YMCA made it three cup exits in as many weeks as their miserable run of form continued on a blisteringly cold day against Didcot Casuals. YM had done well to reach the quarter finals of the Berks & Berks claiming the notable scalp of Padbury United en route. However with YMCA low andconfidence and short of players they were viciously torn apart by a ruthless Casuals side.

The game started with YM playing into the wind and reverting to a 3-5-2 on a heavily pockmarked pitch. YM struggled to get close to Casuals in the early stages and were far too wasteful in possession. Casuals found an early breakthrough when a rasping 25 yard shot bounced awkwardly before YM keeper, Jamie Froude who, unluckily, spilled his save and a Casuals player was quickest to react and poke home the rebound from a solitary yard.

YM tried to reorganise but lacked the usual work rate that has been synonymous with their football of recent years and it wasn’t long before Casuals found a 2nd. The Casuals right winger managed to cross a ball from what appeared to be beyond the by-line, as the YM rearguard stopped expecting a goal kick, a Casuals player was left free at the back post to head into an empty net. YM were incensed but still found themselves 2-0 inside 15 minutes. When play resumed Casuals continued to dominate territory and possession and they looked like scoring every time they came forward. They made it 3-0 within 20 minutes when YM defender, Scott Allen conceded a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box. The resulting free kick saw the unfortunate Allen skew an attempted clearance into the roof of his own net. It was rough luck for YM but no more than Casuals deserved at this stage.YM needed to regroup or face a cricket score. A sense of pride kept YM battling and for the last 15 minutes of the half YM played the better football. A Chris Lemm shot from outside the box was turned goalwards by the head of Jamie Clough and the ball cannoned fiercely into the crossbar. YM ended the first period enjoying far better ball retention and found themselves playing in the Casuals half more frequently.

The second half was a different story as YM pressed Casuals more effectively and panicked them into defensive mistakes. Naz Edmunds in particular looked a new man in central midfield and he was helping to break up Casuals attacks in their own half. Jamie Clough and Scott Allen began to impose themselves on Casuals and YMCA looked the better side. Drew Tipper and Sam Jennings were looking particularly menacing up top and YM looked more threatening by reverting to two strikers. However meaningful opportunities were still difficult to come by.YM were winning their personal battles and attacking with more shape and in greater numbers than the first half. The YM pressure finally told as Sam Jennings shot from close range, the shot was blocked but fell back to Jennings to slam home from 8 yards.

YM continued to press up until the final whistle but ultimately YM had left themselves too much to do. YM now find an outside chance at the league title as their only hope for the rest of the season but they can take confidence from a much improved second half performance and look forward to their upcoming match with Taplow United with optimism.

LEMMY'S MOM: SAM JENNINGS

The Rapids carried on their good form with a hard fought 2-1 win over a tough Sonning side at the weekend. Manager Tim Sidwell was forced in to 2 changes with Dave Rolfe returning to the back 4, and Dave Simmonds replacing Dan Sutton up top. Following last weeks demolition of Berks CS, the Rapids failed to show from the traps and put in a dour 45 minute shift on a nice surface at Sonning. The home side were first to everything, closing the YM midfield down and not allowing the wide men to get forward. Bar a few lightweight attacks from Sidwell, Daly and Simmonds the half belonged to Sonning and it came as no surprise when they took the lead with 10 minutes of the half remaining. After a succession of corners YM were caught napping as a Sonning forward tapped home from 3 yards at the near post.

A few choice words at half time and the Rapids looked a new team. The passing became crisper, the tackling sharper and it was fully deserved when Simmonds headed home 5 minutes in to the second half from close range. The Rapids had shaken off the cobwebs and were off and running with Daly, Woodrow and Sidwell all creating chances ofr the in form Simmonds who worked tirelessly front for 90 minutes. The introdution of Mike Hollway added further stability to YM's midfield meaning Scott Gibson could plough forward at every available opportunity. It was a fanstic passage of play that lead to the midfielder grabbing YM's winner. Leach fed Mandeep Nangla down the YM right who raked a pass to Sidwell on the half way line and the YM boss slipped Gibson clear of the Sonning defence. Through on goal, Gibson slotted the ball home to make it 2-1 as the turnaround was complete. The final minutes saw the home side come at YM as James Phillips made a smart stop after a goal mouth scramble and Dave Rolfe survived a big penalty shout, but the whistle went and the points belonged to the Rapids.

Sidwell quipped 'It was your typical game of 2 halves and I think we relaxed too much after last weeks win, but it was nice to see the boys turn it around and take the 3 points'

YM RAPIDS: PHILLIPS, LEACH, M ILSLEY, ROLFE, KENNY, DALY, GIBSON, BROWN, WOODROW, SIDWELL, SIMMONDS. SUBS: M HOLLOWAY (Replaced Brown 55), L EVANS (Replaced Kenny 65), M NANGLA (Replaced Daly 70)

SIDDERS MOM: DAVE SIMMONDS