Chesham
(Slough) - 7.5.01 |
Maidenhead
Utd (0) 0
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Chesham
(0) 1
Statham 57 (pen) |
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CONTROVERSIAL second-half penalty cost Maidenhead United the
chance of yet another Berks and Bucks Cup triumph in a bad-tempered
final on Bank Holiday Monday. The Magpies, who had won the trophy twice in the past three years, were furious when Chesham winger Kelechi Duru went down under the challenge of skipper Tim Cook in the 56th minute. Referee Ron James had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, despite vociferous protests from angry Magpies players who thought Duru tumbled over too easily under Cook's challenge. Veteran Chesham skipper Brian Statham showed all his experience by stepping forward and firing the penalty into the bottom right-hand corner. Chesham dominated for most of the final, played at Slough's Wexham Park ground, created a host of excellent chances and probably deserved to win. But United will find themselves hard done by in the manner in which they lost, with the winning penalty debatable to say the least. After Chesham controlled the opening 15 minutes against a nervy United side, the Magpies had the best chance to open the scoring. A Cook long throw was flicked on by the outstanding Steve Croxford, but top scorer Lee Channell kneed the ball wide when it looked easier to score. However Chesham, favourites for victory having beaten Maidenhead twice in the Ryman Premier this season, came back strongly. First striker Dudley Campbell had a golden chance to give his side the lead but failed to connect with Martin Fox's corner from the right. Then Chesham had a penalty claim turned down when 37-year-old Dereck Brown burst into the box, and fell under the challenge of Cook. Chesham continued to dominate both possession and territory and just after the half-hour mark struck the woodwork, when Ernie Cooksey's header from a Brown corner cannonned off the underside of the crossbar, bounced down on to the line but was brilliantly cleared by Croxford. Magpies boss Alan Devonshire started with Channell and former Chesham star Barry Rake up front, but both struggled to get involved in the first half. The York Road side went in at the break fortunate to be still level, but despite early promise in the second half, Chris Ferdinand pulling a shot wide, Chesham still looked most likely to score. Finally the pivotal moment of the final came when Duru earned the penalty which will be talked about for a while to come, although after taking the lead, Chesham rarely looked like relinquishing it. Devonshire threw on substitute forward Darren Grieves in the hope of snatching something, but Chesham remained in control, showing exactly why they finished fifth in the Premier Division this season. Their only nervous moment came when in injury-time when Statham miskicked and the ball his his hand in the box. However referee James decided it was accidental and waved play on. Meanwhile Chesham striker Campbell forced an amazing goalline clearance from centre-back Lewis Craker, and Mark Watson was denied by a good save from Magpies' Player of the Year Richie Barnard when clean through. Chesham were deserved winners on the day, their first county cup triumph since 1993, but Maidenhead will question the goal which cost them victory in their fifth cup final in five seasons. The Magpies had achieved their main aim for the season days earlier when they secured Premier safety, but will be hurt by this cup final defeat, especially in such controversial circumstances. It was a disappointing end to the season, but Devonshire and his tired troops will be hopeful of gaining revenge next season when the two teams meet in the league. |
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| Maidenhead
United:
Barnard, Morley, Craker, Rake, Croxford, Hickey, Cook, Ferdinand,
Channell, Glynn, Ulasi. Subs: Durrant (for Hickey, 81), Woodhouse
(for Morley, 88), Grieves (for Ferdinand, 71). Chesham United: Phillips, Statham, Fox, Beeton, Hall, Gorman, Brown, Cooksey, Campbell, Watson, Duru. Subs: Canham (for Brown, 90), Bowes (for Campbell, 90), Renner (for Duru, 85). Attendance: 805 |
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