A dismal display by the Young men sent them crashing out of the BTC cup in humiliating fashion as Premier Division outfit, Berkshire County Sports ran out 4-0 victors. The manner and emphatic nature of the defeat was a surprise with YM going into the game on the back of a run that had seen them win 7 of their previous 8 games including a defeat of Berks & Bucks favourites Padbury Utd the previous week.

As soon as the first whistle went BCS came at YM with a ferocity that YM simply did not respond to. As YM failed to settle down BCS took the game to them with dogged pressure coupled with greater penetration in possession.  Stu Birkett was leading the BCS line fantastically well with most of BCS’S best work coming through him. Deservedly, BCS took the lead after 25 minutes when a low cross from the right was met with a perfectly executed diving, glancing header from the ever troublesome Birkett at the near post. The ball took the slightest of touches but it was more than enough to send it creeping in at the far post. If YM thought this may provide a wakeup
call then they were wrong as BCS continued to press home their advantage.  It only took a further 10 minutes for  BCS to double their lead when, again, a low cross from the left flank skipped off the turf and over YM defender Adam Cayzer’s foot leaving a BCS player the simple task of slotting home.

The final 10 minutes of the half saw YM win a series of corners and enjoy a greater share of territory than before but still fail to carve out a meaningful opportunities
with Naz Edmunds tame shot YM’s only strike on target.

A half time kick up the backside did nothing to lift the YM camp for the 2nd half although YM did mount a degree of pressure on the BCS goal but it was all perspriration rather than inspiration with YM bereft of ideas. YM did manage to get the ball in the net once when Chris Lemm found himself unmarked following a goalmouth scramble but the goal was clearly offside.

YM’s failure to break down BCS resulted in YM thrusting more players forward in an attempt to force the game but the cracks began to appear and it wasn’t long before BCS added another. A long throw found the late run of a BCS midfielder who, totally unhindered, volleyed the ball into the net. This goal seemed to send YM spirits plummeting and turned the game from contest into farce. The last 20 minutes saw YM push bodies forward but still fail to create a single strike on target with the BCS defence resolute and determined to keep a clean sheet. However there was still time for BCS to add another, as a cross field ball found a BCS winger unmarked on the right. He collected the ball, bore down on goal and again slid a comfortable strike past the on rushing Froude to make it 4.

The last 10 minutes was a torrid, scrappy affair with YM losing all shape and composure as they desperately sought some sort of catharsis. Luckily that came when the referee blew his whistle and put YM out of their misery. In truth it would be unfair on BCS to put the defeat solely down to a poor YM performance. Credit is more than due to BCS who showed greater aptitude, application and quality. They were by far the better side and good value for
their sizable win.

LEMMY'S MOM: JAMIE FROUD