There was mixed success for Berkshire sides this week in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup. On Monday night at Waterside Park Thatcham Town’s hopes of extending their run in the competition came to an end when they were defeated 4-1 by Chippenham Town. Level at half time, Chippenham proved too strong for the Kingfishers in the second period and they advance to the competition proper.
Pride of local place in this round goes to Slough Town who swept aside Camberley Town on Tuesday evening in front of an excellent Arbour Park crowd of 175 spectators. Two goals in each half took the Rebels through. Jeanmarie Tiero gave The Rebels the lead, Alex Szmyczk doubling the advantage before Patrick Koroma and Luca McDonald made sure of a 4-0 success with a goal apiece in the second period. Slough Academy manager Ryan Case described himself as “really pleased with how the boys performed”.
On Wednesday at York Road Maidenhead United’s run came to an end at the hands of an impressive Chatham Town side on penalty kicks at the end of a thrilling ninety minutes. The Kent side dominated before they took a deserved lead when Callum Anderson was caught in possession and Lync Henry’s ball into the box was received by Clive Anderson whose drilled effort took a deflection on its way past Thomas Moulder.
United – whose side featured Alfie Calver, Will Evans and Amari Dumont, all involved in the Magpies Berks & Bucks Senior Cup victory over Beaconsfield Town last week – had a gilt-edged chance to level right on half time when Anderson’s free-kick was headed wide at the far post by Lathe Nthini, however they were level shortly after half time when Nthini chased a long ball from Jake Butler, held off the chasing defender and lobbed goalkeeper George Ray to perfection. United had loud shouts for a penalty moments later when substitute Ben Sikorski was played in on goal and looked to have had his ankle swiped by the grasping Ray when seemingly about to score.
However, United lost Nthini to injury just after the hour mark and after Moulder saved well from Aston Freeman and later Louie Judd Sikorski had a big chance to give Maidenhead the lead when heading Callum Anderson’s corner wide at the far post. Inside the final ten minutes Harry Ward came close to winning it when shooting across goal for Maidenhead. A rather harsh-looking award of a free-kick against Jake Butler was punished in the most brutal way possible at the start of injury time when Goerge Jeffrey’s free-kick came back off the inside of the post with Bailey Streatfield squeezing the ball home but resilience was shown when great work down the left saw Harry Ward beat his man, Ray spilled the cut back and Butler (pictured) steadied himself to move the ball onto his right foot to score brilliantly into the roof of the net.
The shoot out saw further thrills and spills as Chatham converted their first two kicks, United unable to score either of theirs. However Callum Anderson and Ben Sikorski kept their nerve for Maidenhead with Chatham failing to convert three in a row, including a save by Moulder from Jeffrey. Maidenhead had a chance therefore to win it, but the excellent Ray pulled off the third of four saves in the shoot-out, his final action keeping out United’s eighth penalty to secure Chatham’s progression to the 1st Round proper, 5-4 on penalty kicks.
The Rebels now join 47 EFL League 1 and 2 sides in the FA Youth Cup First Round proper draw, including the likes of Reading FC.
