After a fantastic result at home to Caldecote, a quick turnaround saw the lads take on Shefford and Campton Reserves in the cup. A game under the lights on a playing surface we have been craving. We have good memories of the ground having previously picked up a convincing win there to start us off on our current fine run of form.

A depleted squad due to injuries, work commitments and taking their GF away on holiday meant slightly light on numbers; but no depletion in the amount of quality on show. A change in personnel in the dugout also with Ray Patrickson, Tom Bliss and the injured Jonny Butler leading the group – think less Sir Alex Ferguson and his coaching staff and more the Chuckle Brothers.

 With a very relaxed and jovial mood in the changing room, the lads hit the ground running playing some excellent football in the opening stages, dominating possession and carving out some big chances. Our reward for the strong start soon came with great work from Joe McDonagh down the wing, cutting inside and being brought down in the box. After two successive penalty misses, up stepped Joel “wears his Dad’s slippers” Ives to caress the ball into the top corner – right where the spiders live. Oakley kept up the momentum playing liquid football and a fine break down the right side by McDonagh led to Ben “Nutty Professor” Webster sweeping home. Shefford simply had no answer and their captain’s comment of “we can’t get near fatty (George Cox) in the middle” summed up our dominance.

A third goal soon followed with the unplayable McDonagh running their defence ragged before slotting in the rebound after good work from Chis. Every time Oaks attacked it looked like ending in a goal. A slight lapse in concentration gave Shefford a goal before McDonagh won us another penalty. He had their defence on strings and sent their full back for a hot dog before being wiped out by the same player. He will certainly have nightmares about that performance. Joel slotted home impeccably again to make it 4-1 at Half Time.

The second half started off in similar fashion with some excellent football with Chis coming very close to rounding off what would have been Goal of the Season. The award for Foul of the Season has been won by Laurence “The Hitman” Bentham who took one for the team on the half way line to stop a dangerous counter attack. The introduction of Aidan and Larrier in the middle of the park gave us some fresh legs and the game was completely over when McDonagh dispossessed their keeper and dribbled the ball into the net for 5.

A fantastic performance under the lights on a cold evening. The lads are flying and playing the football expected of such a talented bunch. We roll on to some huge games before Christmas.