Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy
Round 3
AFC Wallingford 1 Didcot Town 2
Tuesday, 28 January 2003
Two late goals saw Didcot secure a memorable victory in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy Quarter Final on Tuesday night. The tie had been switched to Didcot?s Loop Meadow Stadium due to a waterlogged pitch at the Hithercroft, and the defeat was Wallingford?s first away from home all season.
In truth, the game was never a classic with neither keeper called into action very often. Didcot started the brighter of the two sides and Wallingford keeper Paul Strudley had to be on his toes to clear the danger in the 3rd minute as Ian Concannon burst forward. Town went close again moments later when Scott Davis headed over from Lee Newport?s flick-on. At the other end, Shane Small-King was already proving a handful and he was to cause Didcot problems all evening. It was Small-King who set-up Pete Bryan for Wallingford?s first attempt at goal but the chance flew wide. Concannon found his way clear once again in the 9th minute and Strudley pulled off a brave save at his feet at the expense of a corner. Wallingford then began to settle into the game and should have taken the lead on the quarter hour. Small-King waltzed his way past two defenders before crossing low into the box only for Derek Simpson to scuff his shot with the goal at his mercy. The imposing Andy Shildrick then tested Town keeper Keith McLoughlin with a firm header but chances at either end remained at a premium. The last attack of the first half almost saw Wallingford in front. Dave Green was first to react to Bradley Ward?s cleverly taken free-kick but the ball spun wide of the far post.
Half Time: 0-0
Wallingford continued to push forward after the interval. Small-King and Shildrick both tried their luck from distance whilst for Town a Concannon shot was easily saved by Strudley. Ex-Didcot man Barry Primmer should have done better with a chance on the edge of the penalty box just after the hour mark and Shildrick shot harmlessly over following an uncharacteristic mistake from McLoughlin. The game burst into life with a stunning strike from Bryan midway through the second half. Small-King again created space on the left and Bryan acrobatically fired a left foot volley into the top-corner of the Didcot net. It was a goal worthy of winning any match but it spurred Didcot into action. With 14 minutes remaining Ian Concannon came back to haunt his former club, and at the same time dispel the myth that he failed to produce the goods against ?better? opposition, when he headed home Andy Cooper?s curling free-kick. Shildrick should have restored Wallingford advantage shortly after when he shot narrowly wide from 10 yards and it was to prove a costly error. With extra time looming Didcot?s Scott Davis met Andy Parson?s free-kick with a thumping header which went in off the underside of the bar. It was his first for the club and there was no way back for the visitors.
The win was sweet revenge for Didcot who suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Wallingford in the semi-final of the same competition a year ago.
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