Charlton Utd Res 1-3 Cropredy Devs

Cropredy came into this game in good form, having won their previous 4 league games, scoring 21 goals in the process. However, performance levels weren’t up to scratch last time out at Woodstock, and they knew they’d have to raise them against a Charlton Utd Reserves side who were having a good season, that included beating Kennington Res in the quarter finals, and had an impressive run in the county cup this season too.

Having won the Ivor Gubbins Cup (where they beat Charlton in the final) last season, Cropredy Devs were keen to end the season with another cup final. Preparation wasn’t ideal, with some bad traffic on the motorway causing the majority of the team to arrive late, with the last player not arriving until 15 minutes before kick-off. This meant a rushed warm up pregame, not ideal given the magnitude of the game.
A healthy crowd was in attendance for this semi-final, on a lovely spring afternoon in Charlton.

Team news
Cropredy were able to field a full 16 man squad, with only striker Jamie Williams still missing after suffering a concussion a couple of weeks ago. There were changes to the starting line-up, with Izzy Liverpool returning at the back, alongside Treml and MacDonald who were restored to the starting lineup, Butterworth returning in midfield, and Maxie Earle starting up front. 5 changes from the side against Woodstock.
Barney Timms, Callum Moon, James Keane, Ollie Beesley and Jamie Oxley provided a very strong bench for manager Reading to pick from.

First half

Keen to avoid being on the wrong end of a cup upset, the visitors did start strong and the brighter of the two sides. They could well of led within the opening minutes as Liverpool’s clearance found Maxie Earle over the top. The defence stopped as they appealed for offside, however play continued, but as Earle bared down on goal, he volleyed wide of the post. They had another good chance not long after. Butterworth found Earle down the right channel, but as he beat the defender the ball popped up and brushed his arm. He squared for Robertson who finished into the net, but the whistle blew and play was bought back for a free kick.

After a bright 15 minutes, Cropredy let the hosts come into the game, and with fire in their belly, they began to dominate the rest of the half. They crowd cheered thinking the opener had come. Roberts made a good save with a long range effort, and the rebound was slashed wide by an attacker to the crowds disappointment. Roberts was soon forced into another save as he got down well to push a deflected effort past the post, with the pressure mounting.

The opening goal did come just past the half hour mark. Crop had multiple chances to clear their lines, including Phillips having a huge miskick, but a jinking run inside the box ended with the ball rolling to Richie Wells who smashed home from 12 yards giving Roberts little chance. 1-0 to the hosts and well deserved.

Charlton looked to capitalise, and headed over from a good chance from a corner. Kyran Beales latched onto a Roberts goal kick, but fired well wide, which summed up the poor first half display from Crop, whilst the visitors had Roberts to thank once again as he saved well as the winger got in down the left.

With Cropredy walking a tight rope and trying to get into half time without being more goals behind. Despite this, somehow they managed to find an equaliser three minutes before the interval. A Roberts long kick out his hands found Earle, who showed good strength under pressure to bring the ball down, then flick it over the top to Robertson. The Crop skipper who’d had a quiet half, was able to bring it down with his head and poke it past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1. A sucker punch to the hosts, the score at this point could quite easily have been 4 or 5 nil ,but somehow the scores were level as the half time whistle sounded.

Half time – Charlton Utd Res 1-1 Cropredy Devs

Some stern words said at the interval, with a very much below par performance, however they had given themselves a much needed boost with the equaliser on the stroke of the break, and had ‘keeper Sam Roberts very much to thank. Corey Phillips was withdrawn, struggling with injury, so James Keane was introduced, and a little reshuffle with Butterworth slotting back into defence.

Cropredy came out with much better intent to impose themselves on the game, but it was the hosts who had the first major chance to regain the lead. A ball found the feet of their striker, who done well to spin Liverpool, but his effort from the edge of the area was straight at Roberts.
It took until 62 minutes but Crops improved second half display finally showed reward, as the took the lead. A James Keane threaded ball found the feet of Robertson 30 yards out, who was able to turn his man, and play the ball inside to Leo Beales, who in-turn without breaking stride played it first time out left to Earle, who struck it under the outrushing keeper into the near corner. 1-2, and Crop led for the first time in the tie.

Crop came close again but Butterworth couldn’t find the target with a diving header from a corner. Fersh legs were introduced for the final 20, with Beesley and Timms who were both unlucky not to be starting replacing, Kyran Beales and MacDonald. The game was fairly even for the next period, but Cropredy managed to extend their lead on the 82 minute mark.

Ollie Beesley picked up the ball wide right and made up plenty of ground, before feeding Earle down the channel. He managed to hold off and beat a couple of defenders before laying it back to Beesley. His effort was well blocked by a defenders head, but Earle managed to recycle, heading down to Leo Beales, whose half volley from the edge of the area bounced into the corner, to jubilant cries from the away side and support. 1-3.

Moon and Oxley were then introduced for Robertson and Treml to help see the game out, but a spanner was soon thrown into the works on 85 minutes, as Cropredy were reduced to 10 men. Defender Izzy Liverpool allowed a long ball to bounce. He didn’t deal with it, allowing the attacker to get goal side, before Liverpool pulled him back, the referee brandished a red card, and Crop would have to really dig in to see their progression to the final. Earle filled into centre back for the remaining minutes.

Tempers flared once again minutes later, following a foul to stop a counter attack, with a player a piece shown a yellow card, and Callum Moon was also shown a yellow in the later stages. Charlton threw everything forward to try and get a goal, but Crop defended resolutely to keep them out, and should have even scored a fourth, as Beesley robbed a defender, and set Moon through, but the ‘keeper done well to come out to save his attempt.

The final whistle sounded to a very entertaining semi-final, with Charlton left thinking what could have been had they capitalised on their first half performance.

Full time – Charlton Utd Res 1-3 Cropredy Devs
Another game where Crop Devs made hard work of it, with a very poor first half display, before changing their fortunes in the second period. Crop will meet Division Two leaders Yarnton Res in the final on 13th May which will sure to be a very tough final.
Attention now turns back to their remaining three league games. With some surprising league results whilst Crop were in cup action, including leaders Bicester losing 1-0 to Addebury Devs, the league is still wide open in the final month of the season. Cropredy travel to Oxford Irish next up, with Cropredy having to surrender home advantage for this one, the sides played out a close game back in October, with Crop coming away with a 0-2 win.

Man of the match – Sam Roberts
An easy choice this week, with stopper Roberts producing an incredible performance. If it wasn’t for his crucial saves, Crop could have quite easily found themselves three or four goals behind at the interval, which would have hugely changed their fortunes in this semi final.