Wycombe Senior Cup – Only beaten after extra time

Burnham FC 6 – Penn & Tylers Green FC 2 (after extra time)

On a cold night, which made it compulsory to indulge in the trademarked name of a thick, salty meat extract, developed in the 1870s by John Lawson Johnston and sold in a distinctive, bulbous jar, Penn & Tylers Green FC took on Burnham FC in the Wycombe Senior Cup last night at The Gore.

Man of the match

A strong Burnham FC side were taken to extra time by a very well organised and superbly battling Penn & Tylers Green FC. The boys coped well with the early exchanges and deservedly went ahead on 21 minutes with a Sepede Double Act when Rino was put through superbly by his brother Antonio then taking advantage of Burnham defending too high up the field. Rino spotted Burnham’s keeper Jordan Dawson off his line and lobbed the ball over him into the net. This was a neat and typical Rino Sepede finish. Burnham FC, who play two divisions above Penn & Tylers Green FC, tried to put their authority onto the game but the boys playing in their red & black away kit tonight battled hard and played some very good football. Liam Ratcliffe always looked dangerous with James Louison and Chris Hurst creating chances for Penn & Tylers Green FC. The boys kept their shape and deservedly went into the half time break 1-0 up.

There was more of the same in the second half with Gary Crick looking strong, Danny Robertson covering every blade of grass (although there was not much grass left on the pitch) and Wayne Booth showing all his experience. The destroyer Antonio Sepede in his usual fashion broke up a number of Burnham FC attacks in midfield. The two central defenders Dan Arnett and Dean Munday were outstanding tonight. Despite the fact that Burnham’s higher league status started to push Penn & Tylers Green FC back a bit more, the boys still created chances with Dan Arnett, Rino Sepede and Chris Hurst nearly getting onto the score sheet.

There was one particular moment in the game which could have made all the difference (this was a bit deja vue for Penn & Tylers Green FC). Rino was through on goal having beaten the last defender only to be clearly pushed down by the defender just outside the box. Not even a free kick was awarded. Rino might have scored – the defender should have walked, who knows what would have happened. That’s football.

Boys put through their paces at Burnham

It took until the 73rd minute for Burnham to pull the scores level when half time substitute Mich Woodward fired into the net as the Penn & Tylers Green FC defence for once failed to clear an attack. Burnham now had the lion’s share of the play but found keeper Matt Cannings coping well with everything.

Extra time saw a flurry of scoring, three goals coming in the space of four minutes, Julian Owusu netted for Burnham from close in on 93 minutes and a minute later Jordan Dowdican lobbed Matt Cannings to make it 3-1. Yet the boys in red & black kept battling and pushing for more, still playing good football. It was Lima Ratcliffe who scored the goal of the night hitting a long range shot over keeper Jordan Dawson on 96 minutes from about just over the half way line to make it 3-2 – the boys were still in the game. Fresh legs were provided with Ben Vicos and Tom Fifield coming on; unfortunately to no avail. Burnham wrapped things up in the second half of extra time, Julian Owusu on 113 minutes, Owen Hunte-Millington (yes, the very man) on 114 minutes and Julian Owusu (who was by far Burnham’s best player) completed his hat trick to end the scoring on 116 minutes. Burnham will meet Holmer Green at The Gore in the next round.

Thorough preparation before the cup tie

Penn & Tylers Green FC can be proud of this performance which should give them enough confidence for the top game at home against Newbury on Saturday at French School Meadows for a 14:00 kick off.

Man of the match: Dean Munday

Match report by Andreas Latta (Secretary)