The KO was delayed for various reasons. The biggest reason was the trouble Neil was having putting up one of the nets. He tried various designs until Stuart, Bradley's Dad came over to help. The referee was considering fining Neil for wasting his time.
Cumnor started slowly and were finding it hard going on a tricky surface. Cumnor were controlling the game with Adam looking very sharp. It was on the left side that Cumnor looked most dangerous. With Fraser playing up front, his tenacious tackling was missed in the middle of the park. Alex and Wrighty had to be very sharp on a few occasions as the ball was flown over there heads for the Thatcham boys to run onto. Thatcham soon realised that neither of these players were going to be beaten for speed. Robbie did not have a save to make but he had to be very quick of his line on a couple of occasions.
Jordi and Harri were linking up well. A great move gave Harri a shooting opportunity. His shot just slipped by the post. Kieren relishing the freedom of midfield was working hard to control play.
A great move started on the left with a great defensive tackle by Mark. He slipped the ball to Adam who raced up the left and crossed the ball into the middle. Shaun rose up to header the ball but it just went wide. Harri slipped the ball to Fraser and he fired a great shot just past the post.
Just when it looked like we were never going to score, Adam slinked by a couple of players. Just as he was about to take on his last player, he was brought down. It was a penalty.
Wrighty stepped up to take the penalty. He was under strict instructions not to try anything silly with the penalty. As a true professional, he put it into the top corner. Even with this lead, Cumnor were struggling to finish the game off. The first half finished with Cumnor 1-0 up.
The second half started with a great goal from Thatcham. As the game progressed they were looking more dangerous. It came as no surprise that they equalised. A slick move gave Tim no chance. Cumnor looked down. Thatcham were in the ascendancy.
We always know that we are in trouble, when you can hear Dave from the other side of the park. In fact Freddie said he heard him in Reading. Was our cup dream going to end today?
Robbie and Ibby added muscle to the Cumnor attack. Robbie was making a nuisance of himself as he won the ball. He made space and passed to Fraser. He moved forward and fired just pass. Ibby made a breakthrough. He beat a couple of players and just as he was about to cross he was tackled. The ball went out for a corner. Harri took the corner and Fraser headed wide.
Nerves were beginning to show. The Cumnor coaching staff were worried. Kev and Wayne were pacing up and down, getting more agitated as the game progressed.
Shaun made another great run but just failed to find the finishing touch.
Suddenly Cumnor found two moments of brilliance which settled Cumnor.
A Fraser cross was cleared out to the 18 yard area. Jordi, took one touch, and fired an unstoppable shot into the net. It was 2-1. Bradley, who as usual, covered every blade of grass made it 3. He swivelled round and unleashed a great shot into the net. It was 3-1. The game must be over now.
Thatcham made the most of a mix up in the Cumnor box and slipped the ball past Tim to make it 3-2.
Fraser decided to ease Cumnor's nerves and scored a great fourth goal to make it 4-2.
The referee blew his whistle. The game was over.
THATCHAM TORNADOES 2 CUMNOR MINORS 4
[Bradley,Fraser, Jordi, Wrighty]
Man of the Match:Adam
A terrific cup game. A sign of a good side is too win even when they are not playing as well as they can. A tough game awaits Cumnor in the next round-West Bletchley.
Back to the routine of the league next week against Oxford Blackbirds.
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