Long Crendon travelled to Bedgrove United in the first round of the Sheffield Jackman cup. With the weather taking a turn for the worst in the morning, the game was looking like it may not go ahead. This was not the case though, and it went ahead.

With the wind battering the players, Long Crendon were wanting to kick off with the wind behind them. But that plan didn’t go the way they wanted, and instead they kicked off into the wind.

Long Crendon lined up in their familiar 4-5-1 formation, George Collingwood back in goal, and a back four of Dino Bonwick, Scott Hardy, Zak Wiggins and Nathan Brownsword. The midfield saw a change, with the injured Matt Wakelin being replaced by the tenacious Ben Thomas, alongside Tom Sykes and Alex Farley, who took the armband in Matt Wakelin’s place. The wings were the familiar faces of Chris Scott and Eliot Farley, with Ryan Scott chosen for the lone striker role up front.

With Long Crendon wanting to keep the ball on the floor, Bedgrove didn’t see much of the possession, with Scott Hardy and Nathan Brownsword knocking the ball between each other. Tom Sykes was also dropping deep to pick up the ball. But with the wind in their faces, it was proving difficult to play their own game.

In the first half chances were few and far between, although it was Long Crendon who opened the scoring. Eliot Farley took on the full back, and beat him on the byline to square for Tom Sykes, who steered the ball into the net to pick up his first goal in Long Crendon colours.

The lead didn’t last though. With Long Crendon again putting the pressure on, the Bedgrove defender cleared a bouncing ball. With George Collingwood completely fooled, the ball caught in the wind and skidded off the wet grass. Backpedalling, he couldn’t get enough on it to keep the ball from bouncing into his net, and Bedgrove somehow found them selves back in the game.

Again, Long Crendon were keeping the ball, they weren’t creating chances. Eliot Farley almost scored with a thumping header from a Dino Bonwick corner, but it was cleared off the line. But when Ryan Scott got tackled from behind in the box, it looked as though Long Crendon would head into half time with the lead. Dino Bonwick confidently stepped up, but his effort was saved down low to the left of the keeper. Ryan Scott followed up, but again the goalkeeper was their to deny us our second.

Second half came and Long Crendon knew they had to take control of the game with the weather now to their advantage. It didn’t take long to make the breakthrough either. Ben Thomas was darting around the box, when he was subject of a badly timed tackle. Nathan Brownsword stepped up, and his free kick was almost inch perfect, hitting the bar but bouncing against the goalkeeper and going in. Dubious goals panel will decide whether it stands as his first goal, or whether his wait will continue.

Ben Thomas then came close himself, with a low long range drive rebounding off the upright. But the third goal soon followed. It came from brothers Alex Farley and Eliot Farley combining, with the former playing in his younger brother, who cut inside and finished into the far corner with aplomb.

With the result all but confirmed, substitutes Liam Wing, Callum Ayoola and Jake Pointon entered the fray. It was Callum Ayoola who should have added the fourth, with fellow sub Jake Pointon playing him in. Callum however couldn’t control the bouncing ball, and his first time shot flew wide of the post.

Jake Pointon was in the thick of it again, and was again turning provider. Running down the right wing, his superb cross found the supporting run of Liam Wing. Liam controlled the ball, and found the net finishing under the Bedgrove keeper to get his first goal of the season.

With Bedgrove now dead and buried, Long Crendon added their fifth. Man of the match Ben Thomas threaded a ball through to Jake Pointon, who just like Liam before him, controlled the ball, and finished.

The final whistle shortly followed, and Long Crendon progressed. Difficult conditions to really play their game, but they will be happy to have come through with a resounding win.

Man of the match: Ben Thomas