A warm summer Friday evening saw me visit Radcot Road, home of Clanfield 85 FC for a Midland Hellenic League Division 1 fixture.

Radcot Road has good parking, a large clubhouse, built into the main stand and high quality floodlighting. The pitch is grass and the club are currently building a new covered standing terrace behind the goal.

Clanfield 85 opened their UHL Hellenic League Division 1 campaign with an impressive 4-0 victory over Southam United and followed it up with a 2-1 away win at Kidlington Reserves, so came into this game with confidence as reflected in manager Jamie Butt’s Matchday programme address. This follows on from his side finishing third in the 2022-23 table, when Clanfield 85 FC were denied promotion by Hereford Pegasus FC in the play off semi final.

Cheltenham Saracens have made a disappointing start in their opening two games, having been defeated 2-1 away at Southam United and 0-1 at home to FC Stratford. Manager Ryan Betteridge would have come into this fixture keen to see his side kick start their season, with a decent performance at Radcot Road.

The game opened with Clanfield 85 taking the initiative and putting pressure on the Cheltenham Saracens defence from kick off. On 11 minutes the home side were 1-0 ahead. A series of passes found their way to Nathaneal Robinson on the left hand side of the Cheltenham Saracens area and he finished well, to put Clanfield 85 in front.

In the 24th minute it was 2-0 to Clanfield 85, when Jack Gaul was sent through with a weighted pass and he finished with aplomb past an approaching Joe Goodey in the Cheltenham Saracens’ goal.

In the 38th minute a beautiful pass from Tyler Hall put Nathaneal Robinson through for his second of the evening, to put Clanfield 85 3-0 ahead.

In the 41st minute, a poacher’s finish by Jozef Fullerton ensured that, at half time, Clanfield 85 went in 4-0 to the good.

The second half opened in much the same way the first half had ended. In the 53rd minute, after a fine shot from Nathaneal Robinson, the ball fell for Jozef Fullerton to slide in and finish, making it 5-0.

In the 72nd minute Clanfield 85 were 6-0 ahead and Nathaneal Robinson secured his hat trick, with a beautiful finish.

In the 90th minute Clanfield 85 made it 7-0 when Finn Baker fired the ball home after some good approach play on the left by Reuben Harry.

At the full time whistle Clanfield 85 celebrated being top of the UHL Hellenic League Division 1, with nine points from three games and a positive goal difference of twelve. Manager Jamie Butt will have been delighted with his side tonight and with more performances like this will believe they can challenge at the top of the table.

Cheltenham Saracens will know they have to be better organised defensively, whilst also adding something, in addition to the long ball when going forward. Unless things improve this could be a tough season for the Saracens.