Oxfordshire Great Lakes Community 8 Raging Fever FC 2

Raging Fever?s season got under way on Saturday at Cowley Marsh, as the Oxford United supporters team accepted a challenge from a local Sunday League outfit. The Oxfordshire Great Lakes Community project has been set up to bring together immigrants from the Great Lakes area of Africa, many of whom are refugees and asylum seekers, and help them settle in their new communities. They had asked OUFC to provide a team to play against, in order to help highlight their work, and in truth would have had a more meaningful game with rather better opposition than the fans rabble we were able to provide, as the scoreline flattered Fever somewhat.

Nevertheless this was a useful opportunity for the Oxford fans to get together on the pitch again, and the first half performance in particular gave some grounds for optimism for the season ahead. Despite going three goals behind in the opening half hour to some clinical counter-attacking moves, RF rallied and started creating chances of their own. John Matthews went close after good work from debutant Jamie Pill, and then had a goal ludicrously disallowed for offside after being put through by Mark Howland. Minutes later, however, Matthews did finally get on the score sheet when a neat ball from Domi Crowder set him free down the right channel and his clinical shot across goal gave the keeper no chance.

OGL were clearly the better team technically, but never really settled in the opening 45 minutes and were let down by one member of their team who walked off the pitch after half an hour in protest at not being passed the ball often enough! They did create a few more scoring opportunities, however, but were thwarted by some excellent saves from stand-in goalkeeper Dan Pear, who is in danger of making the garish Number 1 shirt his own on this performance.

Half time was enlivened not only by free oranges and water courtesy of the OGL camp, but also by some of the local Cowley yoof who couldn?t tell the difference between Raging Fever and the real OUFC and pestered the boys in yellow for their autographs.

The second half showed the gulf in class between the sides, as the Great Lakes boys completely dominated proceedings, scoring a further five goals and missing at least a dozen other good chances, often through over-elaboration. Most of the Fever defence had a morning to forget, although Mark Howland made several crucial last-ditch clearances and man-of-the-match Dan Pear pulled off more quality stops to keep the scoreline semi-respectable.

The yellows did manage to get a second goal, although this was solely down to an OGL defender who first blocked Jon Brown?s shot from the right on the six yard line, before slicing his attempted clearance into his own net. Soon afterwards Dan Hayward forced the Great Lakes keeper into a smart save after working hard to create the shooting opportunity for himself, and Nick Wehmeier shot just over from the edge of the area when the resulting corner broke to him, but that was the only respite from the onslaught at the other end.

Despite the result, this was an enjoyable game played in the right spirit, and hopefully the Great Lakes Community project benefited from the exposure provided by the Oxford Mail photographer in attendance. Thanks go to Martin Brodetsky for refereeing the game ? although not particularly well-assisted by his linesmen, he?s probably glad he wasn?t in his usual right back berth given the speed, skill and youth of the opposition!

RF squad: Dan Pear, Nick Wehmeier, Mark Howland, Pat Wehmeier, Nicky Pear, Andy Hill, Domi Crowder, James Longshaw, Steve Gilbert, Jamie Pill, John Matthews, Dan Hayward, Jon Brown

RF goals: John Matthews; own goal