Berks County v Clevedon Town
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Onto this weekend’s second FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round match, a visit to the Racecourse to see the lunchtime kick off between Berks County and their visitors from Clevedon. Berks County were making their first ever appearance in the FA Cup for their debut in 24/25 following a promotion winning season in 23/24. Their opponents had the slight advantage of already having played two league matches in the Western League, winning against Barnstaple Town but suffering a reversal away at Shepton Mallet.
Admission was £7.50 today including the famous free Berks County mini programme. Something different for me in the food line today, the kitchen at the Racecourse has an extensive menu to choose from and the chicken curry (£7) caught my eye (always a risk when you’re wearing a white top!) On recent visits to the ground my go to meal has always been the excellent cheesy chips but very happy with my departure from the norm today!
So, onto the match and as you’d expect it was a very competitive start, the ball going from end to end with good work down the flanks from both sides early on. A good run down the right flank from County’s Jake Dutton ended with a flashing cross pulled back from the byline which the Clevedon number one James Dunn just managed flick away from the head of Luke Hayden.
The visitors countered and Freddie King managed to spring the offside trap but managed to snatch at the shot and drag it wide. County were just starting to get a head of steam up with Samuel Day and Dutton combining well and putting in some dangerous crosses testing the away defence.
I the 8th minute the Seasiders took the lead following a lovely through ball from Alex Camm finding full back Oscar Bridgman in space and he rifled the ball into the bottom corner. 0-1
Two minutes later the visitors doubled their lead. A long high clearance saw a tussle between County’s Callum Carlisle and Seasiders Harrison Kyte was won by Kyte, outmuscling the defender before running on and firing a fierce shot past Sam Bersley and into the bottom left corner. 0-2
The home side tried to rally and an enterprising run from Ebenezer Opoku-Ware found Ellis Day but his effort was easily dealt with by Dunn. Clevedon were hunting for a third and almost had it when a long throw by captain Syd Camper wasn’t cleared giving King a chance in the box, his curling effort towards the far post was clawed away for a corner by Bersley. There was a little bit of pinball in the area with the ball falling for the visitors but the snap shop went well wide.
Berks County dragged themselves back into the tie with a lovely goal in the 35th minute. A nice one-two between Connor Suckling and the pacey Dutton down the right flank set the latter free and his pull back was met on the edge of the area by Hayden, his neat flick enough to take the ball across Dunn and into the far corner. 1-2
Two minutes before half time Clevedon regained their two goal advantage but there was a touch of controversy with the home side claiming offside, not given by the assistant on the touchline. Cam Steer on the left found Alex Camm and his pass found Kyte in space and he duly finished past Bersley. 1-3
H-T: Berks County 1 Clevedon 3
The second half started with an early chance for the visitors to put the game to bed. A great run down the right from Bridgman gave him a sight of goal only for his shot to be deflected wide by a fantastic last minute lunge from Sam Hutchings.
A corner at the other end saw a moment of panic when a sliced clearance could have gone anywhere but fell into space and the away side managed to clear their lines. The impressive Bridgman again picked up the ball in the area following a nice passing move but skewed his shot wide.
In the next five minutes the hosts came back into the game with good runs down both flanks leading to decent crosses going into the area but with the Seasiders defence holding strong.
At the other end, a lovely defence splitting ball from Camm found the run through the middle from Kyte who tried to flick the ball past the approaching Bersley only to see the keeper claim the ball well at his feet. Another surging run down the right and cross from Bridgman found the head of King but his effort went wide of the target.
In the 59th minute another run from Bridgman won the visitors a corner. Steer’s floated corner from the right found an unmarked Glen Hayer and he made no mistake with the header from six yards out. 1-4
Clevedon were now in total control and looked more likely to add to their lead than Berks County getting back into the game. They had a couple of good chances to increase their lead, sub Eliot Nicholson first heading a Kyte cross straight into the midriff of Bersley and the second, heading over a cross from Brad Probert.
H-T: Berks County 1 Clevedon 4
In the end the visitors ran out comfortable and worthy winners in what looked to be a challenging cup tie. Berks County looked a little rusty and will hope to improve when their league programme starts.
Good luck to Clevedon at Amersham in the next round and good luck to both teams for the season ahead.
Photographer Andrew Batt was present at the game so click on the button below to visit his matchday gallery.