Stoke Poges Dons FC 5 – 2 Maidenhead Crown FC / Sunday Morning Thames Valley Football League / Ken Gomm Challenge Cup Round 3
Back in cup action this week, this time in the Ken Gomm Challenge Cup round 3 against Premier division side stoke Poges Dons FC.
The opposition have not had a great season to date, having only won 1 league match and a couple of cup games, however the gap between the sides sometimes showed.
We stuck to our usual game plan and with the attitude of we had nothing to lose, we were hoping for a special day. Sadly this was not the case and our progress to the next round has well and truly been halted.
We made this game a proper match of football for just over 80 mnts and then they got the better of us.
Just prior to the start of the game we lost in-form MATTHEW HILLIER through injury, this would prove to be a big loss.
We started slowly, and after 10 mnts we found ourselves 1-0 down.
We pushed and battled hard to get back in the game and on the 35th mnt we did just that.
Man of the match CONOR HAYNES got in front of the keeper to head home from close range. Score now 1-1
On the 40th mnts, after a great ball from the right hand side, the opposition forward finished superbly to loop the ball over goalkeeper. Score 2-1
We carried on making a go of it, and on the stroke of halftime, JAMES MURDOCH dribbled round two defenders before neatly finishing in the bottom corner. Score 2-2
Half Time Score 2-2
For the best part of 35 mnts of the second half we match them, even having chances of our own on the break. The best chance falling to STEVEN EATON but he put his header wide on the stretch .
A good run and shot from ALAN BURTON was then well saved by the opposition keeper.
But then we hit the self-destruct button, 2 good strikes and a well placed header on the 83rd, 85th and 89th mnts finished the game as a contest. Score now 5-2
This was never going to be easy and it was a good test to see how far we have come, and I can deff say I’m proud of every single one of them boys.
It’s a shame the game couldn’t end at 80 mnts!! We have learnt a lot from this game and we will deff take it into the second half of the season.
We still have 2 cups to fight for and of course promotion from div 3.
Up next we are back in league action at home to SHOOTING STAINES FC. We must put this result behind us and go for 3 vital points against a struggling Staines side.
