Berks and Bucks Senior Cup 2nd Round
Beaconsfield Town 3 Bracknell Town 2

Holloways Park - Att: 102

Ram of The Match - Dan Bradshaw

Beaconsfield Town progressed to the Third Round of the Berks and Bucks cup at the expense of holders Bracknell town in an open and entertaining tie on a chilly evening at Holloways Park.

The game was high tempo from the start with chances at both ends before the Rams went ahead on 13 minutes Dan Bradshaw’s cross picked out Jefferson Louis’,beyond the far post his downward header crossed the line before Michael Eacott in The Robins goal clawed it back out.

Bracknell struck back almost immediately with a sweeping counter that culminated in Haydon Vaughan sweeping home from close range after excellent work by Harvey Harry.

Jacob Gardiner Smith restored the lead and opened his Rams account with a low strike from outside the box, after 19 minutes. The midfield shooting through a crowd after Dan Bradshaw’s left wing corner was punched out to him. His effort took a deflection on the way giving the stranded Eacott no chance.

The Robins were almost level again as Harvey Harry beat Rowley with a shot from the cotner of the box but his dipping effort crashed back off the bar.

Asher Yearwood replaced Jacob Gardiner-Smith who limped off with a tight hamstring.

Bradshaw shalked up his third assist on the night after 34 minutes when his inswinging freekick picked out Sam Togwell on the edge of the box. His powerful header beat Eacott but reboundsrd back off the post, falling kindly for Jefferson Louis who rammed it home his second and The Rams third.

Bradshaw then had strong claims for a penalty as he bursts between two defenders who slammed the door on him, the referee was unmoved.

Half Time 3-1

Bracknell started the second half with a bang and got themselves right back in it just two minutes after the break.

Haydon Vaughan turned Jacques Kpohomouh inside out on the left before delivering a low cross, which was deflected towards his own goal by Sam Togwell. Matt Rowley made a brilliant reaction save to prevent the own goal but the rebound looped to the far post, where Harvey Harry nodded home.

The Rams struggled to get into the stride as the Robins buoyed by the early goal poured forward with Vaughan rampant on the left flank but they survived, as much by luck as judgement at times and re-established themselves in the game as it ebbed and flowed from end to end.

Sam Togwell headed over when well placed with the goal at his mercy and Kpohomouh ghosted in at the far post to send a cushioned volley crashing away off the cross bar.

At the other end Liam Tack saw a similar volley rebound to safety off the bar when it seemed easier to score and at the death the visitors had their own strong penalty claims ignored as a goalbound effort appeared to strike Bradshaw’s arm, perhaps more proof, were it needed that no one knows what a hand ball is anymore since the FA moved to simplify things.

Zidan Akers burst into the box seemed to have been ended by a foul but those calls too went undheeded. Perhaps

the ref was saving all the penalties for the possible shoot out?

Added time consisted of a barage of Bracknell corners. The best of which saw Vaughan glance a free header wide but The Rams held on by their finger nails after a pulsating affair.

The Rams can now look forward to the next round and prepare for the visit of in form Totton in the league on Saturday.

#COYR

Images ©Neale Blackburn Photography 2023