Ascot United ‘s ground has been relatively happy hunting ground for the Falcons in recent years. We’ve done well there in the past against Ascot United teams, and we had been looking forward to finals day since the semi-final in late March.

The Falcons got to the final the hard way. Five of the seven cup matches, including the final, were played away from home, including the quarter-final and semi-final against teams from one and two divisions above us. We had reason to be confident though, scoring 24 and conceding just 6 goals en-route to the final.

Our scouts had told us that Eldon Bhoys were a good, quick passing team that used the whole of the pitch, just like the Falcons! We knew that we would have to close them down quickly and break up their passing game and hope to get our passing going well. I felt this was going to be a game that would be won by the team that made best use of space, so we set up with Jacob in goal, a back two of Matthew and Louis supported by wingers/wing backs Pete, Marcus on the right, Chris, Max on the Left, Stanley in the middle and Eadoin/ Gabriel up front.

At the start of any final, you want to keep the game tight, defend well, and size up the opposition, that was our plan. Like all the best laid plans, this one fell apart after about 2 minutes of the first quarter, an Eldon player crossed the ball into our box, it pinged off the heels of a Falcons player and into our net, so unlucky…. But 0-1 to Eldon Celtic Bhoys. It’s fair to say that this rattled the Falcons a bit, but, playing well, they kept the score at 0-1 in the first quarter.

Regrouped and refocused for the second quarter, The Falcons started brightly and with renewed determination. This was rewarded midway through the half when, Max took a free-kick about 10 yards outside the box. On target, this was initially parried, but straight to the feet of Stanley who skilfully dinked it home. 1-1 to the Falcons, Game On!... The game remained tight until just before the end of the second quarter… the ball caught out the Eldon ‘keeper who was coming out to catch it and bounced over his head, alert to this, Stanley nipped around him and calmly passed the ball into the net. Stanley’s quick thinking and calm execution made it 2-1 to the Falcons at Half Time.

The half- time team talk was upbeat, the Falcons had the lead, but we knew we would have to play well to keep it. Matthew and Louis in defence, and Jacob in goal, were working hard, but containing the Eldon attacks well.

Eldon returned to the third quarter with renewed vigour. They were dangerous and breaking up our passing play in midfield quite well. They had a number of shots that were either just wide or over, or expertly saved by Jacob. We continued to play our game, passing the ball out from the back, with Chris, Pete, Marcus and Stanley trying to press forward to Max, Gabriel and Eadoin, but the Eldon defence was strong and was breaking down our attacks as well. The 3rd quarter stayed this way until Eldon won a free kick wide on the left. Their player had a shot that definitely would have been saved, except for a cruel deflection which saw it creep into the bottom corner. 2-2 at the end of quarter 3.

Quarter 4 and all to play for. Concerned that our attacking play from midfield was being effectively countered, we changed tactics. Rather than passing up from our defence through the middle we played out wide to our wingers. Both teams had tired a little by this stage of a pulsating match, and we thought that this would stretch Eldon and provide more attacking opportunities for the Falcons.

It was working well and the Falcons were edging the play until, a penalty was given for ‘hand ball’ in our penalty area. Eldon converted it well to score their 3rd goal, 2-3. The Falcons were behind again and time was running out! We kept with the tactics though, and this dramatically paid off with 1 minute to spare! Pete received the ball from out wide and, as has become his trademark this season, drove forward at pace, and struck an unstoppable Lampard-esque rocket past the Eldon keeper, 3-3!

Cue mini pitch invasion!, Cue ticking off from the ref!, Cue Extra Time!

Extra Time.

It was clear that the boys were tired at this stage, but so were Eldon. It was also clear that Pete’s goal had revitalised the Falcon’s belief, Coach Andy whipped the boys up, “who’s ball is it?”, “Falcons !”, “Who’s going to Win?” “FALCONS!”. We kept with the tactics that had got us the equaliser, playing to stretch their team and prevent their strong midfield from cancelling out our attacks.

The first half of extra time saw the Falcons take the lead with the goal of the day (and probably the season!) Marcus, on the right wing, 15 yards out, hit a first time volley that beautifully chipped the Eldon keeper and dropped right into the top corner, it was a moment of exquisite beauty that only football can provide, a complete Worldie of a goal that sent the Falcons supporters and coaches in to stunned delight! 4-3.

The goal deflated Eldon Celtic a little, it was clear that now, after a very tight game, the Falcons were on top. The Hearts and Eldon supporters were now swelled by the parents and players from the next two teams due to play after our over-running match, with close to 100 spectators hooked on a tense, enthralling game.

The second half of extra time was the longest 5 minutes in recorded history. Our tactics were working and Eldon were tiring and were being pushed back in defence more. But there was always the risk of an Eldon equaliser and dreaded penalties…..With time running down, the match was settled with a final goal. Eadoin, who had run his socks off all game in attack, was clattered in the box, Penalty! As he got to his feet, he was adamant he wanted to take it, he did, and drilled it confidently and decisively into the bottom right corner of the goal. 5-3!!

With the net still bulging, the referee blew the final whistle, The Falcons had done it!

The players and coaches re-joined the jubilant Falcons supporters, parents, family and friends and it was clear that it had been just as tense an emotional rollercoaster for them as it had been for the players and coaches.

Despite it being a game of 8 goals, neither team had been more than 1 goal ahead or behind at any stage, until Eadoin’s penalty. That was the very last kick of a game that, with extra time, lasted an hour.

But, in their toughest and longest game of the season, coming from behind not once, but twice, the Falcons showed the character, courage, belief and resilience they needed to emerge as the East Berkshire Bingham Plate Cup Winners!!

Eadoin
Max
Pete
Marcus
Christopher
Stanley
Louis
Matthew
Jacob
Gabriel
Richard
Archie

Match details

Match date

Sat 29 Apr 2017

Kickoff

09:00

Team overview