Published: Tuesday, 24th November, 2009 5:00pm

Struggling County Sports stun Finch

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SENIOR Division strugglers Berks County Sports defied their lowly league position to stun Hellenic League side Finchampstead in the first round of the Reading Senior Cup.

Sports have endured a miserable season so far, managing just four points from their opening 10 games to be anchored to the bottom of the Senior Division.

Despite being far from their best, Finch still dominated the opening period, mustering 12 shots on target, all of which were well dealt with by Sports keeper David Osborne.

The pattern continued in the second half, and they were twice denied by the woodwork in the opening minutes.

First the in-form Dean Thomas saw his scorching effort cannon back off the upright, before skipper Tom Hopper tried an audacious overhead kick that skimmed the top of the bar.

Sports' raids forward were few and far between, but in the 64th minute they moved into a shock lead. A long cross from the right could only be parried by Finch keeper Perry Howard and the ball fell to Nick Shildrick who made no mistake from close range.

Finch pressed for an equaliser, and finally succeeded with eight minutes to play, Ben Knight converting Bob Yorke-Goldney's pass to send the clash into extra-time.

The hosts' hopes took a blow midway through the first period of extra-time when Yorke-Goldney was forced off with ankle trouble after a nasty tackle from behind.

With White having used all three subs, it meant that his side would have to play out the remainder of the game with just 10 men.

However, there were no clearcut chances, until, with penalties beckoning, the crucial moment arrived as the game entered stoppage time.

Sports' Nathan Laidlaw was controversially felled on the edge of the area, before picking himself up to convert the spot kick and send the Hellenic League side crashing out.

Premier Division outfit West Reading pushed Hellenic League leaders Wokingham & Emmbrook all the way before going down 2-1.

Wokingham were quickly on the front foot, and Wests keeper Matt Roddy was called on three times in the opening quarter to deny Alex Luis, Richard Bland and Darren Thorne.

But Wests got themselves into the contest and moved into a surprise lead midway through the first half when Jordan Burrows' deflected shot left Satsumas keeper Stuart Harris wrong-footed.

The lead did not last for long, and seven minutes later the two-goal hero of the previous weekend's win over Holyport, Danny Horscroft, fired home from long range to level things up.

Wokingham dominated the second half, but could not find a way past the inspired Roddy - and when Richard Pilcher finally did, he saw his header come back off the crossbar.

But just as the game looked set for extra-time, Shaun Wanklyn released Bland down the right, and he cut in before firing home his 13th of the season to secure his side's passage to round two.

For the rest of the news from the Reading League, including all the up-to-date table, see this week's Reading Chronicle.

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