To call Oundle Town Football Club’s start to the Marshall Peterborough and District Football League season abysmal, would be an understatement. With various managerial changes, sitting rock bottom of the table and still yet to even win three points, the last thing they needed was a cup tie with league leaders, Whittlesey United.

Whittlesey came to Station Road full of confidence, looking down on every other team in the Peugeot Premier Division. Earlier on in the season Oundle were on the receiving end of a thumping 11-0 thrashing at home to Whittlesey. This time they were ready and were not going to let the team from Peterborough breeze through to the quarter finals with ease.

A determined and dogged performance paid off, as Oundle managed to pull off the shock result of the round. Goals from both Marc Saunders and Daniel Kelly were enough to seal the tie and send Oundle storming into the quarter with a new sense of belief. This win for Oundle was sure to give them some much needed confidence, ready for a tricky scheduled league period.

Another set back hit Oundle a fortnight after the great cup win, however. A fixture away to Parson Drove, just a few places above them in the league, was a good chance for Oundle to finally kick start their season. However, a 2-1 defeat soon wiped away the euphoria of the cup victory, as a goal from player manager Danny Clifton wasn’t enough to secure a first point for a disappointed Oundle side.

Between the away fixture and the return match at Station Road against Parson Drove, Oundle were deducted four points, moving them into negative figures. However, they didn’t let this affect them and there were many improvements throughout the team. Oundle clinched a late equalising goal from the new man Ian Bradbury and this was good enough to finally get the first point of the season, the game ending with a 1-1 draw.

Manager Danny Clifton told the Evening Telegraph,”The point has been a long time coming and we have to hope that we can string a few positive results together now.”

The character Oundle showed in the cup now has to be transformed into league games, before the gap between the leagues bottom teams widens too much. Oundle has new found potential. Drubbings that were seen against Perkins Sports and Moulton Harrox, should be a thing of the past. It is time for the results against Alconbury and Parson Drove, where Oundle lost by the odd goal, to be reversed. If not, Oundle Town are certain to finish bottom.