Rangers March On!

After two away postponements before Christmas, Berks & Bucks FA decided to flip this County Cup 3rd Round fixture to 'home' and we finally got the game on, over a month late! The pitch at PRS was playable but very sticky, and this definitely affected the quality of football on the day. But at least we were playing a game, and to be fair it was the same for both teams. The conditions suited Old Bradwell who straight away turned the game into a battle, with Risborough struggling to get the ball on the deck and play football.

Then finally a bright moment on 25 minutes when debutant Kemp floated a ball to the back post setting up Higley to score his first of the season with a diving header! 10 minutes later and it should have been 2-0 when Rangers were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box. Queue some appalling behaviour by Old Bradwell, who openly destroyed the penalty spot which ultimately led to Ballantyne missing the spot kick.

1-0 up at half time and Rangers came out strongly in the second half pushing for more goals, but just failing to unlock the Old Bradwell defence. Then with only their second chance of the game the away team scored, slotting in a loose ball from close range and it was then just a full on scrap to see who could score. Subs were made on both sides, yellow cards were shown and the game looked to be heading for an inevitable penalty shoot-out. But cometh the hour, cometh the man, and with literally the last move of the game Stupples glanced on a header and the ball fell to Russell who fizzed the ball across goal for Kemp to slot in at the far post with literally the last kick of the game.

Queue absolute scenes as the ref blew the whistle before the restart could even be taken, and this determined Risborough team march onto the 4tyh round