The Cherry Red Records Challenge Cup
Round 1
Eton Wick 2 Highworth Town 4
Saturday, 28 September 2002
Highworth Town travelled to Haywards Road for their first ever encounter with Eton Wick who compete in Division One East for this 1st Round of the Challenge Cup. Highworth ran out as eventual winners by a 4-2 score, but not without a scare along the way.
The match was played in warm Indian summer conditions on a very dry, arid looking pitch that made ball control tricky for both sides. In the first half Highworth's Matt Saye tap in from 6 yards was the only goal of the match in a half dominated by Highworth, who spurned several good chances.
Half Time: 0 ? 1
Highworth's profligacy in front of goal was to come home to roost on 51 minutes when home forward Rosario Giacobbe drew the scores level with a tremendous 25 yard shot which dipped viciously beating Highworth keeper, Tom King all ends up. After 10 minutes of further Eton Wick pressure, the game was effectively ended as a contest or as the watching crowd thought, with Highworth scoring two goals in a minute courtesy of strike duo, Matt Saye and the recently returned Warren Fuller, who a week earlier had called time on his fledgling Dr Marten's career with Swindon Supermarine. In the 87th minute, a harmless back pass from Highworth midfielder, Dave Webb led to a second goal of the match for Eton's Giacobbe who latched onto and walked the ball into an empty net when Highworth keeper Tom King produced a mistake of Encklemann like proportions when kicking completely over the ball, which rolled agonisingly under his foot.
At 2-3 the game was still alive. Matt Saye however ensured extra time was not required when right at the death he produced a stunning individual goal, cutting back along the by-line from the corner flag, pulling out to roughly the penalty spot before shooting home. A fine goal capping a good striking performance from Saye whose confidence grows from week to week.
This win gives Highworth a home draw on 26th October against Premier Division opponents Brackley Town.
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