The Vale of Aylesbury Sunday challenge Cup Final
New Zealand
v
Royal Oak

Sunday 15th April 2007 at Tring Athletic FC
*****************************************************

Oakley based Royal Oak finally achieved their first major success by winning the Vale of Aylesbury Cup at Tring Athletic’s ground on Sunday.  In a game where defences dominated there was little to choose between the teams.  The match was finally settled with a penalty shoot out after the heat had sapped the players energy in extra time.

Holders New Zealand had the better of the first half when few chances were created.  The quick thinking of Kumar Hamid nearly gave New Zealand the lead just before half time but his final finish allowed Ed Farmer to save easily.

In fact Hamid was replaced in the second half by last year’s hat-trick hero Lee Parrack who was closely tracked by skipper Ant Dawson and the ever reliable Greg Boult.

Royal Oak took the lead on 65 minutes when quick thinking by Nigel Swafford allowed him to side foot home after a pinpoint cross from the right.  New Zealand responded and a Grant Kawazinski header from the edge of the goal area should have produced an equaliser.  Parrack also volleyed over from inside the penalty area a few minutes later.

Parrack’s endeavours eventually lead to him being hauled down inside the penalty area on 85 minutes and Mark Wiltshire converted the resulting penalty.

As the players flagged in the heat, extra time produced only one real chance as Kawazinski was again off target when well placed to head home after a precision cross from the hardworking Ben Stevens.

The penalty drama came as Oak led 4-3 in the shoot out, when Parrack’s low shot was saved by Farmer.  Mark Lambert converted the fifth for the village side and the cup was theirs.

The vote for the man of the match award went in favour of Royal Oak’s Greg Boult whose resolute defending and work rate at the back stood out on the day.

Teams

New Zealand:-

G. Wiltshire, Stevens, J. Foley, Sibley, Ainger, P. Foley (Davies), Norris, Kawazinski, Kumar Hamid (Parrack), M. Wiltshire, Woodfine

Royal Oak:-

Farmer, Eason (Cosier), P. Way, Boult, G. Way, Keeble, Dawson, Thomas, Baylie (Champ), Swafford (Moses), Lambert

Report by Bob Walter

 
Despite the high temperatures, you still need to warm up properly!
Referee Paul Bateman (centre) goes through his paces with his assistants Vince Torre (right) and Brian Sinclair.

And the temperature rose even more with the appearance of Royal Oak's pretty physio Danielle!

In a tense first half, this was only one a few chances as New Zealand keeper Gary Wiltshire saves from Oak's Mark Lambert.

Another fingertip save - again from Lambert's effort.

Influential Royal Oak defender Robbie Eason.
After a season struggling with injury, he had to limp off after just 20 minutes and watch the rest off the game chilling in his flip flops!

The deadlock is finally broken on 65 minutes as Nigel Swafford gets on the end of Dave Champ's exquisite free kick. 1-0 to the Oak

New Zealand boss Mick Ainger brought on last season's hero Lee Parrack and with just 5 minutes remaining, he was bundled over in the box...

...and Mr Bateman is in perfect position to point to the spot for a penalty.

A cool head was needed for this one and Mark Wiltshire kept his cool to send Ed Farmer the wrong way and make it 1-1.

"Not another 30 minutes"!!
New Zealand's Veteran defender Nigel Sibley takes on some fluids as he prepares for extra time.

The extreme heat of the day led too an extra time period of few chances, but Grant Kawazinski's effort could have won it at the death.

 
With the first eight pens all converted, up steps New Zealand's Lee Parrack...

...and it's brilliantly stopped by keeper Ed Farmer.

Mark Lambert's pen could win it for the Oak.
Keeper Gary Wiltshire gets a hand too it...

...but it has enough power on it to go in.

Royal Oak players rush to congratulate Mark Lambert...

...as assistant referee Vince Torre comes to console the desperately unlucky Gary Wiltshire.

Man of the match 
 Royal Oak's Greg Boult with his bottle of bubbly from the sponsors (Buon' Amici Restaurant, Aylesbury).

Club Sponsor Stuart Barr joins in the celebrations
The Vale of Aylesbury Sunday Challenge Cup winners 2006/2007
Royal Oak FC