Real do the cup double

The Perry Bishop and Chambers Senior Charities Cup Winners | Real Fairford 6 - 3 Beeches

Starting out as newly-crowned league champions and having beaten Real twice in the league this season Beeches were firm favourites to win this match. It was Real though who threatened earliest and after 10 minutes took the lead. A through ball by John Hollis was initially intercepted but the ball eventually broke to Chris Nash who squared for Luke Skidmore to slide in at the far post. a measured pass in for Pete Walker to have the first effort on goal which was blocked to Chris Nash who was then denied with a goal-line save but only as far as Skidmore who rifled the ball into the roof of the net for 2-0.

Looking to reduce the arrears Beeches were then narrowly wide with a glanced header but Real went further ahead on the half-hour when Pete Walker fired in after the ball had been stolen on the left wing. Walker could have added another shortly afterwards when latching on to an under-hit back pass but his effort was just wide.

In the last period to half-time Beeches started to get more into the game and Robinson first crossed dangerously to the far post and then was just over the bar with another effort but in the dying seconds of the half a free-kick floated into the penalty area fell perfectly for Real’s Chris Nash to head over the keeper and into the net for a deserved 4-0 lead at the break.

Fired up for the second half Beeches then started to make an impression. They pulled a goal back immediately after the restart when Real failed to clear a corner cleanly and the resulting free-kick ran across the defence and was glanced past the helpless Sam Davies. The Real keeper then had to make a fine save after another dangerous cross but could do little when on 20 minutes a partially blocked shot looped over him and into the net for 4-2.

With the game threatening to move away from Real manager Cliff Taylor brought on Burt and Newton for Williams and Nash and within 5 minutes nerves were settled when Pete Walker switched the play to John Hollis and his dangerous cross beat everyone including the unsighted keeper to creep inside the far post for 5-2.

A speculative effort from 35 yards was tipped over to deny Luke Skidmore his hat-trick and Walker fired a half volley over the bar when well placed but later atoned when following an excellent pass by Ollie Burt he drove home for 6-2.

Beeches were still not done and in added time glance home a third goal from a left wing cross but Real’s defence in which Ali Mayoh was outstanding held firm to the final whistle.