Triumphant UEL win BUCS cup final
Friday 15 March 2013
Nerves were fraught before the game kicked off, as both teams came to the realisation that this game was the culmination of their efforts all season.
Reading were the first to settle, taking the lion’s share of the early chances, with UEL looked to use the pace of Aaron Thompson-Sommers on the counter attack.
This tactic paid off in the 37th minute, when Thompson-Summers slipped in Imani Likita, who saw his first attempt saved but pounced on the rebound to draw first blood.
UEL just needed to keep it tight for the remainder of the half, but failed to do so and Reading responded with an audacious cross cum-shot from 25 yards that beat Dan Robinson at his far post with just two minutes of the half remaining.
The first half drew to a close with UEL lamenting their inability to keep a clean sheet, but with all to play for.
After the restart, UEL couldn’t seem to shake the cobwebs and the referee added to the building tension with a contentious decision to book Victor Nkolo for what seemed a fair challenge in the 56th minute.
UEL then suffered a huge scare in the 61st, with Likita clearing from the line with an acrobatic effort.
With 20 minutes to go, UEL were able to step it up a gear and both Jordan Clarke and Richard Johnson had half chances, before Hughes-Mason sent the watching UEL supporters into jubilation in the 83rd minute with a beautiful chipped finish, following a cutback assist from Marley Spindler.
Celebrations were cut short however, as the referee awarded a harsh penalty decision against Victor in the 90th minute for what seemed to be a perfectly executed sliding tackle in the box.
The Reading striker duly stepped up and dispatched the penalty, leaving UEL again wondering how they managed to clinch a draw from the jaws of victory.
UEL were clearly incensed and it took just two minutes to get their just rewards, with a brilliant effort from Hughes-Mason in which he lobbed the keeper from an acute angle in the 94th minute of the game.
Going behind for the third time in the game was too much for the beleaguered Reading squad and UEL stood firm in the final minutes to record a momentous victory.
In truth, it was a game UEL deserved to win, despite the best efforts of the referee.
Report by: James Milin-Ashmore
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