The first game at 11 a side ended with a result that flattered the opposition.  Despite the shock of going 1-0 down to a hotly disputed early goal, the girls rallied and more than held their own until half-time.  Several chances fell to either side during the first half but none really on target or bothering the goal keepers.  The best chance came to Bardwell but Rubyanne Ryan pushed the close range shot onto the post.  Both Eleanor Day and Abi Lanning came close for Benson, just pulling their shots wide of the goal.

The second half started with both sides settling quickly and early exchanges favouring Bardwell.  After 5 minutes, Bardwell struck again for their second.  Benson still looked for a goal to get back into the game but it remained elusive with the attacking play falling down in front of goal.  With 15 minutes of the game left Bardwell scored two in quick succession and a tiring Benson side were beaten.  Bardwell got another couple towards the end for a result that really flattered the home side.

This is a big step up for the team and we are very pleased with the way they coped and the first win is not far away.

Player of the Match: Rubyanne Ryan

The sun broke through the early morning mist and damp to shine on a very entertaining match at Benson.  Bloxham kicked off and immediately took the game to Benson.  The techniques worked upon in training immediately brought fruition with the defence tracking and holding firm in dealing with the early pressure.  The game settled into a pattern of both sides attacking strongly but failing to find the extra push for the reward of a goal.  Bloxham did find the net mid-way through the half only for it to be ruled offside.  Some good attacking wing play resulted in a flurry of corners for Benson but they were unable to convert these to a goal.  Benson shaded the half and despite not scoring felt buoyant after a good first half performance.

The second half kicked off and after Benson gave the ball away they suddenly became alerted to the real danger as Bloxham came very close to scoring.  Two successive attacks and Bloxham got closer to scoring as the Benson defence lost all its shape, completely undoing the fine performance of the first half.  A ball though the middle and Ffion Ribbons was away, easily placing the ball passed an advancing Rubyanne Ryan, into the net.  Moments later, Benson still not alert to the danger and a similar Bloxham move almost doubled the score line.  The respite was short lived as Bloxham did convert the next chance as Becky Atkins scored again for Bloxham.  Shapeless and disorganised Benson woke up and put things right but despite putting some neat attacking moves together and forcing some corners they were unable to get a goal that might have got them back in to the game.  The best chance fell to Luci Sokolowski as she took the ball round two defenders and the goal keeper, only for a fine tackle from a recovering defender to put her off as she lined up to slot the ball home.

Player of the Match: Annalize Brooks

Benson kicked off the 1st half of a very competitive game of 10 a side.  Benson was only able to field 10 players and Tower Hill offered to play with 10 themselves: a very sporting gesture and one that was appreciated by Benson.  The first 10 minutes saw Tower Hill have much possession and a few chances that were either saved by Rubyanne Ryan in the Benson goal or shots were pulled wide of the target.  A defensive lapse and the through ball was pounced on by an alert Amber Colwell who sent the ball wide of the goalie.  A second followed a few minutes later with the Benson defence again caught and some good work enabled Charly Hamilton to double the advantage.  After reorganising the defence, Benson ventured forward which resulted in a fierce shot from Luci Sokolowski that the Tower goalie couldn’t hold.  The resultant corner was easily dealt with.  A third for Tower followed before the break with Charly Hamilton netting her second.

Tower got the second half under way and immediately spurned 2 good chances.  A let off for Benson and they raised their game.  Some excellent tackling back and persistence from Danni Merry got her away with the ball.  A look up and a fine defence splitting pass put Ashleigh Rogers through.  She took the ball towards goal and cleverly lobbed the advancing goalie to score Benson’s first of the season.  Buoyed by this, Benson was in the game.  A couple of half chances but no reward and a fourth for Tower from Bethany Calcutt-Snow put an end to the fight back.  Benson still pushed but did not get any further reward and as they tired Tower netted two more goals to run out comfortable winners.

Player of match: Rubyanne Ryan

Scorers:

Benson:
Ashleigh Rogers (1)

Tower Hill:
Amber Colwell (2)
Charly Hamilton (3)
Bethany Calcutt-Snow (1)

Benson played their best game of the season and the score line flattered the home side.  The result hinged on Benson only being able to finish the game with 9 players after picking up 2 injuries in quick succession.  Despite this it was a good performance from Benson and Carterton knew they had played a game today.

Player of match: Ciara Robinson

Scorers:

Benson:
o.g. (1)
Ciara Robinson(1)

Kidlington Tigers kicked off and immediately Benson harried, keen for the ball.  The early chances fell to Tigers but they could not get that opening goal.  Benson picked their game up a notch and gained advantage with possession and commitment in midfield but they too failed to score.  After a couple of corners for either side; with both sides clearing from in front of goal, Benson scored the opening goal.  A perfectly lobbed shot, somewhat specutively by Luci Sokolowski and Benson had the lead.  Tigers pushed for an equaliser but it was not happening.  A corner to Benson, a loose ball and Dani Merry slotted home for the second.  Benson now very much on top created some fine attacking runs from both Abi Lanning and Luci Sokowloski.  Taking the lead from Luci, Abi Lanning tried a similar shot only to see the ball beat the keeper but strike the post.  The third goal came after Luci was brought down in the penalty area after such an attacking run.  Dani Merry stepped up to calmly slot the ball home.

Benson got the second half under way.  They were clearly enjoying the experience of scoring and leading a match that they kept pushing for another goal.  Eventually, it fell to Dani Merry who lobbed the keeper from distance.  Not content with hitting the post in the first half, Abi then struck the crossbar in the second before Dani grabbed another from close in to make it five.  She then chased another ball and slotted the ball between keeper and post, from the tightest angle to give Benson six and claim her fifth of the game.  Laura Trafford picked up a consolation goal for Tigers with 6 minutes left.

