George Dugdale

Aston Tirrold 2 Raging Fever 8

Raging Fever extended their winning run to three games with victory against the villagers of Aston Tirrold.

Fever have a good relationship with Tirrold and travel into the countryside twice a season, with the promise of a hearty pub lunch after the game offering a major incentive. Unlike last season's winter clash, however, the pitch was snow free.

The Oxford side starting the game on the front foot, attacking up the slope that makes Aston Tirrold's village green inconvenient for visiting cricket teams in the summer months. Steve Haynes was causing problems in his new role as target man and set up winger George Dugdale to fire narrowly over the bar from range in the opening minutes.

It wasn't long before Fever made their dominance count. Dan Pear swung a corner in from the left, from which Stuart Burson darted in front of his marker to divert the ball home at the near post.

Shortly after the half hour, James Longshaw made an immediate impact moments after coming off the bench. The winger advanced down the right wing, before firing a cross into the area. The ball was blocked by the outstretched arm of a defender, offering Pear the opportunity to mark his return from his travels with a goal. The midfielder gratefully accepted the offer, firing low to the goalkeeper's right.

Moments before the interval, Fever made it 3-0. Pear's long range effort was parried by the goalkeeper and after John Matthews follow-up was blocked, Dickon Ceadel lifted the ball home to further enhance his fine scoring record from central midfield.

After the interval, Nick Wehmeier notched his first goal of 2012. In a show of near-irrelevant symbolism, former manager Matthews passed responsibility to new manager Wehmeier in the penalty area, allowing him to slot home off the upright.

On the hour mark, Fever made it five. A long-throw was missed by Ceadel (possibly due to the headlock he found himself restricted by), allowing Dugdale to volley into the corner of the net. If ten goals in over forty appearances from the wing is considered an achievement, this strike marked that milestone.

Fever are incapable of playing Tirrold without conceding and if defensive responsibility was Fever's New Year's resolution, they managed to maintain it little longer than a Longshaw diet. A ball was whipped into the area from wide and although James Parker got a hand to a Tirrold header, he couldn't scramble back to claw the ball to safety before it crossed the line.

This spurred Fever on to increase their own tally with a goal of real quality. Nicky Pear drove forward from full-back before exchanging passes with Ceadel. The ball then went out to the wing, before being delivered into the area for John Matthews to nod home.

The seventh goal also came from a header. Dugdale crossed with the outside of his right foot from wide after Dan Pear's lay-off, before Ceadel cushioned the ball into the corner of the net. That is twenty goals in fourteen Fever games for the central midfielder. A phenomenal ratio.

As ever, there were moments of hilarity within the Fever performance. Longshaw fired over from five yards with the goal gaping, but was spared the full brunt of criticism by Dan Pear. After another penalty was awarded for handball (and despite calls for Geoff Carter to step forward), the midfielder attempted to dink his spot-kick down the middle. Although the goalkeeper fell for it, Pear lifted the ball over the bar and now faces a battle to regain the role of penalty taker with a number of candidates staking a claim to replace him.

Failing to notice the end of the season of good will, Fever allowed Tirrold a free header in the closing moments to double their tally. In his analysis, goalkeeper Parker attributed the blame to Longshaw, who left his post without permission. The winger denies the allegation.

However, there was still time for Longshaw to make amends. Dan Pear drove through the defence, before squaring the ball. It looked as if Longshaw had missed his opportunity as the ball got stuck under his feet, but after more hacking than a tabloid journalist, the ball bobbled into the back of the net.

This proved to be the last kick of the game, sealing an emphatic Fever victory.

Fever: James Parker, Nicky Pear, Nick Holloway, Paul Soper, Geoff Carter, George Dugdale, Stuart Burson, Dan Pear, Pat Wehmeier, Nick Wehmeier, Steve Haynes, Paul Lucas, John Matthews, James Longshaw, Dickon Ceadel.

Goals: Burson, D Pear, Ceadel (2), N Wehmeier, Dugdale, Matthews, Longshaw.