A recap of all the action as we were crowned 2023-24 Berks & Bucks Cup Winners!
First half goals from Jeremiah Okine-Peters and Adrian Akande saw us through for victory against Marlow at Bottom Meadow!
Revenge was sweet for our Young Royals, claiming the crown against the side who knocked them out of the competition last season.
A dominant start came to fruition just six minutes in, as John Ryan's darting run took him down the right and as he cut inside slid a neat ball through to Akande who went one-on-one with the 'keeper, but his effort was smothered.
Two minutes later and Ryan was involved again, this time he perfectly floated in a free-kick from the left on the edge of the six-yard box, but the following head went over the bar.
But a minute after, Okine-Peters gave us the lead!
A wayward clearance from the Marlow 'keeper Watkins fell straight to Charlie Wellens 25-yards out, he turned his man and cooly slotted it to Okine-Peters to his left, who charged into the box and sent the 'keeper the wrong way as he fired it in at the far post.
We also had a chance cleared off the line within the opening 15 minutes!
Ryan again involved as he whipped a cross in from the right for Okine-Peters to get his head on, a scramble in the six-yard box ensued and an effort was poked goalwards, only for a Marlow defender to get back onto the line and clear it.
Hunt's side then won themselves a penalty, with centre-back Louie Holzman playing a beautiful ball over the top for Ryan to latch onto down the right flank, he cheekily flicked it past his man, before cutting into the area, and being blatantly shoved over by a disgruntled Josh Masters.
Up stepped Akande from 12 yards, and he powerfully rifled his shot high and central, slightly to the 'keeper's right, to double our lead 20 minutes in.
Tuma was then set in behind the Marlow back line, but dragged his shot wide, before another ball came in from the right, it fizzed across the area before being fired goalwards, clearly taking a deflection off a Marlow hand on the way through, but nothing was given.
A low cross was also pulled in to Okine-Peters, but his effort was blocked by a flurry of orange bodies flying in as the Royals pressed for a third.
Just before the break Harvey Collins was called into action for the first time, Marlow pushed to get a goal back before the break, and worked it to the edge of the area before shooting. The effort took a deflection on the way through and the Royals 'keeper did well to get low to his right and push it away for a corner.
Half Time: Marlow 0-2 Reading U21
There were changes at the break as Sam Paul replaced John Clarke as well as a double change for Marlow, who changed tactically in the second half.
A free-kick gave The Blues a route back into the game 10 minutes after the restart, it was laid off for Curtis to strike from 25 yards and he fired it in off the post at the bottom right corner.
But the boys bounced back a minute later, the ball was with Ryan again, but this time down the left, he beat his man and drilled it across the box, but the run at the back post couldn't quite get onto the end of it.
Michael Stickland then went into the book for winning a header, whilst an elbow floored Akande but went unpunished.
Just past the 75 minute mark and it was Jack Senga's turn to create a chance he played it into substitute Joe Barough, who in turn set Akande in down the right, he carried it to the edge of the area before hitting it, only to see his effort fly the wrong side of the post.
A short corner provided our next chance as it was played to Akande, he skillfully beat his two men before flick it back to Michael Stickland, who saw his header crash against the near post.
Another opportunity came with just over five minutes to play, as ran the long way around a Marlow defender and robbed him of possession in their half, before setting in Akande again, who shot from just outside the area, but a deflection saw the effort flash across the face of goal and out for a corner.
The boys had to defend stoutly across the second half as Marlow chucked everything at trying to find an equaliser, but with the Royals keeping the ball in the far right corner of their half, the full-time whistle blew, crowning Noel Hunt's side as CHAMPIONS!
Full Time: Marlow 1-2 Reading U21
Marlow: Watkins, Oladunjoye, Masters (Curtis HT), Rogers, Ndozid, Ovenden ©, Mulley, Omar-Nawaf (K. Hamilton-Olise 62'), Rogalski, Boorn (Tarpey 81'), Raggett (Harper HT)
Unused: Brown
Cautions: Rogalski (79')
Goal: Curtis (56')
Reading U21: Collins, Ryan, Clarke (Paul HT), Senga, Stickland ©, Holzman, Akande, Borgnis, Tuma, Wellens (Barough 72'), Okine-Peters
Unused: Norcott, Beacroft, Sackey
Cautions: Stickland (60') & Akande (86')
Goals: Okine-Peters (9') & Akande (19')
Berks & Bucks FA Man of the Match: Jeremiah Okine-Peters
Attendance: 629
