Bushay ends his goal drought

Liam Bushay ended his long goal drought with the winning goal to send United into the last four of the B&B Trophy

Picture
Felix Prudden fires in a shot
Bushay who last scored on the 24th November was introduced to the game on 65 minutes.
United having finished the half a goal down pegged back hosts Wallingford, equalising through the lively Felix Prudden on 56 minutes.
Manager James Pritchard took the bold decision to replace centre back Alan Mckie with Bushay as he looked to capitalise on Marlow’s dominance and ‘Froggy’ rewarded the gamble, a brilliant finish with time running out deciding the tie; collecting a clearance from a Gumbs cross field ball the forward advanced and calmly lifted a shot over the advancing keeper Vaughan for the winning goal.
In truth it was no more than the visitors deserved having dominated the second period and long periods of the first half.
The game began in a frantic fashion with neither side finding any fluency in their play, the first serious move from United coming on ten minutes with Nile O’Meally eventually firing a cross to long.
Felix Prudden was proving to be a thorn in the hosts defence as the game progressed, his pace constantly troubling his marker, Ollie Flint collecting a cross and seeing the effort cleared.
Chris Hurst was played in on goal by James Hardy only to be ruled off side as United began to assert some control on the game only for the hosts to catch Marlow cold with centre forward Charlie Silkstone robbing a hesitant Mckie before running on and placing the ball past Matt Cannings on twenty minutes.
United replied with a corner following a free kick by Fox, this followed by their best opportunity thus far with a Prudden cross being met by Hurst, his goal bound effort being blocked.
The equaliser arrived on the half hour as a four man move saw O’Meally lay the ball into the feet of James Hardy who smacked the ball over the line amongst a forest of legs.
United had barely finished celebrating when they found themselves back in arrears as an attack down their left saw Silkstone collect the loose ball and fire home an unstoppable shot over Cannings from twenty yards.
United upped the tempo again as they looked for a second equaliser but despite creating a number of promising moves they were unable to find that second goal and finished the half a goal down.
HT 1-2
The resumption saw a rejuvenated Marlow as they stormed into their opponents.
They bombarded the home goal with Fox, Prudden, Flint, Hurst and Harman firing in efforts in the first ten minutes.
That pressure was rewarded on 56 minutes with the dangerous Prudden picking up a Hardy pass on the right then lashing the ball past defenders and keeper.
Wallingford responded with pressure of their own before United made the decision to replace Mckie with Bushay as they went three at the back and pushed for the winner, the thought of penalties being an unpalatable one.
Bushay was immediately in the thick of things, his cross from the left being plucked from the head of Prudden.
United won two quick corners and Fox found Hurst, his effort going wide.
Wallingford looked to capitalise on United’s back three, Sethi, Gumbs and Fox looked solid even with the full backs pushing forward when they could.
Qwam Thomas replaced an injured Prudden with fifteen to play, slotting into the right hand side of midfield but it was Bushay who was proving a handful his cross being headed wide by Hurst, before his shot found the keeper.
The player was then pulled down right on the edge of the area, The free kick wide going wide.
Two minutes later with only eight to play the winning goal arrived with Bushay’s delightful lofted ball nestling in the back off the net.
Wallingford franticly looked for an equaliser, an almighty scramble in the Marlow area eventually being hoofed clear by Thomas.
James Namyslak replaced a weary Adam Harman for the final few minutes, Marlow having to endure five minutes of added on time before claiming their third consecutive semi final in this competition.
They will certainly be hoping to make it third time lucky in the quest to land the Trophy.
The games are coming thick and fast, United’s published games verses Reading City 23’s and Woodley Royals being scrapped, Mortimer and Wokingham replacing them for no apparent reason!
In the meantime they look forward to a possible title decider at rivals Cookham Dean next Saturday
ko 2pm.

FT 3-2
Team
Canning, Gumbs, Stephi (c) Mckie, Fox, Hardy, Harman, Flint, Prudden, Hurst, O’Meally
Subs
L Bushay for A Mckie 66
Q Thomas for F Prudden 75
J Mamyslak for A Harman 85

Bookings
N O’Meally

Goals
J Hardy 29
F Prudden 56
L Bushay 82

Scores
M Cannings 7
J Gumbs 7
A Stephi 7
A Mckie 7
J Fox 7
J Hardy 8
A Harman 7
O Flint 7
F Prudden 8
C Hurst 7
N O’Meally 7

Subs
L Bushay 8
Q Thomas 7
J Namyslak 7

MOM
Felix Prudden