Berks & Bucks FA Charles Twelftrees Trophy - 2022/23

[Rhodes]

Old Bradwell United reached the Final of the prestigious Berks & Bucks FA Charles Twelftrees Trophy by embarrassing beleaguered Aylesbury & District League Division One outfit Haddenham United 9-0 last Saturday afternoon, they will meet SB Phoenix or Letcombe or Finchampstead in the Final on Saturday 22 April, to be played at Flackwell Heath:

[Rhodes]

On 15/03/2023 at 14:23, Rhodes said:

Old Bradwell United reached the Final of the prestigious Berks & Bucks FA Charles Twelftrees Trophy by embarrassing beleaguered Aylesbury & District League Division One outfit Haddenham United 9-0 last Saturday afternoon, they will meet SB Phoenix or Letcombe or Finchampstead in the Final on Saturday 22 April, to be played at Flackwell Heath

Not directly SSML related but a groundhopper from another Forum was at Saturday's Quarter Final tie between SB Phoenix and Letcombe. SB Phoenix go through to meet Finchampstead in the Semi Final for the right to lock horns with Old Bradwell United in the Final of the competition:

Charles Twelftrees Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy Quarter Final
SB Phoenix 3 Letcombe 0
Played at Farnham Park, Slough. Entry - free. Weather - rain at start, sun at end. Attendance - h/c 10
Farnham Park is a large open space just north of Slough on the road to Beaconsfield. It has both football and rugby pitches, and no doubt cricket in the summer. There's a cafe, toilets, changing facilities and quite a lot of parking spaces. We were on the pitch as you enter the site on the left.
This Trophy is for Saturday sides in the two Counties at Step 7 and below.
I'm a bit of a sucker for cup matches between teams from different Leagues, so was drawn to this one. SBP are in mid table in the Thames Valley Premier (Step 7), whilst Letcombe, right at the other end of Berkshire near Wantage, sit top of the Hellenic Division 2 South (outside the pyramid of course). Just how good are HD2S sides then?
Letcombe started with a bang as they had the ball in the net after 20 seconds, but, much to their chagrin, had it ruled out for offside. And that was as it good as it got for them. SBP slowly gained the ascendancy and took the lead on 31, when a ball into the box was turned in at close range by #9. HT 1-0.
The second half started quietly, but then the match was won and lost. On 56 a Letcombe forward was brought down from behind inside the box. Huge appeals, but the ref declined to give the penalty. Letcombe's players were dead incensed and many rushed to the ref to discuss the matter. Unfortunately for them, the ball had not gone out of play, SBP hit the ball long and their #22 ran onto it and slipped it passed the keeper.
The enormity of their bloomer hit the away side. Heads dropped, but they continued to argue with the ref, and bemoan their perceived unfair treatment. Whilst they were distracted by this self flaggelation, on 58 the home #20 picked the ball up on the left, ran into the box and hit a shot at an angle which the Letcombe keeper managed to turn into his own net at the foot of the near post.
Match over. Letcombe had sort of defeated themselves. Even so, to show what might have been, they hit the post and cross bar in the last 30 minutes, but overall SBP saw the match out to gain a semi final match against fellow TVP side Finchampstead.
SBP had a well ordered and marshalled defence and enough in their counter attacking style to win this one. For a team sitting top of their Division, I was disappointed with Letcombe, although I suspect this wasn't one of their better days.
One other thing. I was struck by the different styles of the two Managers. Letcombe's was quiet, studious, giving an instruction here and there and generally giving off an air of sagacity. SBP's manager was however continually in motion, continually telling this players how to play every ball and shouting those football expressions which have no real meaning, such as "Eaders", "Seconds" and "Go. Go. Go." I guess that the result shows who was more effective though.

Edited March 20, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Thames Valley Premier League Premier Division Finchampstead took care of SB Phoenix 3-0 earlier this month in their delayed Semi Final tie so it's an exciting looking Old Bradwell United v Finchampstead Final tomorrow afternoon:

Saturday 22 April 

Berks & Bucks FA Charles Twelftrees Trophy Final
Old Bradwell United v Finchampstead (at Flackwell Heath FC, kick off 3.00pm)

https://www.berks-bucksfa.com/cups-and-competitions/cups/2022-2023/the-charles-twelftree-trophy/fixtures

[Rhodes]

What do we actually know, if anything, about Thames Valley Premier League Premier Division Finchampstead who lock horns with Old Bradwell United this afternoon in the eagerly awaited Berks & Bucks FA Charles Twelftrees Trophy Final at Flackwell Heath's Wilks Park:

https://footballinberkshire.co.uk/news/football-news/72778/finchampstead-look-forward-to-county-cup-final/

[Rhodes]

No problems whatsoever for Old Bradwell United on Saturday as they comfortably lifted the Berks & Bucks FA Charles Twelftrees Trophy at Wilks Park, congratulations to the Club:

Edited April 25, 2023 by Rhodes

[Munchkin]

Controlled and dominant performance to lift the trophy. 44 goals scored and 0 conceded in this competition.

hopefully the FA will review the competitions structure and address the imbalance they’ve created. No team should be winning by our score lines through that many rounds.

 

 

[Rhodes]

Some belated match reports from the Final and Old Bradwell United's comfortable triumph:

https://issuu.com/obufc/docs/obufc_programme_-_08.05.23_buckingham_united/s/24058149

https://mywokingham.co.uk/sports/match-report-finchampstead-vs-old-bradwell-united/