Reading YMCA progressed to their first ever Maidenhead Norfolkian Cup final after a dramatic victory on penalties over East Berks League leaders Waltham.  

YM looked to be heading out as they trailed 1-0 with 10 minutes of normal time remaining but a Danny Fitzpatrick goal brought them level before a wonderstrike from Naz Edmunds gave them the lead only for the referee to award a penalty to Waltham in the final second of extra time.  Waltham scored to take the game to a penalty shoot out but YM held their nerve to dispatch all 4 of their penalties for a 4-1 win.

YM were forced to make 4 changes from the side that won well at Westwood the previous week with Matt Bicknell, Sam Jennings, Rob Lee and keeper Scott Hodgetts all absent.  Chris Lemm, Johnny Adey, Stuart White and player manager Mark Lemm were called up to fill the empty slots.

YM had started the game slowly but almost took the lead when a slick move ended with James Atkinson crossing to the near post for striker Stuart White who headed narrowly wide.  After enjoying the majority of the territory and possession in the opening 15 minutes, Waltham were forced back into the own half for long periods as YM began to exert their authority.  The deadball ability of Jason Wagner was causing problems and Ben Green, Martin Abery and Fitzpatrick all went close with headers.

YM, although not at their best, were creating chances at regular intevals and Stuart White was unlucky when he peeled off the Waltham defence to latch on to a through ball only to see his sweetly struck shot tipped over the bar.  The best chance of the half fell to Fitzpatrick though when some goalmouth pinball ended up the ball squeezing out to the skipper 10 yards from goal but his shot was sliced and wide of the goal.

Waltham, though competitive, were largely redundent as an attacking force although Fitzpatrick, who was having an eventful afternoon, made one superb last ditch tackle to deny a clear chance on goal.  But Fitzpatrick turned villian soon after when his underhit pass played Waltham's Vinny Cuva in on goal and, although his shot was saved by keeper Lemm, the rebound fell to a Waltham player who slotted into the empty net to give his side a 1-0 lead at the break.  

The pattern continued after the break with YM on top but failing to convert their chances whilst Waltham's attacks were limited but occasionally threatening.  Waltham keeper Courtnay Issacs produced a wonder save to deny White a goal and Adey went close again with a header but YM began to run out of ideas and could not raise the tempo of their game.  The introduction of subs Drew Tipper and Naz Edmunds gave the Young Men fresh impetus as they increased the pressure on Waltham.

Finally, YM made the breakthrough when a Wagner corner was met by the towering figure of Fitzpatrick who headed powerfully into the net to ignite wild celebrations.

YM were in charge through extra time as their opponents tired and looked increasingly ragged but it took a wonderstrike from Edmunds to give his side a deserved lead.  A deep cross was travelling well wide of the goal but Edmunds raced on to it, somehow managed to get his body over the ball before delivering a blistering volley into the far corner of the net.

The game looked to be all over but Waltham summoned up reserves of energy and with literally 1 second on the clock, a Waltham player's shot was adjudged to have been handled in the box by Chris Lemm although the ball actually hit him in the head.  With time up, keeper Lemm handed the gloves to penalty expert Wagner but he could do nothing about the Waltham skipper's penalty and the game ended 2-2.

YM's White showed his experience by cooly slotting away the 1st penalty but Waltham's Cuva could only hit the post.  Adey then made it 2-0 before the Waltham skipper then missed their 2nd after Wagner saved. Wagner then made it 3-0 before Waltham pulled a goal back and it was left to centre back Ben Green to grab the glory and a 4-1 penalties win.

Player manager Lemm said "It was a poor game but an eventful one and we did well to hold our nerve in the penalty shoot out after conceeding the late goal. It was important for us to get to the final and this will take the pressure off the lads a bit as we go into the final stage of the season"

READING YMCA:M LEMM, ATKINSON, GREEN, FITZPATRICK, C LEMM, ADEY, MCGIVERN (replaced by D TIPPER 60mins), CAYZER (replaced by EDMUNDS 65mins), WAGNER, ABERY, WHITE SUBSD TIPPER, EDMUNDS, HEADLAND (not used).

LEMMY'S MOM - NADER EDMUNDS

YM's second string dropped 2 vital points on Saturday after a poor display against a weakened Turnpike side. The 2 teams have been going head to head for 3 seasons now but the NEwbury side had lost a lot of their core players this season and have been towards the south of the division 2 table. YM however are unbeaten in the league and in 2 cups, looking for silverwear once again.

On a bobbly Prospect surface the game got off to a lively start with YM quick out the blocks. Dave Morrison and Luke Kasonde both had chances to open the scoring but found the away keepr in fine form. The first real chance fell to Sidwell who robbed a Turnpike midfielder and burst forward unleashing a shot that looked destined to find the net but for another great save from the big stopper. Dave Rolfe went close with a headed effort from an excellent Woodrow corner as Morrison failed to convert from a Sidwell cross. Darren Cornell was enjoying his usual industrious game in the holding midfield role with the back 4 rarely challenged. This all changed on 35 minutes when an inocuous looking through ball was left well alone by Cassidy and the nippy Turnpike forward crept in to send a curling shot goalwards. Froud got a strong hand on it but the spin on the ball sent it goalwards and, despite a last ditch lunge by Rolfe the ball found its way in to the net. YM went straight down the other end with Morrison going close and Kasonde waltzing in to the box to cause havoc but the clear cut chance wouldn't come. Sidwell and Daly combined well but the cut back just eluded the former YM skipper. Sidwell once again found lady luck to be against him when the ball fell invitingly 8 yards out but the stinging drive was well blocked ny 3 Turnpike defenders, showing their grit.

A dressing down at half time by boss Paul O Boyle seemed to do the trick as the Rapids came flying out the box and grabbed the equaliser on 50 minutes. Sidwell flicked on for Woodrow who danced around 4 players and cut back for Kasonde to calmly slot home from close range. From here on in it looked as though there would be one winner but YM were gulity of wasting a host of chances. Kasonde, Morrison and Dan Newman all went close but couldn't find the killer instinct. Sean Kenny was the star man with excellent defending and some great set pieces but with YM losing their shape and resorting to long balls it was Turnpike who came back in to the game and nearly snatched a late winner with the offside flag saving YM's blushes. Time ran out and the 2 points were dropped.

YM RAPIDS: FROUD, LEACH, CASSIDY, ROLFE, KENNY, DALY, SIDWELL, CORNELL, WOODROW, D MORRISON, KASONDE. SUBS: NEWMAN (Replaced Morrison 65) R TIPPER (Replaced Daly 75)

BOILERS MOM: SEAN KENNY