Lambourn 3 - 0 Didcot.

On a beautiful spring evening in front of over 250 spectators at The Northcott ground in Abingdon Lambourn Sports lifted the Charity Shield with a surprisingly straightforward victory over close rivals Didcot Casuals.

Both sides started the match with gusto which failed to materialise into any serious meaningful attacks until just before the 10th minute when Daren Jones received the ball just inside the box and flicked it on to his Lambourn team-mate Ben Matthews to fire past the keeper from close range. A minute later the favour was almost returned as Matthews played a great ball into the path of Jones who had the ball brilliantly taken away from his foot by Neil Tonner just as he was about to strike.
Didcot did create chances following going behind but never really tested Kyle Clough in the Lambourn goal and when their talisman Paul Powell came off on 34 minutes with a recurrent groin injury the signs were ominous that it was not going to be their day.
The score remained 1-0 to Lambourn at half time and the first 25 minutes of the second half produced a series of half chances for both sides. Didcot began to get back in the game and Fletcher Hoey produced the best move of the match on 67 minutes when he collected the ball just inside the Lambourn half and went off on a surging run, past three strong tackles, to lay the ball off to Laurence Hoey on the right. Laurence Hoey fired first time but his powerful shot was well saved by Clough.
Perhaps sensing Didcot were beginning to look like they would equalise Lambourn made a change bringing off Alex Hendren, who had had a good game, and replacing him with Tommy Langfrey. Whatever the reason for the change it was an inspired move as with his first involvement in the match Langfrey doubled Lambourn’s lead as, following a one-two with Matthews, he calmly side-footed past Gary Clarke in the Didcot goal.
Following the second goal it was Lambourn who looked more likely to score again. Gary Clarke pulled off an excellent one handed save to deny Dave Livings on 77 minutes and made another fine save from Paul Davis on 85 minutes, but he could do nothing about Dave Livings’ shot in the final minute which was fired with purpose into the top right hand corner of the net to seal the victory. Their captain Mark Bone received the Charity Shield from long time NBFL administrator Andy Wells and the celebrations began in earnest.



Management Duo Clarke & Macca with striker Jones.