Bracknell Town v South Park Reigate
FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Well, what a day that was! I had originally planned to go to the FA Cup tie at Hungerford, had already booked the train tickets online and was ready to go. Just five minutes before leaving home I received a message from Trainline to say there were no trains on the first part of my journey due to safety checks on the line. With no end to the restriction apparent I started looking for alternatives.
The bus to Reading which is the most painful experience known to man, over an hour to journey ten miles, was running half an hour late so that meant not being able to get the connection. Then a lifeline! A new message from Trainline saying everything was now clear and your train is running 10 minutes late. Result!
But no, upon reaching the station I found that the train was still showing as cancelled but the next showed as “on time”. Two minutes before its scheduled arrive time, the message came over the tannoy that this too had been cancelled. Aaargh! It was then I had a “sod this” moment and decided to switch games to Bracknell and head there instead.
I arrived at the ground around 2pm for my fourth FA Cup tie of the season, had a chat with a couple of familiar faces from Bracknell Town’s past and then settled down for a pie and chips. Cost wise, adult entrance was £13 (£11 if you purchase tickets online) no printed programme and the meal with a soft drink came to £9.
Bracknell went into the game as strong favourites playing a step above their visitors from South Park (step 3 v step 4) but as we all know, that means nothing in a one-off cup tie!
The game started with the hosts on top but struggling to find any way through a well organised defence. In the 25th minute the game sparked into life, a quick break down the left and a drive into the area from South Park resulted in a pull back across the goal where Tommy Smith was all alone and calmly side footed the ball home. 0-1
Bracknell again began to dominate but seemed to be lacking that pass from midfield that would unlock the visitors defence, George hitting a shot from distance that flew well over was the closest they came. South Park came close to doubling their lead when a shot from outside the box looked to be curling into the top corner only for Michael Eacott in the Robins goal to dive full length and tip it over.
H-T: Bracknell Town 0 South Park Reigate 1
Bracknell started the second half well and for the opening quarter of an hour were putting the visitors under a little more pressure but again without being able to find the killer pass. Once South Park had weathered that particular storm they started to look dangerous on the break and using the pace of the forwards, they were looking more likely to grab the next goal.
In the 66th minute the Robins came close when a corner was headed goalwards by Harrison but was blocked on the line and cleared. The visitors managed to break and win a succession of corners to take the sting out of the home side but all were cleared. In the dying embers of the game the home side put the Sparks under pressure but found the resolute defence just too difficult to break through.
F-T: Bracknell Town 0 South Park Reigate 1
A superb performance from South Park, they came with a game plan and executed it perfectly. The defence were outstanding and every player in blue gave their all. They thoroughly deserved their victory and a place in the hat for the second qualifying round.
Bracknell for their part looked subdued, showed little going forward and spent for too much time playing the ball sideways across the pitch. They didn’t seem to have anyone in midfield capable of unlocking the visitors defence with a subtle little pass through the visitors defence rather than constantly hitting the long ball out to the wings and it was only in added time that they put South Park under any real pressure.
So that’s my second cup upset on the bounce now so I’m guessing the favourites in the game I go to in the next round won’t be too impressed to see me at the gate!
Wishing the best of luck to South Park in the next round and good luck to both teams for the rest of the season.
Footnote: The journey home was a lot less stressful than the shenanigans in the morning!
To see pictures from the game click the button below for Louis Woodington’s excellent photo collection.