was back in October when they drew with Garsington. With the league title on the line they pushed hard for a winner but again found Cutts in inspired form making two great saves in a matter of a minute and then won a one on one duel to keep Cropredy in the game. In fairness to Cropredy they believed they could win the game too and kept attacking. Claydon found himself within shooting range but opted to cross across the face of goal but no one was there. There was one final key moment in the game deep into stoppage time. Ruben Torego committing a foul on the edge of the penalty area presented free-kick Callum Bryant with an opportunity. It seemed an eternity for the kick to be taken with hearts in mouths but fortunately for Crop his effort was scuffed wide and the spoils were shared.

A fantastic point for Cropredy who become the first team to shut out Adderbury in the league and perhaps felt disappointed they couldn’t take all three points. Despite the goalless score line it was a hugely entertaining game and the two sides will do it again in a fortnight when Crop travel to the Lucy Plackett Playing Field. Cropredy can take heart knowing that when they can get some consistency of players being available they are a match for any team in the division.

Cropredy: Cutts, Coleman, Torego, Woodcock, Bartlett (Palmer 80), Butterworth (Claydon 57), Reeves, Ulla Thomas, Walters, Welch (C), Earle. Subs not used: Jefferies, Oxley