Old Stoics Fall at Quarter-Final Hurdle

2 March 2016

Stowe's JLC cup run ended at the quarter-final stage after falling to a 4-1 defeat to an Old Berkhamstedians' side flying high in Division Two, two leagues above the Old Stoics.

The return of the side to the familiar surroundings of Chiswick ensured a strong side was assembled, with Dom Farr returning to replace the absent captain James Robson whilst Ben Hirst and Max Fossett stepped up to replace Messrs Eggins and Wolrige-Gordon in defence.

 On a lumpy pitch showing the effects of having dried out after January's rain, passing accuracy was paramount and although both sides started positively it was the away side that had the necessary cutting edge. First, Fossett was caught in possession on the left flank and Berkhamsted's right winger drove for the byline before delivering an inch-perfect cross onto his teammate's head, who finished smartly. The greying striker soon proved he hadn't lost any of his sharpness with age by following up his headed opener with a smart finish just inside the post to double his side's advantage when he was again found inside the box.
 
The scoreline remained 2-0 at half-time although Mark Thompson-Royds was called upon two or three times to make the close range blocks that have become his trademark. Indeed he was to go on to make a string of remarkable saves in the second half to walk off with the man of the match award, a particularly impressive effort having struggled to move for much of the week following a knee injury picked up in the previous round.

The first 20 minutes of the second half saw Stowe very much in the ascendancy and dominant in possession but whereas Berkhamsted had found the killer final ball, the men in yellow and blue failed to record any clear-cut chances during this period. Whilst the deficit remained just two goals, the Stoics retained hope that they could find a way back into the match. This was extinguished when a expertly delivered corner found Berkhamsted's number eight who was able to beat his marker and head home. Then a well-practiced move saw the number 7 win his umpteenth header at the near post from a throw-in and flicked it on to a teammate who supplied the necessary finish to well and truly put the cup tie to bed. 

Stowe kept their spirits and endeavour up to the final whistle and were rewarded with a consolation goal from Alex Jollivet. After captain Harry Benyon was brought down just outside the box, Jollivet stepped up to curl the ball perfectly around the wall and into the top corner. A great goal befitting more rewards than the context provided it.

In the end, the scoreline was perhaps a bit harsh on the Old Stoics who battled hard with all 12 players giving their all, including Nicholas de Montule coming off the bench to good effect, but in the end they were shown the improvements in touch and final ball required if they are to make progress up the leagues. 
 
With the cup run now over, this Saturday sees Old Stoics return to league commitments, taking on Old Aldenhamians at home in a must-win fixture against a fellow mid-table side.

Rupert Rowling (Cobham 05)