Raging Fever 7 AFC Halifax 4

Report by Gez Foster

Pear brothers Danny and Toby proved to be the match winners for Raging Fever, as the Yellows emerged convincing winners on the first day of the Nationwide Conference season.

It was Halifax who had made the more promising start, quickly settling into their long-ball game while Fever struggled to get hold of the ball. And it wasn’t long before the visitors made their dominance tell, as their centre forward ran onto a lofted pass and lobbed the ball over the advancing Joel Harrison.

Shaken by this early setback, Fever began to piece the odd pass together, with Steve Gilbert looking sharp on the left wing and putting over a number of inviting crosses. But it wasn’t until shortly before the half hour that the home side finally managed to level the score. Danny Pear waltzed through on the left hand side, and with attackers and defenders expecting a pass inside, he instead lashed the ball past the Halifax keeper.

Lifted considerably by this superb individual effort, Fever finally began to get their passing game going, and by half time they were 3-1 ahead. First, Steve Gilbert released Jamie Pill down the left, and when his teasing cross was knocked back into the area, Toby Pear was on hand to stab the ball home. A few minutes later, John Matthews found space down the right and his pass inside found Jamie Pill, who released a vicious curling drive into the far corner of the net.

But, cometh the second half, cometh the traditional Raging Fever collapse. And now with the blustery wind at their backs, the visitors unleashed a string of long throws and corners that severely tested the home defence. Despite the valiant efforts of the Fever back four, with Tommy Wehmeier and James Simpson outstanding all game, Halifax soon found themselves back on level terms. First, a corner wasn’t properly cleared and a Halifax player was first to the ball, firing home an unstoppable shot from close range. Then, just a few minutes later, yet another corner was met by a Halifax head, and again there was nothing Joel Harrison could do.

In previous years Fever might have just rolled over and died, but this time they managed to claw their way back into the game. Having already produced some fine touches in midfield, it was now time for Toby Pear to show his class as he skipped past the challenges of several defenders and then slid the ball past the Halifax keeper.

Toby Pear (left) receives the congratulations of team mates Gez Foster and Jamie Pill (No. 10)

Unfortunately, Fever’s lead was short-lived. Again sloppy marking from a corner proved costly, as a clearance fell to a Halifax player on the edge of the area, who gleefully slammed it back into the top corner. Undaunted, Fever promptly restored the lead as a wicked Danny Pear corner ended up in the Halifax net via his brother’s forehead and a fortuitous deflection.

With the luck on their side, Fever were now able to step up a gear against a brave but tiring Halifax eleven. With the Pear brothers pulling all the strings in midfield, and John Matthews and Jamie Pill combining well up front, chances were suddenly coming thick and fast. Having narrowly missed a couple in quick succession, Matthews coolly kept his nerve and volleyed home Oxford’s sixth from the edge of the area. There was still time for Toby Pear to cap an outstanding debut by again dribbling his way past a string of defenders and tapping the ball home past a mesmerised keeper.

All in all, a promising start to the season, with some fine football played against useful opponents. But Fever will have to work on their defending at set pieces if they are to remain unbeaten for the rest of the season.