Cup run starts

Cumnor cruised through to the next round of the Berks and Bucks cups with a comfortable 5-0 win at Newbury.  On a pitch that could do with a cut (and a roll) Cumnor produced a strong performance to book its place in the next round of the cup.  The 13 boys involved all played very well, creating many chances, and ran out deserved winners.  

Cumnor set up in its traditional 4,2,3,1 formation, with the aim of going to 3 at the back quite quickly.  However, with Harry Stanley playing at RB, Tim and Dave realised we were pretty much 3 at the back from the start!  All joking aside, Harry played as we expect him to, and was on the end of a loose ball to smash home the opening goal.  Cumnor created many more chances, particularly on the left flank where first Rory and then Will had acres of space. The interchange of passing through this area, using Finlay, Ben, Alex and Nathan was excellent and often opened up the Newbury defences.   Joseph, as has been the case this season, was playing a very measured game in the centre of midfield and switching play well to both sides of the pitch.  With Fyn as solid as ever at the back, and Harry D communicating well with all concerned, Cumnor looked very unlikely to concede.  As the game opened up Joseph and Adam both went close and Alex had a header cleared of the line by an opponent’s arm (chest according to the referee!).  1-0 at half time was not as good as it could have been, but Cumnor looked comfortable.  

The second half opened with a flourish.  Charlie and Toby were bought on at the back, allowing Will and Harry to push even further forward. Almost immediately Ben and Will showed great creativity (including a "nuts" called by Dave Stanley), forcing a corner.  The same combination then converted - Ben sending over a whipped corner that Will rose to meet to head Cumnor into a 2 goal lead.  It was from another corner, this time  a well worked short corner between Harry and Adam, that Cumnor took a 3-0 lead, Adam floating a left foot curler into the top corner.  The team were now playing with huge confidence, knocking the ball about and creating chance after chance.  Joe smashed a rasping shot against the crossbar, Finlay poked just wide, and Alex just failed to connect with one of Will's many crosses.  

The game position meant Tim and Dave could ring the changes and give players a go in unfamiliar positions.  Nathan and Adam played 30 mins in the centre of midfield and looked very assured, Alex had a run as centre forward and centre back, and towards the end Fyn and Rory were playing on the wings.  It remained for Will to put the icing on the cake, first with a well-executed dink over the keeper and then with a well struck drive that found the bottom of the net.  A well-deserved 5-0 victory and on to the next round.  

Player of the week was in some ways difficult, and some ways quite easy.  All 13 players did well, Charlie and Toby both assured at the back and happy to play the ball out, the rotating centre backs all very solid, Ben, Alex and Finlay all showing great creative touches, with Adam, Nathan and Harry powering at the opposition.  Will had freedom to play and took full advantage, however player of the week, for the third time in four games was our captain Joseph. He has gone from a no nonsense ball winner to someone who now demands the ball off others and moves it well across midfield and into the danger areas.  Yesterday he showed his shooting isn’t too bad either!  Well done everyone.