Millwey Rise endured a classic ‘bad day at the office’ when they were beaten 4-0 by Macron League Division Five champions-in-waiting Royal Oak, writes Dick Sturch.

In what proved to be a miserable afternoon for Millwey, their penultimate game brought their biggest defeat of recent seasons.

They were outclassed, out run and out of ideas as Royal Oak strolled through this game, and but for some glaring misses and some smart saves from Nathan Hoole, could have won it even more convincingly.

The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute after some neat build-up play. Their second goal, on the half hour, should have been disallowed, as the ball went out of play, before being pulled back and fired into the net.

The third goal three minutes later had a suspicion of offside about it, but was no more than Royal Oak deserved. Apart from a couple of headers from Shane Featherstone and Chris Lusby ‘Rise’ were never a threat.

Ten minutes into the second period the visitors went further ahead as the ball ‘ping-ponged’ in front of Millwey’s goal before it was tapped in for the fourth, and final goal, of the game. The scorers for Royal Oak were; Harry Choules (2), Andy Underhill and Nathan May.

For Millwey, no one gave up, but they were continually chasing shadows and when they did have the ball their was very little cohesion anywhere on the pitch.

The next and final match at Cloakham Lawns is on April 1 when Winchester provide the visiting opposition (3pm).