Kidlington 3 Petersfield Town 1: KIDLINGTON ran out winners in a match between two sides who found themselves in the bottom four of Division 1 Central going into the game.

Petersfield couldn’t have any complaints about the result as after their early goal the home side always looked to be in control of the match.

The game got off to a scrappy, nervy start, with both sides showing why they are struggling at the wrong end of the league table, before the home side took the lead on seven minutes.

The goal came from what looked like a clear foul on the half way line on a Petersfield player but the referee allowed play to go on and Lewis Coyle picked up the loose ball in midfield, slipped it past his marker and then beat keeper Tom Best’s dive at full stretch from 30 yards out.

Kidlington went close to doubling their lead on 16 minutes when Lewis Gabbidon thundered his header from the edge of the box against the post from a corner on the right.

Coyle went close again nine minutes later when he was played in behind the Petersfield defence on the left hand side of the penalty area. His first shot was partially blocked and his second effort was blocked again by a defender and turned behind for a corner.

Kidlington doubled their lead on 37 minutes when Elliot Osborne-Ricketts picked up the ball in space 30 yards out after it was played to him from the left and then he hit an unstoppable shot home past Best and into the net.

Four minutes later it should have been 3-0 when Coyle cut in from the right hand edge of the penalty area, chipped his shot over Best who had gone to ground early but his effort ran wide of the far post.

Petersfield finally managed to get their first chance of the game two minutes before half time when home keeper Sam Warrell, his defender Henry Owen and Rams striker Callum Coker all collided when jumping for a cross from the left.

The ball ran to Alex Miroy 25 yards out but his first time effort went over the top of the unguarded goal.

The second half was a more even, scrappy affair but the home side had a goal disallowed in the opening minute after Osborne-Ricketts finished off a cross from close range.

Two minutes later Petersfield almost got themselves back into the game when Harry Wedlake headed the ball across the edge of the box and Alfy Whittingham, with his back to goal, turned and fired a shot which came back off the crossbar.

On 53 minutes Anaclet Odhiambo took the ball past a couple of challenges as he made his way into the penalty area but Best managed to smother the danger as he got to the edge of the six yard box.

Mark Janes went close for Kidlington but his shot deflected up into Best’s hands and at the other end, Miroy drifted past a couple of defenders before fizzing a shot just over the crossbar from 25 yards out.

The home side secured all three points on 69 minutes when a cross was hung up into the box from the right after some good build up play and Odhiambo was left unmarked at the far post to head home from close range.

Wedlake curled a free kick just over the top before Osborne-Ricketts had two shots saved, the second a good low save from Best, and substitute Josh Tooke got clear of the defence and forced Best to beat away his shot at the near post.

The home side had more chances to stretch their lead in the closing stages when Tom Franklin put his header over and substitute Ryan Brooks put his shot into the side netting after a good run.

Petersfield got a consolation goal with two minutes remaining when Miroy’s quick play on the left saw the ball crossed into the box, Ollie Sturt and Warrell ran into each other and Whittingham rolled home the loose ball.

Petersfield: Best, Searle, Graham, Cripps, Benjamin, Geddes, Tee (Sturt), Green (Giles), Coker (Wedlake), Whittingham, Miroy. Subs not used: Corsaro, Page.