Boro advanced to the last 16 of the Surrey Cup with a hard fought win over Division 4 South West Athletic. The visitors were a good side and to be fair the 2 league gap was barely noticeable just as with ourselves playing higher league sides last season. Boro welcomed back No 1 Ian Humphries in goal who has been injured since the opening day and therefore Paul Mears could go back on the pitch. In a 4-4-2 formation the front 2 combination of Deegan & Oldershaw was given a chance to prove why they have scored almost all of Boro’s goals this season and they didn’t disappoint. Both sides looked dangerous in the opening exchanges and Oldershaw ran onto a long ball to chip just over whilst Athletic’s dangerous forward was causing Herron & Rugg a few problems in and around the box. There was controversy around the 20 minute mark as Athletic received a free-kick around 35 yards out which was took quickly and an amazing strike flew into the bottom corner but as the referee was talking to Ryan Butt at the time play was rightly bought back to the away sides anger.
Boro then took full advantage as Butt opened the scoring surging onto a ball that Deegan scrambled through the centre back pairing to calmly tuck into the bottom corner. Athletic were level soon after as a cross from the right was swept in by an unmarked player from 6 yards. A half time dressing down saw a few harsh words exchanged and Boro reacted the perfect way, bossing the opening exchanges as Mark Styles played in Oldershaw down the left who’s pin-point cross was tapped in by Deegan. Butt surged down the right beating 3 players but the lay back was poor, breaking Deegan’s neck to head over an open goal instead of sliding it along the floor. Styles fired just wide in another good move whilst the busy Mears ventured forward to miss 3 glorious opportunities in the half. Boro got their 3rd goal though when a carbon copy of the 2nd saw Styles put in Oldershaw to cross for Deegan who made no mistake in the 6 yard box. Out of really nowhere the Athletic forward twisted and turned Adam Chandler to slot past Humphries and set up a nervy finale. Boro stood strong with some great aerial clearances from Rugg & Herron and a perfectly good goal from Deegan on the break was disallowed for offside that no one apart from the linesman saw. The last action of the game saw Boro scramble 3 successive corners from literally off the line in some heroic defending to deservedly progress with a home tie in January against Harrodian Cavaliers.
