RPM Records Supplementary Challenge Cup
Semi Final - First Leg
Didcot Town 6 Winterbourne United 1
Saturday, 08 March 2003
Didcot all but booked their place in the Final after a comprehensive 6-1 win against Winterbourne United in the first leg of the semi-final of the Supplementary Cup at the Loop Meadow Stadium on Saturday. In the process, top scorer Ian Concannon not only notched his third hat trick in his last 3 starts but also scored his 9th goal in the competition so far.
Town started brightly and Andy Cooper brought a smart save from keeper Keith Ford in the opening moments. Cooper was then involved when Didcot opened the scoring in the 11th minute. His long free kick into the penalty box wasn?t cleared and Jamie Heapy slotted home after robbing the ball from Ford?s grasp. Scott Davis almost doubled the lead shortly after when his long-range effort deflected narrowly over the bar. But the second goal wasn?t long in coming as Concannon fired home from Nigel Emsden?s corner. Winterbourne?s first shot came midway through the half when Mark Nash brought a good save from Town keeper Jeff Simmonds. Ford then saved well from Emsden before the home side stretched the lead in the 28th minute. Chris Dore and Terry Morrisey combined to set-up Concannon who headed home from 6 yards. Morrisey got on the score-sheet himself soon after following good work from Emsden and Heapy. But the visitors hit back straight away when Mike Shepherd somehow floated the ball over Simmonds and into the net from a tight angle. Concannon was denied by a fine one-handed save by Ford before Didcot closed the half with a fifth goal. Emsden saw his shot half-blocked by Ford and Concannon made no mistake from the rebound.
Half Time: 5-1
The second half started with United being awarded a controversial penalty. Adam Pilling was harshly adjudged to have fouled Nathan Lumber just inside the box. Goalkeeper Simmonds then produced a stunning double save first to deny Scott Cameron from the spot and then to turn aside the follow-up. Ford made a good save from Concannon at the other end but he could do nothing to prevent him claiming his hat-trick midway through the second period. Brilliant work from Dore presented Concannon with a simple tap-in to make it 6-1. Cameron went close to getting a second for United but Simmonds was proving difficult to beat with another excellent stop. The home side went close to getting a 7th in the dying moments when Dore worked himself space only to drive the ball inches wide.
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