Sunday Junior Trophy 2004 2005

Sunday, 17 July 2005.

AFC Omega 0 - 2 Bird In Hand [High Wycombe]

Played at Abingdon United FC on Sunday 24 April 2005.

After an entertaining game of football, AFC Omega of the SLN Aylesbury Sunday Combination Division Three went down 2-0 to their more illustrious Bird In Hand of High Wycombe Sunday Combination, in the final of the Berks & Bucks Sunday Junior Trophy played at Abingdon United's ground on Sunday.
Both clubs had progressed through six rounds of the competition to reach the final, but it was the Wycombe side's greater experience that ultimately proved the difference between the two teams.
Early pressure by Bird In Hand nearly resulted in an opening goal after five minutes when Delaney Hanson missed from three yards after the ball was headed across goal by Andy Dowdy.
AFC Omega responded and Charlie Tighe had a low shot from the edge of the penalty box well saved by Ian Horne. Horne saved again from Omega's industrious Kevin Walsh direct from a free kick as the Aylesbury side settled down. Forty plus goal scorer this season, Ross Buckley, came closest for AFC Omega after 18 minutes when he headed against the cross bar only to see the ball scrambled away.
Bird In Hand stepped matters up into the second quarter and ex Charlton Athletic goalkeeper, Richard Walker, pulled off the first of a string of excellent saves, when he got down quickly to hold Neil Catlin's close in header after 25 minutes. The Wycombe pub side's pressure ultimately told and led to the first goal after 35 minutes, when a free kick from the left by Matt Eyles allowed ex Wycombe Wanderers and Marlow favorite, Kevin Stone, to steal in and head home unchallenged.

AFC Omega nearly equalised just before half time when Liam Walsh's corner was neatly flicked on by Ashley Fowler, only for him to see his effort cleared off the goal line.
In the second half, Bird In Hand, stepped up the tempo right from the start. Despite having a goal disallowed for offside on 53 minutes from a free kick, the Wycombe outfit continued to press forward. Their greater experience was ultimately to tell as former Chesham United and Marlow forward, Catlin, struck the second and decisive goal on 63 minutes from 12 yards after good work by substitute Roberts.
Despite valiant attempts by AFC Omega to stage a comeback, their only real chance was a goalmouth scramble at the end of the game, which ended with the unlucky Ross Buckley shooting straight into the reliable hands of Ian Horne.
The trophy and individual medals were presented to Bird In Hand and all the players after the game by the Chairman and Life Member of the Berks & Bucks Football Association, Mr. Jim Atkins.
Acknowledgement for this report to R Walter of the Aylesbury Sunday Combination

RESULTS SEMI - FINALS

Played on Sunday 13th March 2005
Sainsbury Bagshot Road               0  -  3            Bird In Hand (HW)
AFC Omega                                    4  -  1            White Hart