Wanderers had a break from the league in a cup quarter-final where they were the clear underdogs.

Playing into a strong wind in the first half, Wanderers had a difficult task to move the ball up the pitch.  The Blues' defence had to be on their game as they faced direct wind-assisted balls.

In the opening twenty minutes, the Blues were clearly up for the battle.  Tom Mansfield and Scott Ford won key challenges in the midfield and Finchampstead were becoming frustrated that they couldn't dictate the play.

After twenty five minutes the breakthrough came and it was a well-crafted Wanderers' goal.  Chris Orbell threaded a fine pass to Mansfield who kept his head to round the goalkeeper and tap the ball home.

This saw Finchampstead raise their game, and they stunned the Blues with two quick-fire goals.  The first came after an attack down the left, with Allan Mellor given no chance as the ball was powered into the corner.

The second Finchampstead goal came from the same flank, and again Mellor could do little as a fierce drive flew beyond him into the roof of the net.

As their opponents grew in confidence, Wanderers had to rely on solid defending and impressive goalkeeping from Mellor.

Wanderers almost equalised just minutes before the break.  Mansfield played the ball through to Prior, who bravely challenged the onrushing 'keeper, only to see his hooked shot loop just over the bar.

Into the second-half, and Wanderers were determined to get back on level terms.  With the wind direction in their favour, the Blues were able to provide more service to Tom Soane and Paul Martin in attack.

On the hour mark, the game seemed to be beyond Wanderers.  Allan Mellor made his only mistake of the match and was punished as he hesitated in coming for a cross and saw the ball headed into the net.

Wanderers have never given up at any point this season, and slowly played their way back into the game.  Ian Griffiths was having a lot of success on the Blues’ right, aided by the attacking instincts of Chris Hillsdon.

With twenty minutes left a scrambled clearance from a corner enabled Dan van der Laan O’Donnell to direct a header into the corner of the net.  At this point Wanderers introduced Edward Townsend and Lewis Trusty, to join fellow substitute Clint Falcus on the pitch.

Trusty’s impact was pretty much immediate as the ball fell to him after a poorly taken goal-kick.  He unleashed a dipping volley which flew into the top-corner to make the score 3-3.

This should have seen Wanderers go on to secure victory, however a poor referee did not allow that to happen.  There seemed no danger as a speculative shot from Prior headed wide of the goal, however the Finchampstead goalkeeper attempted to control the ball and Griffiths nipped in to score.  After initially signalling for a goal, the referee ruled that Griffiths was offside.

With the clock ticking down, Prior was sent clear and squared the ball to Tom Soane, who tapped home.  Again the Blues were denied by a linesman’s flag and a determined referee.

So the game went to extra-time, and with both teams tiring there were fewer chances.  Finchampstead were reduced to long shots, and Mellor again showed good handling when called upon.

There were just two minutes of extra-time remaining when Griffiths worked well to send Soane clear.  Finchampstead appealed for offside but the referee signalled “play on”.  After outpacing the chasing defender, Soane scrambled past the ‘keeper and tapped into the net.  Wanderers celebrations were short-lived as the referee ruled that Soane had come from an offside position.

After three disallowed ‘goals’, Wanderers felt injustice as well as satisfaction as the game went to penalties.

So to the shoot-out, and Finchampstead won the right to take first.  Mellor was given no chance as the ball was blasted high to his right, and into the net.  Anthony Prior was first to take for Wanderers, he calmly sent the ‘keeper the wrong way as he shot into the bottom corner. 

The second Finchampstead kick was similar to the first, and Mellor was again helpless as the score became 2-1.  Chris Hillsdon stepped up for the Blues, and the young full-back scored with a low shot that went in via goalkeeper and post. 

Finchampstead’s third kick was again struck high to Mellor’s right – 3-2.  Andy Corless took next for Wanderers, his shot hitting the post and then the back of the goalkeeper to fly into the net.

After a nervy wait, Finchampstead’s fourth penalty was stuck powerfully to Mellor’s right.  The Blues’ goalkeeper got a firm glove on the ball but could not keep the effort out.  Tom Soane took for Wanderers, hitting into the bottom left corner as the goalkeeper dived the wrong way.

Finchampstead’s fifth and final kick was struck well but Mellor pulled off a fine save to give the Blues the advantage.  Lewis Trusty stepped up with the chance to win the tie for Wanderers.  Trusty’s shot was firm but the goalkeeper guessed correctly and palmed the ball away.  The score remained 4-4 in the shoot-out.

Mellor was beaten by Finchampstead’s sixth penalty, and he picked the ball out of the net knowing he was next up for the Blues.  The connection wasn’t clean, and his shot bounced onto the post and away.

Wanderers can take a lot of heart from this game and from a cup run which has seen them beat the second-best team in the competition and push the probable winners all of the way.  The performance was first-class from the Blues, but sadly a referee lacking in integrity was to have a major say in the result.

TEAM: Allan Mellor, Chris Hillsdon, Dan van der Laan O'Donnell, Andy Corless, Chris Orbell, Ian Griffiths, Scott Ford, Tom Mansfield, Anthony Prior, Tom Soane, Paul Martin.

SUBS: Clint Falcus (for Mansfield), Edward Townsend (for Martin) and Lewis Trusty (for Ford).