Holyport set up semi-finals clash with rivals Binfield
Sportsdesk • Published 17 Feb 2012 07:00
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GOOD things come to those who wait - and Holyport certainly waited long enough to play their Berks & Bucks quarter-final cup tie against Wantage Town, writes Shakila Barabhuiya.
The tie was finally played after four postponements on Tuesday, with Port going through 4-2 on penalties and setting up a semi-final clash with Binfield.
However, the game kicked off nearly 45 minutes late due to the linesman being held up on the way to the ground and, with floodlight restrictions in place at Wantage, the match had to go straight to penalties as it finished 3-3 after 90 minutes.
Holyport started the brighter but soon found themselves 1-0 down after poor marking from a Wantage corner.
Port continued to press forward and two goals in quick succession put them 2-1 up.
They got their deserved equaliser on 31 minutes as Ross Crawford scored his debut goal for the club and then Dan Rapley gave Holyport the lead on 36 minutes.
However, they were pegged back just before half-time and soon found themselves 3-2 down in the second half.
Substitute Lee Hawkins grabbed the crucial equaliser seven minutes from time to take it to a penalty shootout.
He also had the final say when he crashed home the winning penalty after Ben Sturgess, Rapley and Steve Butler all converted and Wantage missed two of their four spot kicks.
Port will play Binfield at Summerleaze on Tuesday, March 6, with the winners taking on either Windsor or Abingdon Town in the final.
The semi-finalists lock horns again this Saturday in the resumption of the Hellenic Premier fixtures (3pm ko).
HOLYPORT chairman Tony Andrews is calling on fans to support an auction taking place after Saturday's match to raise funds for the club.
Tommy Ovens will host the evening at North Maidenhead Cricket Club from 7pm.
Chairman Andrews said: "We are grateful to all of our existing supporters who turn out every week but we would welcome a lot more through the gate to help the club finances and to give the lads a boost as we try to secure our Premier League status for next season. Just a few more points should see us over the line".
Secretary Graham Broom added: "Our last home game was on January 7 and since then we have paid out for the general upkeep of the club with little money coming in.
"It has cost £60,000 this season to upgrade our ground to meet the required FA standard and whilst we are very grateful to our sponsors, we have also had to dig deep into our own bank account to find the balance and we are
running near to empty at present.
"We have a new 100 seater stand and now need some bums on seats at home matches to fill it".
Auction items will include a signed Tottenham Hotspur shirt, kindly donated by David Tuttle of Henley Town FC, two player lounge tickets for Reading FC v Leeds United on April 7, rounds of golf at Lambourne, Maidenhead and Camberley golf clubs, cinema tickets and much more.
To place a bid on any items please email at richardtyrell@googlemail.com.
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