CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP ROUND THREE
OAKWOOD A 5 FAITHFOLD A 2 (After extra-time)

A deadly double from Brad Wine helped Oakwood come from behind to book their place in round four of the MGBSFL League Cup after sending former winners Faithfold tumbling out.

Oakwood bossed things early on, but were hit with a sucker punch as Faithfold forged ahead after the Oaks had failed to clear their lines.

The hosts had been in control for the first 25 minutes - enjoying the lions-share of possession and chances, and played some super football, but the concession of the goal really rattled them.

Oakwood "spoke at half-time about being more patient, knowing Faithfold would tire". The equaliser came through Dave Woolman and Oakwood were totally dominant again. But their momentum was curtailed when Josh Rubin, who in a lively cameo after 18 months out, went down with what looks like another serious knee injury.

That injury took the wind out of Oakwood's sails and when Dave Cohen pulled his hamstring, they were forced to play with 10 men - having used all their subs - for the last 10 minutes.

Faithfold looked to have won it with a goal on 87 minutes, but Oakwood rallied superbly and Wine popped up, harrying the Faithfold defence into an error before burying it from 25 yards with virtually the last kick of normal time.

Oakwood played the whole of extra-time with 10 men, but they excellent as a unit and if anything, it looked like Faithfold who were the man light. They were dead on their feet and Oakwood's "superior fitness kicked in".

Super-sub Jonny Quinn was brilliant off the bench, creating the third goal down the left for Guy Helman to smash home from distance.

Then Josh Rose got the goal he deserved after another Quinn assist as he buried one inside the box having outfought two Faithfold defenders.

Faithfold were virtually out on their feet and having defended well throughout, were now leaving more and more gaps. Wine scored a fifth for Oakwood at the death to end what was a crazy 120 minutes.

Oakwood joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "It was a roller-coaster of a game yesterday. The sort of incident filled, see-saw of a game you only get in the cup. How we didn't settle the issue in normal time I'll never know.

Paying tribute to the injured Josh Rubin, Blank added: "We're all gutted for him. He's a top bloke and a brilliant player."