Off the back of their exit from a credible FA Cup run Bracknell Town started their Buildbase FA Trophy campaign in the Second Qualifying Round against Sevenoaks Town, who also play at Level 4 in the ‘Pitching In’ South East Division. The Oaks have had a positive start to their season retaining an unbeaten record so far.
Indeed it was the visitors who got off to a fast start with Joseph Taylor flashing a cross into the box from the left, and Tyrell Richardson-Brown getting on the ball in the area …. Only to scuff his shot into the ground.
Bracknell’s Seb Bowerman advanced down the left from a quickly taken free kick and aimed a strike for the far post, only to see to go wide. Bowerman curled a corner kick into the danger area, but Jack Dean couldn’t control his header under pressure, and it went over the bar. Michael Atkinson & Shamar Moore worked well to deliver a low ball across the six yard area, and although it evaded Ben Bridle-Card there were no teammates there to apply the finishing touch. The pressure was building and when Scott Rees set up Mickel Platt with a clever back heel it seemed that the deadlock would be broken, but for a spectacular save from Bridle-Card ! Max Herbert got the ball into the area, but Bridle-Card was alert to the danger and got there before Dean to snuff out the danger.
Sevenoaks looked to alleviate the pressure and Thomas Ripley found himself with a chance to test Mark Scott, but his header was a weak one. Richardson-Brown broke into the box from the right, but his pull back was intercepted and cleared.
Moore looked to have put The Robins ahead, but his goal bound shot was headed wide. Rees hit a first time cross, but Bridle-Card was able to collect it under no pressure. Moore tried to flick the ball into the net from close in, but the defender knocked it out of play off the post. Dan Bayliss headed the resulting corner kick over the bar.
A long ball found Kyle Da Silva, but his shot was blocked and Richardson-Brown looked to catch Scott out with a shot on the turn from distance, but it went wide of the upper left angle, as both sides looked to get ahead before half time.
Scott’s long clearance nearly bounced through to Bowerman, but again Bridle-Card was alert and off his line to tidy up behind his defence. Moore worked well to get the ball into the box, but the defence were able to clear it.
Da Silva looked to curl a shot in from deep on the left, but it wasn’t on target.
The first half ended scoreless with the last action seeing Herbert send a free kick into the area, but Bridle-Card was able to catch it easily, remaining the major reason why The Robins had been unable to open the scoring in the first half.
Half time: Bracknell Town 0 – 0 Sevenoaks Town
Again initially The Oaks exerted the pressure with Taylor’s cross being headed clear. He watched as a corner kick which he delivered saw a free header missed before Ripley tried to beat Scott, but again there was no real sting to the shot.
Dean hit a shot which Bridle-Card easily dealt with similarly to the first half.
However this all changed when Herbert was brought down in the area, and despite vociferous protestations, the referee awarded Bracknell a penalty kick. Bowerman stepped up to take it with “he missed his last one!” helpfully ringing in his ears from one of the Sevenoaks players, but it made no difference as he slammed it home on the 52nd minute to make it 1-0 ….. even though Bridle-Card did get a hand to it !
Sevenoaks clearly felt aggrieved as they pressed for an equaliser with Richardson-Brown’s deflected shot fortunately going straight at Scott. Ripley was nearly given the chance to capitalise on soft back pass, but Scott ensured that he reached it first. Taylor’s free kick was cleared for a corner kick, but that was also cleared.
Bowerman & Rees worked a short corner kick routine, but the ball ricocheted away from danger. However moments later the ball reached sub Shaquille Ishmael, and he rifled a low shot past Birdle-Card into the net clipping the inside of the left hand post to make it 2-0 on the 77th minute !
Having doubled their lead The Robins looked to run down the clock taking the ball to the corner which frustrated the visitors even further, but they did have one more well worked opportunity when Dean Gunner & Ripley allowed Alec Fiddes to shoot on goal from close in, but his effort sailed over the bar.
Full time: Bracknell Town 2 – 0 Sevenoaks Town
As far as I’m concerned the Man of the Match award has to go to Max Herbert for his commanding midfield performance, and obviously the fact that he won the penalty kick.
Bracknell manager Bobby Wilkinson felt that it was an entertaining game of Non-League League football between two sides battling and playing great football to reach the next round.
So it is The Robins who progress in the FA Trophy, and will wait to see who their opponents are in the next round when the draw is made.
Next weekend will see Bracknell return to league action in the ‘Pitching In’ Isthmian South Central Division on SUNDAY 25th October when they travel to the Cheshunt Stadium to take on FC Romania looking to keep pace with the only other undefeated team in the division Waltham Abbey.
Bracknell Town: Mark Scott, Jack Dean, Caden Genovesi, Roberto Nditi, Dan Bayliss, Scott Rees, Max Herbert (Capt), Michael Atkinson, Shamar Moore (Shaquille Ishmael 75 mins), Mickel Platt & Sebastian Bowerman. Unused Subs: William Dupray, George Knight, Louis Soares, Jose Maturino Da Silva & Sonny Wheeler.
Sevenoaks Town: Ben Bridle-Card, Reion-Noel McFarlane, Joseph Taylor, Dan Parkinson (Benjamin Davisson), Joe Tennett, Dean Gunner, James Bessey-Saldanha (Alec Fiddes), Ryan Fowler (Jason Thompson), Thomas Riply, Kyle De Silva & Tyrell Richardson-Brown.