Barry Holloway’s first division FC Jager defied the odds as they booked their place in the semi-finals of this season’s Wiltshire Sunday Cup after they beat fellow Chippenham League side Biddestone Social who were among the favourites to lift the cup which for the last two seasons had been won by the now defunct Corsham Centre.
The quarter final draw had been unkind to the league as it paired their only two remaining challengers together and although Premier Division outfit Biddestone had been odds on to progress to the final four it will be Jager who carry the flag for their League after they overturned a two goal deficit to win 5-3.
Jager started the game nervously and were probably a bit too wary of the reputation of Biddestone. Jagers sloppy passing was putting themselves under unnecessary pressure in the early exchanges. Biddestone deservedly took the lead on 26 minutes when Gary Banks was put through one on one with a long punt from keeper-Lewis Porter. The strikers initial shot was saved well by Gareth Evans, only for the rebound to fall kindly at his feet for him to poke the ball into the empty net.
Biddestone looked dangerous with nearly every attack and doubled their lead on 33 minutes. Dan King finished off a fine team move by rounding Evans in goal and calmly side footing home for 2-0 after being set up by Tyler Sibbick. It was at this point that Jager began to look more dangerous with seemingly nothing to lose. Five minutes before half time, Simon Gillant brilliantly swiveled and curled the ball home from distance for a vital lifeline just before half time.
The second half saw a much more confident Jager side who kept the ball much better than their first half showing. Biddestone’s Tyler Sibbick-who was so effective in the first half, became a little isolated in the second period which played into Jager’s hands. 10 minutes into the half, Mike Perrott equalised with a scrappy goalmouth scramble but a tidy finish for 2-2.
At this point Jager were in complete control of the game and looked like they could sneak a third. But their hearts sunk when Dan King capitalised on a swift counter attack and finished well from a Jamie Lyons cross to retake the lead for Biddestone. Jager remained positive however and Sean Meer was introduced in place of Dan Waylen. This substitution proved to be a game changer. With only 15 minutes remaining Simon Gillatt provided another moment of brilliance. The striker cleverly controlled what appeared to be a harmless cross, turned and volleyed into the bottom corner to equalise at 3-3.
With time running out Jager won a corner and Mike Perrott rose above everyone and powerfully headed home from 12 yards to take the lead with 5 minutes remaining. Jager continued to press and were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes to kill the game off. With both Gillatt and Perrott on a potential hat trick, Perrott stepped forward and coolly slotted home to send Jager through to the semi finals and complete a fine three timer.
