Adey Banks a Final
Southbank secured its first ever cup final
appearance with a 3-0 win over a hardworking
and battling Emmer Green on Sunday in the
Tilehurst Charity Cup match.
Despite missing Steve Marshall our influential
keeper and Olly Bradbury Southbank managed to
restrict Emmer Green to half-chances and snap
shot despite encountering heavy pressure from
a good team for long periods of the game.
Nobody could predict how the first goal came
about after 15 minutes. An Emmer Green
defender providing a powerful finish into his
own neat after a cross from the flank, to undo
all Green’s good work and put Southbank’s nose
in front.
Green’s pressure continued for much of the
first half but Southbank caught Emmer Green a
sleep at the back after a speculative
clearance from skipper Wagner in the left back
area on 30 minutes. Under pressure in the left
back area Wagner cleared the ball diagonally
across the pitch, over the Green defence
allowing Jonny Adey to race on and grab his
first goal of the game, right foot low into
the left hand corner.
Southbank had the breathing space they
required and despite a couple of close calls
for penalities, went into half-time knowing 45
minutes of hard work would see them through.
The 2nd half followed a similar
pattern as the 1st half, with the
Green midfield pressing possession and plenty
of half-chances being created. When they did
break through with, some great last ditch
defending or good goalkeeper by Luke Howroyd
playing in place of the injured Marshall
stopped them finding a
way back into the game.
Then on 70 minutes the 3rd goal
which was always going to be crucial for both
teams arrived. Dion Denny exploited the space
provided by the Green defence down the left
wing, now going all out for a way back. Denny
picked out Luka Kasonda from the bye-line who
in the process of a scramble with the Green
defender and keeper meant the ball squirmed
out to Adey 12 yards out to bury the third for
Southbank and clinch the final appearance.
In 13 years the club has never managed to
secure a place in any cup final, despite 5
semi finals. Today that changed and Southbank
perhaps with some luck, something missing in
previous semi-final appearances, look forward
to the Majeski Final in May.