Collapse sees Rams dumped out of Berks & Bucks Trophy

Nov 23 2009 By Greg Burns at Holloway's Park

BERKS & BUCKS SENIOR TROPHY SECOND ROUND

Beaconsfield SYCOB 1–3 Abingdon Town

A DISASTROUS final 13 minutes saw Beaconsfield SYCOB gift Abingdon United a passage into the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy quarter-finals.

With only one home win in all competitions this term, the Rams headed into the final stages of their home clash on Monday night leading 1-0 before a mammoth collapse and a Leon Gordon hat-trick.

Joe Mitchell's side took on the fifth placed Southern League Division One South & West side with a number of cup tied players unavailable but settled into the game well.

Skipper Ross Ahir, who played in the hole behind Charlie Hill, made a probing run to the byline and cut the ball back for Dan Tilbury who took a touch and fired over when he probably should have shot first time.

The home side then took the lead on 14 minutes with an excellent move.

Neat one-touch passing in the midfield saw the Ahir slide a perfect through ball for Joel Melville who kept his composure to slot home for 1-0.

Abingdon were clearly frustrated by their hosts but forced Rams on-loan goalkeeper Simon Grant to pull of a brilliant double save to keep his side ahead.

Grant, on loan from Blue Square Premier side Hayes and Yeading United, parried a Billy Beechorn effort and reacted quickly to saw at the feet of Gordon who followed up well.

The second half saw the visitors create a host of chances to pull level with nerves and the pressure of breaking their home hoodoo clearly affecting the Rams players.

Gordon rose well to flick the ball on for James Faulkner who shot badly wide when in a great position before Beechorn also fired wide when well-placed in the box.

Abingdon scored their deserved equaliser on 77 minutes when Faulkner was given all the time in the world to square the ball back for Gordon to tap in.

They were gifted a goal just seven minutes later when Grant poorly spilled a tame shot with Gordon able to tap in from two yards out for 1-2.

The visitors rounded off the 1-3 scoreline when Grant could only parry substitute John Mills' shot into the path of Gordon who, yet again, was the first to react and complete the easiest hat-trick he will ever score.

SYCOB looked on course for a precious home victory until defensive lapses gifted United a way back into the game.

What will concern boss Mitchell more, though, is the way they simply threw in the towel and conceded some horrendous goals.

Up next for the Rams at Holloway's Park is league leaders Hitchin Town on Saturday.

RAMS: Grant 5, Scrivens 6, Humphreys 6, Bennell 7, Bernard 7, Mernagh 5, Melville 6, Tilbury 6, Ahir 6, Hill 5 (Gumbs 5 71mins), Charlerly 6.

Subs (not used): Sambor, Wilson.

Booked: None.

Ref: C Wicks 6