Tadley Calleva Res 0, Taplow United 1

TADLEY Calleva Reserves were beaten by a goal nine minutes from time in the final of the Berkshire Trophy Centre Intermediate Cup on Saturday.

The match played at Reading Town's ground was disappointing for the large band of travelling supporters from Tadley.

Extra time looked likely until Mike Fountain's late header broke the deadlock.

The game was not helped by a blustery wind and a hard surface. Chances were few, but Tadley manager Murray Knox dismissed the conditions as an excuse for defeat after the game.

"Blaming the conditions is an easy excuse, and it was the same for both sides. We were poor today and not up for the game," he said.

"They were not much better, but wanted it more and battled away and got the result. The goal just came from a mistake and then we started to play, but it was too late."

Knox also saw his side have to play the seven minutes of injury time with 10 men after Andy Russell was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Taplow's Wayne Reid.

The boss said: "I don't think there was anything in it, just a bit of frustration. He went down and the ref has sent him off."

The contest threatened to boil over a number of times and Tadley's Nigel Holmes and Taplow's Marc Edward Smith were both booked before the break after a bout of pushing and shoving in the penalty area.

Tadley's Tim Olney had only one real save to make in the first half. After 16 minutes, he pushed away a low shot from Smith.

The Calleva front line of Steve Aldridge and Matt Partridge worked hard from the meagre service they had, while Jed Jones looked dangerous on the left and Robbie Courtnage kept the back line well marshalled.

On the half-hour, Aldridge twisted and turned in the box only to fire over, while Mark Fletcher and Paul Rolfe also saw efforts fly over the bar before the break.

The second half had just as few chances, and those that were went off-target until Taplow scored.

His goal came from a Filipe Martinez corner, which Fountain back-headed at the near-post into the net.

Tadley pushed forward, despite having Russell dismissed, with Aldridge fouled on the edge of the box countless times.

From one of these free-kicks came their best chance to equalise, but Aldridge's shot flew agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

Tadley Calleva Reserves: Tim Olney, Darren Young, Andy Russell, Paul Rolfe, Robbie Courtnage, Gary Stuart, Nigel Holmes (sub Barry Critchley 67min), Mark Fletcher, Steve Aldridge, Matt Partridge (sub Danny Pullen 77min), Jed Jones (sub Leon Gregory 89min).