SOCCER KITS PLUS SUPPLEMENTARY CUP - Semi Final (2nd Leg)

Tuesday 22nd April 2008

WANTAGE TOWN 2
v
ARDLEY UTD 1

(Ardley Utd win 3-2 on aggregate)

In an extremely entertaining and fast paced game, Wantage typified their season, when they contrived to recover the two goal deficit from the first leg by applying immense effort, only to have a moments defensive lapse that enabled Ardley to reclaim the advantage by nicking a single goal. In a frenetic first half, Wantage took the game to Ardley from the start, creating several chances that, in a calmer mood, Tom Austin and Ellis Langford in particular, would normally have put away. Bustling Wantage striker Gary Hartley had the ball in the net on the half hour, cleanly getting to an Austin cross and forcing the ball past Matt Dixon in the Ardley goal, only to be penalised for a foul on the keeper. As Wantage pressed they were vulnerable to Ardley breakaways, and several times the Wantage defence had to recover quickly to keep Ardley at bay.

The pace stepped up from frenetic to frantic in the second half. The Wantage fight back began in the 52nd minute when Captain Gary Swann firmly connected with a Tom Austin corner to give the home side and their loyal support some hope. Those hopes were further raised when Wantage squared the semi-final, Ellis Langford, with his back to goal, cleverly taking control of the ball only yards from Matt Dixons line, chesting the ball down and turning to drive high into the Ardley net. Wantage kept up the charge and should have gone ahead overall when Danny Keen slipped his marker and broke away, only to drive the ball the wrong side of Dixons post. But applied consistency has not been Wantages strong suit this season, and in the 70th minute, a defensive lapse gave space and time to Ardley substitute Steve Garbutt to drive past Luke Alford to dash the hopes and ambitions that, up to that moment, the Wantage performance had inspired. Wantage huffed and puffed up to the final whistle, but to their credit, Ardley defended firmly from a position of strength.

This Cup campaign has for Wantage, like their League performance, promised much, only to have that promise dashed by inconsistency. It would not take much to change this very cohesive squad, from a mid-table team into a top six contender. Making that difference will be Manager Richie Bourne and his Assistant Andy Wallbridge s challenge for next season.

Team: L Alford, A Wallbridge, A Learoyd, J Stott, G Swann, D Allen, T Austin, E Langford, G Hartley, D Keen, S Belcher.
Subs: R Bourne, L McCullough, N Hall.

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