Berks & Bucks FA v Cumberland FA
The FA County Youth Cup

Following their win against local rivals Westmorland FA in the second round, Cumberland FA’s Under 18 representative squad made the very long journey down south to play Berks & Bucks FA in the third round of The FA County Youth Cup competition in early January.

The game took place at the home ground of South National League side Slough Town FC, an impressive newly built state of the art complex.

Cumberland FA
1. David Ousby (GK) (Workington AFC Juniors)
2. Cameron Harker (Workington AFC Juniors
3. Will Field (Workington AFC Juniors
4. Eli Demetriou (Workington AFC Juniors
5. Reuben Butterworth (Cleator Moor Celtic FC)
6. Adam Bulman (Captain) (Beehive FC)
7. Robbie Cowley (Carlisle City FC)
8. Luke Ivison (Cockermouth FC)
9. Brendon Box Gill (Carlisle City FC)
10. Macauley Sharp (Workington AFC Juniors
11. Henry Walker (Carlisle City FC)
Substitutes
12. Jake Martin (Cleator Moor Celtic FC)
14. Jordan Ewbank (Carlisle City FC)
15. Travis Fyfe (Whitehaven AFC)
16. Bradley Harrison (Workington AFC Juniors
17. Robbie Dixon (Carlisle City FC)

 Once the pre match formalities were completed, Berks & Bucks FA began the match like a house on fire and had three goal attempts well saved by Cumberland’s keeper David Ogden in the first ten minutes.

Then against the run of play Cumberland took the lead in the 19th minute. A long ball from the Cumberland defence was missed by the home central defender and Brendan Box-Gill was onto the ball like a flash and lobbed the home keeper Sony Wheeler to open the scoring!

Within a minute Cumberland’s captain Adam Bulman tripped Bradley Farren in the penalty area and Stephen Bates the referee had no alternative but to award the home side a penalty. Up stepped Farren who hit the ball to Ogden’s left but the Cumberland keeper went the right way and made a magnificent save.

Within four minutes Cumberland were in seventh heaven. Wide on the right Robbie Cowley comfortably beat the full back for pace and crossed an accurate low ball which Henry Walker at the back post converted to give the visitors a two goal advantage.

It was end to end stuff now and the home side had a goal disallowed following a foul on Ogden and then in the 26th minute Robbie Cowley found himself in a great scoring position but blasted his shot high and wide over the bar.

In the 30th minute the Berks & Bucks FA pulled a goal back, which their play deserved. Following a corner from the right the home side’s full back Ben Mulley rose unchallenged to head home.

HALF TIME: Berks & Bucks FA 1 – 2 Cumberland FA

Adam Bulman did not reappear for the second half due to a knee injury and was replaced by Bradley Harrison.

Disaster for Cumberland in the first minute of the second half;  A cross from the right was not dealt with and up stepped Brad Farren who scored from close range making amends for his earlier penalty miss.

From this point the home side started to dominate the game all over the pitch and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 60th minute. James Richardson, always difficult for the visitors to contain left three defenders in his wake as he struck a shot past Ogden in the Cumberland goal.

A feature of the home side’s game all afternoon was the long throw ins taken by Luke Wayburn. The Cumberland defence always looked vulnerable when he took them and this lead to their fourth goal. A throw in from the left side by the pitch was not cleared two minutes after the third goal and Brad Farren scored their fourth goal.

Fifteen minutes later James Richardson scored their fifth goal with a left foot shot.
Cumberland’s head had dropped and the home side increased their lead with two further goals in the last five minutes of the game through substitutes Harrison Cliff and Connor Holland.

A very disappointing end for the Cumberland side who started very well but faded in the second period of the game.

FULL TIME: Berks & Bucks FA 7 – 2 Cumberland FA

Berks & Bucks now play Manchester FA away in the Quarter Final of the competition.

The players were accompanied by Chairman and County Squad Manager Fred Conway, Dene White (Coach), Karl Skelton (Goalkeeper Coach) and Barry Carruthers (Physio).

Cumberland FA would like to thank Berks & Bucks FA for their hospitality and wish them all the best for the Quarter Final!

Cumberland FA’s representative team now turn their focus to the Association of Northern Counties league fixture against Lancashire FA on Saturday 16 February 2019 at the Falcon Ground, Egremont.

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