BEARWOOD Wanderers lifted the Bracknell Sunday League’s Junior Cup to deny Division Three champions Woodley Saints a double, writes Dave Wright.

The final at Larges Lane on Friday ended in a 2-2 draw before Bearwood won the penalty shoot-out.

In front of a crowd of around 180, it was a very competitive game and played in an excellent spirit, making it a fine advertisement for the league.

Saints, however, felt they should have sewn the tie up in normal time. They certainly enjoyed the better of the first half but were unable to turn their dominance into goals.

They had scored 26 goals in the four rounds leading to the final with Jamie Burnett netting 11 of them, including three hat-tricks, however this just wasn’t their night due to a combination of poor finishing and smart goalkeeping from Tom Williams.

Yet, it did look promising for them when they took the lead through the impressive Jordan Polston in the 33rd minute, who was at the far post to turn home Simon Johnson’s corner.

Bearwood, enjoying a much better second half, equalised 10 minutes after the break when Bobby Maunders was fouled in the area and Dave Hunt made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Within two minutes, however, Saints were back in front with Harvey Allen heading a cross down for Polston to turn into the net in a crowded goalmouth.

A goalline clearance denied Saints a third goal, and they suffered a blow when Burnett was forced off injured, Andy White’s men, who had finished sixth in Division Three, didn’t stop battling and were rewarded in the 78th minute when Hunt made it 2-2, reacting first after keeper Matt Hill had parried out a shot.

With the scores still level at the end of 90 minutes, the tie went straight to penalties. Williams saved Woodley’s first two spot-kicks and Bearwood went on to win 4-2 with Nathan Eales getting the one that sealed victory.

There was some consolation for two-goal Polston as he was voted the man of the match.

The last of the Sunday League’s three cup finals takes place at Larges Lane this Friday (7.45pm) with Finchampstead Athletic A taking taking on Hope & Anchor in the Subsidiary Cup final.

In last Sunday’s semi finals, Finches defeated FC Harmanswater 3-0, while Hope & Anchor got the better of Bracknell Titans by a 5-3 margin.

  • IN Division Two, Berks County got the better of Ashridge Park Royals 4-0.