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PICTURE: South Reading F.C. celebrate with the Slough Town Junior Cup trophy after a 2-0 win against A.F.C Reading in the Final at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham on Wednesday night. All photos from Jonathan Biss.
South Reading F.C. have won the Slough Town Junior Cup competition in 2014 after a 2-0 win in the Final against A.F.C Reading at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham on Wednesday night.
The Junior Cup Final was an all-Reading affair which guaranteed a new name on the famous silverware as the more experienced South Reading team clashed with a young and improving AFC Reading side.
In truth, South Reading were always the more dominant and goals from Darnell Fisher and Jordan Sawyer either side of the break secured them a first-ever trophy as members of the East Berkshire League.
Credit must be given to AFC Reading for their performance, especially a player-of-the-match display from goalkeeper Brandon Moody, who started the season as an outfield player.
VIDEO: South Reading manager, Carl Reid, reacts to the Slough Town Junior Cup Final win - a first-ever trophy for the green and yellow in the East Berkshire League.
South Reading had the chance to break the deadlock inside three minutes when Ryan Crockford delivered a free-kick into the box from halfway but, the first-time volley from Louie Soares flew over the crossbar.
PICTURE: South Reading captain Shane Maskell (5) is shown a straight red card after placing JT Malone in a headlock when both were challenging for possession late on in the Cup Final.
The green and yellow dominated the opening exchanges and Fisher tried his luck with an effort from 25-yards to the near post which keeper Moody was able to tip around the post for a corner.
AFC Reading managed a first attack at goal on the counter as a positive run from Dough Mudired resulted in a through pass to Owen Whitehouse but, his shot to the near post was pushed away by South Reading stopper, Daniel Springer.
Moody breathed a huge sigh of relief when his mis-kick from a ball-in-hand situation fell kindly to a South Reading attacker on the right wing but the early shot was narrowly wide of the far post.
AFC Reading had a great opportunity to take the lead as a shot from Whitehouse is blocked inside the box and the loose ball fell to Jeremy West but, his tame effort was an easy save for Springer.
The quality of the chances at goal then got even better as Soares delivered a corner into the box and Adam Bygrave found space to head at goal but, his guided effort to the near post was narrowly wide.
South Reading should have been ahead when Fisher found space to control the ball and shoot powerfully to the top right-hand corner but, keeper Moody was equal to the effort with a save at full stretch.
PICTURE: The young and improving A.F.C Reading team will have learned a lot from their first-ever Cup Final experience and could be a team to follow in the 2024-24 season.
The deadlock was broken when South Reading found the back of the net on 34 minutes. Shane Cooper-Clark crossed low into the box from the left wing and Darnell Fisher had the time and space to fire into the roof of the net at the near post.
The green and yellow could have made it two goals in as many minutes as a loose ball from a blocked shot fell to Barry Elmore but, his drilled shot to the near post cannoned of the bottom of the woodwork with keeper Moody beaten.
Chances kept on coming for South Reading before the half-time whistle as Fisher tested the handling of Moody with a free-kick 25-yards from goal in a central position but, the AFC Reading stopper was again equal, catching the ball safely at the second attempt having taken the sting out of the shot.
AFC Reading had an opportunity to drew level early on in the second half when Doug Madrid controlled a long throw from Lewis Scott and passed the ball superbly to Whitehouse but, his low effort was wide of the target.
That missed chance was punished when South Reading doubled their advantage with a powerful strike from Jordan Sawyer. The ball was passed back to Sawyer on the edge of the box and he rifled a shot past Moody.
VIDEO: A.F.C. Reading joint-managers Paul and Mark react to the 2-0 defeat to South Reading in the Slough Town Junior Cup Final at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham.
The green and yellow should have been out of sight as the ball was rolled across the box but, with the goal gapping, substitute Jay Wiltshire tripped over his own feet and missed out on an easy finish. He will not want to see that again on the highlights reel.
South Reading continued to assert their dominance when Elmore directed a free-kick over the wall and to the far post, but again Moody proved equal and pushed the ball to safety at full stretch.
The green and yellow were reduced to 10-men in the closing stages as captain Shane Maskell was shown a straight red card for placing JT Malone in a headlock when the pair were competing for the ball just past halfway and out on the wing.
However, South Reading managed the final few moments and the final whistle was greeted with jubilation from players and supports alike. It is a first piece of silverware for the green and yellow in the East Berkshire League having been beaten in the Berks & Bucks F.A. David Grange Trophy Final as well as the Semi Finals of the League Cup earlier this season.
South Reading have chances to add further silverware to their trophy cabinet before the end of the campaign with a Semi Finals appearance in the Presidents Cup to look forward to as well as a late bid to make up some lost ground and win the Division One title.
To enter the East Berkshire Football League ahead of the 2024/25 season, or for further information about the league, or an entry form for the upcoming season, please email the team at contactebfl@gmail.com
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