Second Round of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup and Town faced a very good side in Wantage Town Reserves. We knew it would be tough but with the last couple of battling performances we could go and compete.!
Town started well, under pressure but defensively looked good. Everyone was working hard and the shape of the team was working really well. Town looked like they could possibly do something on the counter as they were spending a lot of time in there own half. When we were breaking we looked good.
After 30 minutes Wantage took the lead, some good possession football from the away side bought about a chance. The resulting shot was a miss kick that looped over Town keeper Ryan Curtis and we found ourselves 1-0 down.
Town continued to break on Wantage and were starting to grow into the game. Some good through balls from Alfie West nearly got Towns front man, Richard Evans in but nothing really came of them.
At half time Town went in 1-0 down.
The management team spoke about continuing the work rate and potentially pinching a goal and getting back in the game. We came out second half and started well, after ten minutes Josh Forth closed down the Wantage full back and with help from Richard Evans closing down the centre back resulted in a loose ball dropping to Dan Bradbury 25 yards out, his shot was hit really well and clipped the outside of the post.
From the goal kick Wantage got in behind the Town defence and the away forward hit a great shot across Curtis into the back of the net. Town now 2-0 down after potentially should have been 1-1!
This knocked the stuffing out of the lads and a few heads were down which allowed Wantage to completely dictate the game and Town now found themselves second to everything. It wasn’t long before Wantage got another, similar to their second. They got in behind again and coolly put the ball in the net. 3-0 down. Wantage playing some of the best football we have seen for years from an away side, really controlling the game and making Town chase every ball.
The fourth goal for Wantage completely killed Town and the away side deserved to win the game through the excellent football they had played.
Town manager Darryl Curtis was positive after the final whistle “Overall a great first half from the lads, a special mention to 17 year old Alfie West who stepped into a new position and looked like he had played there for years. The battling spirit is always there and can’t be faulted but fitness is a huge thing for us at the moment. The way Wantage played ended up draining the lads a little sooner than normal and we struggled to get close second half. Disappointing but nothing as a management we could do. The lads have got to take it upon themselves to get the fitness we need to keep going to the end. I’m looking forwards to next week and playing against a side that are in and around us in the league. A huge game that I know the lads will get themselves up for”.
Rafu’s of Shrivenham Man of the Match: Josh Forth
