FOOTBALL: Fairford are the real deal

10:47pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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Arthur Shipway Cup Final.

Oaksey 1 Real Fairford 2.

REAL FAIRFORD capped a fine season with a deserved win in the Arthur Shipway Cup Final at the Corinium Stadium on Thursday night.

Two well-taken goals from Fairford striker Pete Walker secured the trophy, but Oaksey have not earned a reputation as doughty cup fighters for nothing and they rallied bravely to push their younger opponents all the way in the last 20 minutes.

A headed Adam Goodfield goal in the 89th minute was only what they deserved, although it came too late to have a material effect on the result.

Fairford can thank keeper Sam Davies for two crucial saves, one in each half.

The game was only 10 seconds old when a speculative punt upfield from Oaksey captain Martin Rice split a static and sleepy Fairford defence. Oaksey striker Simon Rose raced clear but Davies spread himself well to save.

Davies could do nothing about a firm Goodfeld header which grazed the top of the bar on 13 minutes.

Cliff Taylor's Fairford team eventually settled and started to play the slick passing football which has made them such a potent force in the second half of the Cirencester League season.

Tony Williams, in particular, was the Oaksey tormentor in chief, causing havoc whenever he got on the ball in the first half.

On 32 minutes he won a tackle 30 yards out, showed a fine combination of trickery and persistence to go past three challenges and let fly with a firm left-footed shot which was heading for the net until Rob Needham made a fine fingertip save.

Fairford were rampant at this stage and when the goal came it was a cracker. John Hollis swung in a free kick with pace from the wide left and Walker ghosted in front of his marker to plant an unstoppable header past Needham.

Oaksey's best move of the match came just before the break when the influential Mike Ward set Simon Rose free, but his shot on the turn was safely gathered by Davies.

Two minutes after the restart it was that man Walker again. Luke Skidmore won the ball on the edge of the box, rolled it invitingly into Walker's path, and the striker buried it with force.

But having lost captain Pete Williams to an injury just before the break and then his fellow centre back George Tertois early in the second half, Fairford were forced to regroup.

Matt Reynolds moved over from left back and Ali Mayoh came off the bench. With Oaksey coming at Fairford strongly in the last 20 minutes, this duo needed to be strong and they didn't put a foot wrong.

Oaksey were winning more of the 50-50 tackles and building up a fair amount of momentum with Goodfield's strength up front a constant problem.

In the 73rd minute, he tried his luck from 30 yards, but the shot was inches too high. Then only a great last ditch tackle from Reynolds denied him another shooting opportunity, before his firmly hit shot from 10 yards was brilliantly turned over by Davies.

Fairford were trying to play out time when Goodfield nodded in a deep cross at the far post, although it was too little, too late.

"I'm chuffed for the lads. They had a nervy start but they played a lot better than in the semi-final and they did it without both the central defenders in the second half," said Real Fairford manager Cliff Taylor.

"Pete Walker had two great finishes but we have got to thank our goalkeeper Sam Davies, whose save late in the second half was dynamite and he kept us in the game with his save in the first minute.

"Hopefully, we will be able to keep the majority of team but it's all about progress and they may want to play at a higher standard."