AFC Brickhill Rangers Gain Revenge for League Disappointment
AFC Brickhill Rangers are the newly crowned North Bucks Premier Division League Cup Winners. After narrowly missing out on the League title to Lavendon Sports AFC won a tightly contested final by a close 1-0 scoreline, denying Lavendon from accomplishing a league and cup double.
AFC started the brighter of the two teams and applied pressure to the Lavendon defence from the outset, pinning back their opponents in their own half for much of the first half. The winning and only goal of the game came during the opening period. After 15 minutes a whipped in free kick taken from the left by Mark Murrell, after a foul on Lloyd Lambert was met in the air by Rory Manning, whose powerful downward header was only parried by the Lavendon keeper. Dan Tanner was quickest to react and fired in from close range to give AFC a deserved lead.
Lavendon slowly worked their way back into the game and on the half hour mark a clumsy foul on the edge of the AFC box resulted in Lavendon almost equalising the tie. The free kick left Sam Cherry rooted as the ball thumped the foot of the AFC post and rebounded out to safety.
Chris Watt replaced Damon Troughton on the left of midfield midway through the 1st half due to a hamstring injury. Lavendon continued to push and a good move down the left, saw the resulting cross into the box headed narrowly over the bar by the impressive Lavendon centre forward. It was then AFC’s turn as the resourceful Steve Bateman received the ball wide on the left, deep in Lavendon territory. He skilfully worked his way past 2 Lavendon players, before laying in Jason Troughton on the edge of the Lavendon box whose quick turn and first time shot fired agonisingly wide of the Lavendon post with both defender and keeper stranded to the spot. The remainder of the half was a hectic affair, with a large supporting crowd rauciously supporting their teams on. Half time came, scoreline 1-0.
The second half saw Lavendon play a high line pushing AFC back into their own half. Possession was largely Lavendons as they sought an equalising goal and a way back into the final. Long balls into the box at every opportunity were expertly dealt with by the AFC back four. Every free kick or corner Lavendon threw at AFC, AFC held firm with AFCs keeper, Sam Cherry in excellent form.
If Lavendon had all the possession in the second half, AFC however, shared the spoils in the number of scoring opportunities. Their high back line allowing AFC to counter attack. Lloyd Lamberrt broke down the left through the Lavendon defence, just as he was about to strike the ball at goal, the desperate lunge by the Lavendon defender resulted in both ball and player in the arms of the onrushing Lavendon keeper. Claims for a penalty were waived away by Referee John Horsley who had strong game which was required in such a high tempo and tense game.
After 70 minutes Matt Till replaced the Bateman, who had an impressive game and fully justified Manager Martin Brown’s decision to include him in the starting line up. Lavendon also make a couple of substitutions bringing on fresh legs and a lot of pace to their side. Till instantly made his prescence felt jostling with the Lavendon defenders at every opportunity. As Lavendons desperation for an equalising goal increased as the game wore on, tempers were close to boiling over, a melee followed when Matt Till, by the touchline and in front of the main stand was barged into an advertising post leaving him with a badly grazed torso. The offending defender being let off with a caution from the referee. With 10 minutes to go, another AFC injury forced Jay Troughton to be replaced by the experienced Jock McCrory.
Lavendon continued to push deep into AFC territory and came close to scoring however on each occasion the shot at goal was wide of the mark or was defended superbly by the Rangers defence. Helped by a goal line clearance by Chris Watt. With seconds left of an enthralling cup final, Lavendon, despite their best efforts, could not manage to find that elusive goal. The final whistle came to joyous celebrations from the AFC supporters as their team won the Premier Division Cup at their very first season in the top flight.
The AFC centre midfield pairing of Dan Tanner and Liam Fry were pivotal in Rangers success, their tireless work rate and ability to win tackles and push forward restricted Lavendon’s play and control of the game, but it was the overall team effort and work rate that would have impressed manager Martin Brown and assistant manager Scott Ellaway the most.
Dan Tanner was awarded player of the final.