Beaconsfield Town beat Wycombe Wanderers 4-3 at Holloways Park, to book a place in the Berks and Bucks cup semi-finals.
Beaconsfield came out of the blocks quickly and took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd minute of the game when Joe Lawal’s excellent cross found Manu Oke-William, who fired home the opener. Beaconsfield did not have to wait long for a second, stunning Wycombe by going further ahead inside the opening 10 minutes. This time a ball over the top to Joe Lawal forced Wycombe keeper Laurie Shala to come off his line to try and claim the ball. Shala clipped Lawal who went down in the box, giving the referee little choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Josh Marcon, who confidently tucked away the penalty to give the hosts an early 2-0 lead.
Eddie Brearey in the Beaconsfield goal was forced into his first save of the match when Wycombe took a shot from the edge of the box. It was comfortable save and the hosts remained well on top with half an hour on the clock.
Wycombe finally found a way through in the 32nd minute when Ryan Cole curled in a great effort from outside the box. Wycombe started to grow into the game after the goal and were denied an equaliser a few minutes later when Brearey made a fantastic one on one save to keep his sides lead intact. Beaconsfield restored there 2 goal advantage just before half time as Ollie Saunders saw an effort from 25 yards out crash back off the post before it fell to Joe Lawal to tap home to send the hosts into the break 3-1 up.
The second half took a little longer to get going. It was the 70th minute before the next goal, this time Wycombe’s Brody Peart found the back of the net with a stunning freekick that curled around the wall and gave Brearey no chance of stopping it. Wycombe then hit the post moments later as they looked to draw themselves level in the tie.
With only 7 minutes of the game left Beaconsfield had a chance to wrap it up. Joe Lawal was played through but saw his effort go inches wide of the post. Lawal did not need to wait long though, again being played through in the 86th minute, this time he chipped the onrushing Shala to give the hosts a deserved 4-2 lead, with only a couple of minutes left. Straight from the restart Wycombe dragged themselves back into the contest, with Cole scoring his second of the game to make it 4-3 with time running out for Wycombe. The referee added on a further 5 minutes, but Beaconsfield defended well to keep hold of the led and see the game out, deservedly winning 4-3, and booking a spot in the semi-finals.
By Arran White