Blackfriars vs Allen Hall match report

On a sunny bank holiday weekend, Allen Hall seminarians made a trip to Oxford to take on the Blackfriars studium in a football match.

The day began with Mass in the priory church, celebrating the memorial of St Bede the Venerable. It was to be an historic occasion, the first meeting of these two sides, and so appropriate to mark the day by seeking the intercession of the saintly historian.

The match itself took place at the University Sports Club, on Mansfield Road. The sun was beaming down on the astroturf, and the teams went through their warm-up routines, preparing themselves for the contest. Blackfriars won the coin toss and opted to kick-off, a moment of ascendency that proved short-lived.

Allen Hall were a strong team, well organised, well dressed, and technically proficient. Wave after wave of attack came forward, and for a period each was repelled by the heroics of Br Chidiebere OCD in goal. It was a tense start, and spectators were clearly gripped by what was gearing up to be a close contest. The fast-paced high-octane entertainment was just what they had come for. A combination of Dominicans, Carmelites (O Carm and OCD), hall students, and visiting guests, gathered as a football team for the first time, proved a potent mix for the home side. Br Reginald OP was immense all over the pitch, undoubtedly winning the physical contest in midfield.

After a period of time Allen Hall finally broke through the Blackfriars’ backline. Unfortunately, that goal was not to be the last. A full report of the match has already been posted on the Allen Hall website (Allen Hall ease past Blackfriars in Oxford Goalfest), and it would be unnecessary to recount the entire game again here. However, in view of a complementary perspective, it is worth documenting a couple of pivotal moments.

The first came after 20 minutes. Blackfriars were already behind, but fighting hard. Fr Matthew Jarvis OP was playing up front, and relentlessly chasing down every opportunity. Out of nowhere, the chance came. The Allen Hall goalkeeper collected a seemingly innocuous back pass, and looked to clear his lines. But Jarvis was alert to the opportunity. He raced forward and leapt up, blocking the clearance. The ball bounced off an out-stretched limb and rolled into an empty net. The home support went wild, sensing that this was the start of something special.

Alas half-a-dozen goals later that hope was diminishing. The opening of the second half was a bruising period, with some questionable tactics from the Blackfriars captain not helping. But all was not lost. As feet began to grow weary in the midday heat, the home side suddenly found themselves in unfamiliar territory, namely with the ball and in the opposition box. Br John OP weaved his way round multiple defenders and was brought down. Penalty. Others say he tripped, but the details matter little. It had been given, and was promptly put away to renew the hope of the fans.

Sadly that was to be the last significant opportunity for the home side. The game ended with Allen Hall deservedly victorious. Often, commenting on a one-sided result, pundits will say that the scoreline flattered the victors. Whether the same could be said about this result, which finished 17-2, is up for debate. One spectator opined at the conclusion: “It was a closely fought match. If you discount the short bursts when Allen Hall scored their goals, it was pretty even.”

The match was followed by lunch back at the priory. The home team continued the hospitality they had displayed to the opposition in their own box, and all enjoyed burgers and ice cream together under the shade of the magnolia tree.

It was a wonderful day all round, and a lovely occasion for the different seminary communities to get to know one another.

Photo credits: Augustine Chen OP; Allen Hall flickr