Curley Park Rangers 3-5 Chobham Burymead (AET)
The Fortress has fallen. The dream of a league and cup double has faded into nothingness, and in the process CPR's unbeaten home record has diminished.
It just wasn't meant to be for CPR on the day. Leading for so long, with the win in their grasp, they couldn't finish the job and despite fighting tooth and nail for 120 minutes, ran out second best in the end.
Curley Park Rangers welcomed Chobham Burymead to the fortress on a day that started with high hopes, but ended in despair.
The team lined up as follows:
GK: Kevany LB: Finlay CB:Hastings Stroud ST
Subs: Goggin, Rolt, McMillan, Barby, Dunnage
The game started off lively with both teams showing some neat touches, without any clear cut chance being created.
This pattern followed on for some 20 minutes, until CPR were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. Stroud stepped up but fired just over, with the ball shaving the top of the crossbar in the process.
But the game swung in CPR's favour following on from the introduction of McMillan at around the 40 minute mark. Ken sent him on with the instruction of making an instant impact, and soon he was on the score sheet.
2 minutes. That's all it took for McMillan to make his mark. Still sporting a knee brace that had kept him out for 6 weeks earlier on in the season, McMillan spun and acrobatically turned the ball in to give the advantage to CPR at half time.
CPR may have lacked a cutting edge in the first half, but were well worth their lead going into the break. Chobham had not threatened at all, and CPR were playing some decent football that had eluded them in recent weeks.
The second half started, and CPR begun to wield a bigger influence on the game. Rice had seen an effort just tipped wide, and it seemed a matter of time until they extended their lead.
And it came roughly at the 60 minute mark, after good link up play down the right. Adolphous slipped a good through ball to Stroud on the right, and with time and space, rolled the ball to Dunnage to convert.
Dunnage and Stroud combined well again moments later when the former clipped a lovely through ball for Stroud to run onto, and he sent a devilish ball across goal into the corridor of certainty. After going past the opposing keeper and defender, Rice seemed certain to tap in, but he was millimetres away from applying the final touch.
Despite CPR's new found dominance, they were given a scare when a defensive mix up allowed the Chobham attacker time and space, and he fired past Kevany to make the score line 2-1 in CPR's favour.
But CPR bounced back almost right away, and soon re installed their 2 goal advantage. Dunnage made the ball his and rifled the ball into the top corner from just outside of the box, to get his second goal of the game.
And it could of been 4 moments later, but Stroud was unable to head in from close range despite having a free header.
But from there, it all fell apart. With 5 minutes to go and seemingly cruising towards victory, CPR lost all momentum and their game fell apart.
Chobham rallied for one last push, and seemed to have got a consolation when a tame free kick was spilled into his own net by Kevany.
CPR were clinging on for their lives and were made to repel wave after wave of Chobham attack, but their resilience crumbled when a cross was turned home by an attacker, with that touch proving to be the last in a controversy filled 90 minutes.
With the game being locked at 3-3, extra time loomed. This was the time where CPR had to stand up and be counted, and clear their heads after being so agonisingly close to booking their spot in the final.
But they were walking wounded, all CPR players had given it their all and they were injury filled with Parslow, Stroud and Rolt all suffering from numerous injuries.
And it soon went from bad to worse for CPR, asHastings
And the pressure seemed too much for CPR and despite fighting to ensure they walked away with at least penalties, their cup challenge was fading fast.
Kevany was beaten by close range for the 4th, and found himself stuck in no mans land as he was lobbed for Chobham’s 5th. Game set and match, CPR were out. They had come so close, got so far, but they just came up short.
All the best to Chobham in the final, but CPR will be kicking themselves as they know that it should be them who contend the final in late May.
Man of the match was rightly given to Adolphous who gave it his all throughout the game, and it was a shame that his efforts was not rewarded with a CPR spot in the final.
CPR must not dwell on this defeat, and will want to bounce back well as they host title rivals Hartley Whitney at Collingwood next week.
