Richard Fisher bags winner to claim cup
Super sub Richard Fisher came off the bench to net the winner for Pendeford as they overcame The Old Bush 2-1 to lift the Beacon Subsidiary Cup, writes Simon Cater.
In an end-to-end cup tie it was Pendeford who created the only real chances of a competitive first half.
Skipper George Armstrong’s dipping left-foot shot from 25 yards on 15 minutes sailed just over the crossbar, but with Pendeford on the front foot, the first goal arrived after 26 minutes.
A superbly flighted pass down the left found Armstrong who slipped the ball through to Brandon Kendrick, and his perfectly weighted pass put in Tom Heath and the man of the match curled a magnificent strike into the top left-hand corner of the net past Gavin Thomas.
Old Bush came out for the second half with renewed vigour. Matt Hollis tried his luck with a 20-yard free-kick which was heading for the top corner, but it was brilliantly tipped away by the impressive Garry Dale, while Luke Speed’s effort a minute later went agonisingly wide.
Five minutes later, Old Bush thought they were on level terms but veteran striker Dave Jones’ hooked shot bounced up off the inside of the post and away to safety.
Jones finally got his reward when he equalised after 67 minutes with the hardworking Hollis the provider. Hollis delivered a corner and Jones met it perfectly with a bullet header giving Dale no chance.
Ross Brummell will wonder how he did not give Old Bush the lead just a minute later when, following great work by Jones down the left, Brummell was left with the easiest of chances but with the goal gaping he managed to lift the ball over the bar.
At the other end Kendrick forced a fine save from Thomas who tipped his floated free-kick away from danger.
The introduction of Fisher for Tom Hipgrave for the last 20 minutes was to pay dividends. With 10 minutes left on the watch, a fine cross-field ball found Fisher in space and he advanced into the penalty area to calmly slot the ball past the onrushing Thomas.
Old Bush battled for the elusive equaliser and Dale pulled off a smart reaction save to deny Luke Cole at the death but it was to be Pendeford’s day and the celebrations got under way at the final whistle.
