FOOTBALL: Wootton hold on for trophy (From Oxford Mail)

FOOTBALL: Wootton hold on for trophy

10:40am Wednesday 16th May 2012 in Sat Local

GEORGE Casserley struck the decisive goal as Wootton and Dry Sandford beat Berinsfield 2-1 to lift the North Berks Cup for the first time, writes PHIL ANNETS.

Ben Taylor was also on target for the Division 1 side, who had to hold off a late charge from Berinsfield following Ian Marshall’s neat finish.

The Division 2 champions began on top at Abingdon United, with David Murphy forcing two smart saves from Wootton goalkeeper Chris Dales.

But the higher ranked side steadily imposed themselves and opened the scoring in style on 24 minutes.

A flowing move ended when Tom Cooke’s cross fell to Taylor, who half-volleyed the ball over his shoulder and into the net, giving Toby Coffey no chance in the Berinsfield goal.

The key moments came just after the hour mark, when Brian Rawlings came close to an equaliser with a header which Dales tipped it over.

From the resulting corner, Wootton cleared their lines and broke for Tom Srawley laying the ball off to Casserley, who beat Coffey from 20 yards to make it 2-0.

Berinsfield set up a grandstand finish by pulling a goal back ten minutes from time, when Marshall exchanged passes with Rawlings to score.

Wootton had to dig deep in the final minutes to lift the trophy, with skipper Jonny Weir clearing a Marshal effort off the line and the goalscorer was also denied by the woodwork late on.