A CPR win would all but end Hartley Whitney's challenge, but a loss would see the title go right back in the balance, and this result could turn out to make of break CPR's season.
It just wasn't meant to be for CPR on the day. Leading for so long, with the win in their grasp, they couldn't finish the job and despite fighting tooth and nail for 120 minutes, ran out second best in the end.
Curley Park Rangers welcomed Chobham Burymead to the fortress on a day that started with high hopes, but ended in despair.
The team lined up as follows:
GK: Kevany LB: Finlay CB:
Subs: Goggin, Rolt, McMillan, Barby, Dunnage
The game started off lively with both teams showing some neat touches, without any clear cut chance being created.
This pattern followed on for some 20 minutes, until CPR were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. Stroud stepped up but fired just over, with the ball shaving the top of the crossbar in the process.
But the game swung in CPR's favour following on from the introduction of McMillan at around the 40 minute mark. Ken sent him on with the instruction of making an instant impact, and soon he was on the score sheet.
2 minutes. That's all it took for McMillan to make his mark. Still sporting a knee brace that had kept him out for 6 weeks earlier on in the season, McMillan spun and acrobatically turned the ball in to give the advantage to CPR at half time.
CPR may have lacked a cutting edge in the first half, but were well worth their lead going into the break. Chobham had not threatened at all, and CPR were playing some decent football that had eluded them in recent weeks.
The second half started, and CPR begun to wield a bigger influence on the game. Rice had seen an effort just tipped wide, and it seemed a matter of time until they extended their lead.
And it came roughly at the 60 minute mark, after good link up play down the right. Adolphous slipped a good through ball to Stroud on the right, and with time and space, rolled the ball to Dunnage to convert.
Dunnage and Stroud combined well again moments later when the former clipped a lovely through ball for Stroud to run onto, and he sent a devilish ball across goal into the corridor of certainty. After going past the opposing keeper and defender, Rice seemed certain to tap in, but he was millimetres away from applying the final touch.
Despite CPR's new found dominance, they were given a scare when a defensive mix up allowed the Chobham attacker time and space, and he fired past Kevany to make the score line 2-1 in CPR's favour.
But CPR bounced back almost right away, and soon re installed their 2 goal advantage. Dunnage made the ball his and rifled the ball into the top corner from just outside of the box, to get his second goal of the game.
And it could of been 4 moments later, but Stroud was unable to head in from close range despite having a free header.
But from there, it all fell apart. With 5 minutes to go and seemingly cruising towards victory, CPR lost all momentum and their game fell apart.
Chobham rallied for one last push, and seemed to have got a consolation when a tame free kick was spilled into his own net by Kevany.
CPR were clinging on for their lives and were made to repel wave after wave of Chobham attack, but their resilience crumbled when a cross was turned home by an attacker, with that touch proving to be the last in a controversy filled 90 minutes.
With the game being locked at 3-3, extra time loomed. This was the time where CPR had to stand up and be counted, and clear their heads after being so agonisingly close to booking their spot in the final.
But they were walking wounded, all CPR players had given it their all and they were injury filled with Parslow, Stroud and Rolt all suffering from numerous injuries.
And it soon went from bad to worse for CPR, as
And the pressure seemed too much for CPR and despite fighting to ensure they walked away with at least penalties, their cup challenge was fading fast.
Kevany was beaten by close range for the 4th, and found himself stuck in no mans land as he was lobbed for Chobham’s 5th. Game set and match, CPR were out. They had come so close, got so far, but they just came up short.
All the best to Chobham in the final, but CPR will be kicking themselves as they know that it should be them who contend the final in late May.
Man of the match was rightly given to Adolphous who gave it his all throughout the game, and it was a shame that his efforts was not rewarded with a CPR spot in the final.
CPR must not dwell on this defeat, and will want to bounce back well as they host title rivals Hartley Whitney at Collingwood next week.
A CPR win would all but end Hartley Whitney's challenge, but a loss would see the title go right back in the balance, and this result could turn out to make of break CPR's season.
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