Nomads v Cheltenham

An (official) attendance of 40 souls avoided the Bank Holiday traffic jams for the more tranquil surroundings of Court Place Farm to see how Nomads, in their second home game of the extended weekend, would fare against their high-flying, and high-scoring, visitors from Gloucestershire.
The Saracens pressed hard from the start but Nomads came closest early on when the lively Kamberi went near after latching on to a loose ball after a corner while Jack Griffiths had a good chance when he raced clear of the defence but the keeper just held on to the ball low down.
Both sides were producing good approach work but didn’t really test either keeper until, just before the half-hour, Marlon James hit a terrific shot that the visitors’ keeper at full stretch pushed around the post, and, as play moved to the other end Saracens’ No. 11 brought a good save from Lee Farrow.
With the physios being kept busy throughout the half, there were seven extra minutes before the break and Nomads produced two good pieces of play in this time. Jetmir Kamberi had a great run down the left side and along the goal-line but no one could capitalise on his final pass, and, right on the break, Denelle Steel released Mark Janes whose cross was headed just wide by Mark Bell.

OXFORD CITY NOMADS 0-0 CHELTENHAM SARACENS

The visitors began the second period well and almost from the kick-off No 7 crashed a shot against the bar and No. 10 fired the rebound across the face of the goal. Nomads’ first chance of the half came after 55 minutes when Marlon James didn’t quite have long enough to tee up his shot from near the penalty spot and his effort was quickly cleared to the other end where Saracens’ 14 pulled his shot just wide.
Nomads had several other good chances as the half progressed but on each occasion the finishing lacked the power or direction to beat a reliable keeper. Saracens similarly suffered from an inability to provide that final touch when in front of goal and, when they did produce a goal-bound shot, found Lee Farrow a very solid last line of defence.

FULL TIME: OXFORD CITY NOMADS 0-0 CHELTENHAM SARACENS

So, no goals to show at the end, and a draw probably a fair outcome – though it could have easily been 2-2 or 3-3 with a little more coolness in the box.

City: Farrow, Janes, Colwell, Hall, Lewis, Steel, Sackey, Bell, Kamberi, James (Shaw 75), Griffith (Hepburn 65).