Rep team vs berks and bucks v2

Berks and Bucks retain the Cyril Butler Memorial Trophy

The Middlesex under16 team started its season on Thursday last on the excellent 3G surface at Slough Town FC’s brand new Arbour Park stadium. We...

Cyril Butler was a long standing and much respected Berks & Bucks FA Councillor and his County provided this Trophy to commemorate his service to football. The match was attended, as usual, by Cyril’s son, Brian and other members of his family.  

Berks & Bucks were the current holders of the trophy, having won the penalty shoot out after a goalless draw last season.

This game provided the respective managers with the opportunity to evaluate their players and shape their teams for the forthcoming league season. Berks & Bucks manager, Aaron O’Brien, obviously had an advantage here with 10 of his squad coming from the same club, Maidenhead United.

Our hosts were convincing winners, scoring 4 goals without reply. This margin possibly flattered them slightly but they were the better co-ordinated side and took advantage of some poor defending. We had a few chances but failed to take any of them.

Berks & Bucks almost scored in the 2nd minute but a header by their dangerous striker, Bradley Farren bounced on top of our cross bar. Then a drive by Harry Nutman was just too high.

We hit back and Kahlil Francis headed wide from Felix Amoah’s centre. Then Felix worked his way up the right and produced a good cross which Eisa Azab hit just wide.

Berks and Bucks took the lead in the 21st minute through Bradley Farren, who took advantage of hesitancy by our defenders to head a long through ball over keeper, Damian Pawlak.

Play moved up and down the field and we had three good scoring opportunities. Felix blasted wide after picking up a through ball and also saw a dangerous low cross well held by home keeper, Fred Chapman. Ronnie Heath’s high shot was palmed away from under the crossbar by the keeper.

As the half time interval approached, Damian pushed out a well struck cross shot by home striker, Harvey Yates. Bradley Farren netted the rebound but was adjudged offside.

Half time score: Berks & Bucks 1   Middlesex 0

Berks & Bucks increased their lead three minutes after the break. Dom Reid controlled the ball through our apparently non-tackling defence. Keeper Dawid Krupenski slipped as he came out and Dom netted.

Almost immediately, they came close to scoring again. Lewis Pegg walked through our rearguard but Lewis Boniface put his pass onto the top of the net.

The home side’s 3rd goal, in the 64th minute came from Lewis Boniface’s cross. Reece Smith had plenty of time to push the ball home.

The final goal of the game, in the final minute of the 80, came from a spectacular diving header by Lewis Boniface, which entered the goal via the top right angle. Sam Smith supplied the cross.

We came near to registering a consolation goal in added time when Eisa Azab forcefully headed Kahlil Francis’s cross narrowly wide.

The game was efficiently controlled by referee Cameron Elliot and his two Berks & Bucks colleagues.

Teams:

Berks & Bucks: Fred Chapman, Harry Coombe, Darren Kirton, Dylan Masters, Lewis Pegg, Luke Weybourne (all Maidenhead United), Kyran Odell (Roman Rangers), Dom Reid (unattached), Bradley Farren (Windsor), Harvey Yates and Harry Nutman (both Maidenhead United).

Substitutes (rolling subs were used): Lewis Boniface (Sandhurst), Jackson Parris (Newport Pagnell), Max Hansen (Tattenhoe Youth), Luke Johnson (MK Gallacticos), Sam Smith and Reece Smith (both Maidenhead United). 

Manager: Aaron O’Brien   Assistant Manager: Aaron Steadman   Physio: Jeni Meredith.

Middlesex: Damian Pawlak (Hanwell Town Youth), Ghellor Kwame (unattached), Liam Bakry (Ruislip Rangers), Matthew Lenihan (Wembley Youth), Rhys Williams (Brook House), Joe Mills (Ruislip Rangers), Eisa Azab (Brook House), Mason Spencer (Wembley Youth), Ronnie Heath (Sandgate Youth), Felix Amoah (Wembley Youth) and Kahlil Francis (Hendon Youth).

Substitutes: Dawid Krupenski (Wembley Youth) (in goal 2nd half), Phillip Essadoah (Hendon Youth), Dalas Edwards (Wembley Youth), Jonathan Novak (Cockfosters Youth), Shammer Swaby (Hendon Youth) and Rene Barnes (unattached).

Manager: Darrell Gyngell   Assistant Manager: Wayne Little   Coaches: Remi Bignall and Vince Purdue   Physio: Katie Bignall.

Jim Taylor