Player of match: Dani Merry

Scorers:

Benson:
Danielle Merry 5
Luci Sokolowski 1

Tigers
Laura Trafford

A game of 2 halves: Ducklington kicked off and moved the ball around positively.  Benson harried them looking to obtain possession.  When they did they looked dangerous until they reached the edge of the penalty area.  Handball in the penalty area and a Benson penalty.  Unfortunately, Dani Merry stroked the ball wide of the goal keeper and the post.  Not to be deterred, Benson took heart from this and upped their game.  On the quarter hour, after some good work in midfield from Sophie Moore, Shannon Billingham beat 2 defenders to get her shot in on goal.  The ball found the net after bouncing off the goal keeper.  Instead of pushing forward, Benson relaxed and it was Ducklington who created the better chances as the half drew to a close, forcing 2 brave saves from Rubyanne Ryan.

Benson got the 2nd half under way and instantly looked a better side.  More positive football and strong running created better chances and they duly got their reward with Dani Merry tucking the ball in from close range.  The confidence grew and Shannon Billingham grabbed her 2nd of the game.  Dani Merry went on to score 3 more with Sophie Moore also scoring one.  In the end Benson were worthy winners in a game they made difficult for themselves by the 1st half miss.  Fair play to Ducklington who to continued to push and play football and would had got a consolation goal had it not been for a very fine save from Rubyanne Ryan.

Scorers:

Benson:
Dani Merry 4
Shannon Billingham 2
Sophie Moore 1

A match in which Bardwell asked the majority of the questions and provided most of the answers.  Bardwell were very much in control in the first half and deserving of their 5 v 0 lead.  The second half saw Benson get a bit more back into the game but were never going to trouble the scoreline.

Scorers:

Benson:
Dani Merry 1
Eleanor Day 1

Bardwell:
Georgia Luckhurst 1
Lauren Smith 1
Caitlin Burton 2
Charlotte St. John 3

Benson kicked off and drove forward.  A defensive error let Ashleigh Rogers lob the Bloxham keeper from just inside the penalty box.  Stunned, Bloxham searched for the equaliser with some good attempts on goal and neat passing but they found Rubyanne Ryan in fine form.  Both sides continued to create chances and Benson were denied when Dani Merry’s effort was saved by an excellent one handed save from the Bloxham keeper.  A lapse of concentration in the Benson midfield and a watching defence coupled with some nice passing from Bloxham saw the equaliser come with an excellent effort from the just outside the penalty area.  At half time the sides were level.

Bloxham got the second half under way and really caught Benson asleep to get their second.  The third followed shortly after as Benson still seemed on their half time break.  Realising they were now losing Benson tried to get back into the game but leaving themselves open at the back the fourth Bloxham goal duly arrived.  Benson got stronger towards the end of the game and Dani Merry did pull one back to make the final score 4-2 to Bloxham.

Benson Player of the match :- Eleanor Day

Benson scorers :
Ashleigh Rogers 1, Dani Merry 1

Benson scorers :
Ciara Robinson 1, Dani Merry 1

Benson scorer :
Dani Merry 1

A very wind swept Sunnyside, Benson witnessed an excellent game between 2 attack minded sides. The windy conditions did little to deter the enthusiasm of either side as each went for a win from the start. Benson took an early lead after an excellent pass from Abi Lanning to Shannon Billingham, who slotted passed the advancing keeper with the outside of her right foot. Further chances were exchanged until Carterton got a direct free kick 8 yards outside the Benson penalty area. Up stepped Marta Dyet who took advantage of the direct free kick to place the ball over the Benson wall and between the out stretched arms of the keeper, but below the cross bar, to even the score. As the game settled to a rhythm, both sides exchanged corners and further chances. Esme Beale restored Benson’s lead after 18 minutes with a mazy dribble beating 3 defenders and the keeper for a fine individual effort. A couple of minutes before half time, Benson failed to clear a long ball and gave away a cheap corner. The corner was crossed in but still Benson failed to clear with the ball running out wide. The ball was crossed in from the opposite side and looked safe as it was claimed by the keeper only to be dropped in front of a Carterton player, Lucy Henshaw, who slotted home for the equaliser.Half –time arrived just as the game was restarted.

The second half picked up where the first finished. Both sides created chances to score and probably would have done had the wind not continued to play its part. A fair result to a game played with a fantastic attitude and spirit.

HT 2-2, FT 2-2

Benson scorers: Shannon Billingham, Esme Beale
Carterton scorers: Marta Dyet, Lucy Henshaw

Ducklington kicked off, going straight on the attack and looking very purposeful. The attack was tidied up by the Benson defence and turned into attack. Some neat passing split the Ducklington defence for Dani Merry to slip in for the opening goal for Benson. Two further goals followed in quick succession as Esme Beale and Dani Merry scored again for Benson. Ducklington kept pressing forward and went close, then forced 2 corners before Benson’s Dani Merry and Esme Beale added to the score line. A goal from Luci Sokolowski and another for Esme then another for Luci completed the scoring for the first half. Benson got the 2nd half under way and immediately went in search of more goals. Despite creating many chances, Benson were unable to find the net and the Ducklington goal remained secure until Eleanor Day grabbed a goal poking home from 7 yards. A few minutes later, Esme scored another to complete the scoring. With a few minutes to go Ducklington created 2 chances to get a consolation goal but the shots went just wide of the post.

Credit to Ducklington for never giving up but on the day Benson was the stronger side

HT 8-0, FT 10-0

Benson scorers: Esme Beale 4, Danielle Merry 3, Luci Sokolowski 2, Eleanor Day 1

Marston scorers: Beth Dunbabin 2, Shannon Woodley 2,Jessica Harwood 1