DC Steamers 5 vs 4 Loddon Valley Rangers

<p class="MsoNormal">Steamers make it through to the last 32 of the Berks and Bucks Cup after a narrow 5-4 victory against Loddon Valley Rangers

<p class="MsoNormal">Steamers made easy work of Loddon in the 1st Half as the goals flooded in. Bert Ryan got us off with a screamer from 25 yards with a first time shot from Jonny Clifford&rsquo;s assist. The keeper made no effort to dive as he was never getting there.

<p class="MsoNormal">DCS passed the ball with ease and looked divisions above Loddon who resorted to the long ball to try and create an attack.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jonny scored 2 great headers to take us 3 up. His second was a great team move as the ball was moved from the back out wide to JP who supplied a cross for Jonny to find the bottom left.

<p class="MsoNormal">JP quickly made it 4 when Bert Ryan put him through with just the keeper to beat. The sharp shooter arrowed one into the corner of the net.

<p class="MsoNormal">Loddon got themselves a goal after spotting Lee slightly off his line and lobbing the keeper from 30 yards. It was uncelebrated as Loddon were obviously disappointed with their performance.

<p class="MsoNormal">Before half-time Ide scored for his 3rd successive game. Jonny put him through for a classic Ide goal from the left finding the bottom right corner.

<p class="MsoNormal">Half-time saw a dramatic change in both DC Steamer&rsquo;s performance and Loddon&rsquo;s. Loddon made the perfect response with a quick goal and Ben Morris gave away a blatant penalty minutes later to leave them trailing by 2 goals with almost 40 minutes on the clock. Steamers spent much of the next 15 minutes camped in their box to try and put a halt to Loddon&rsquo;s goal streak. The pressure eventually paid off and Loddon were only a goal behind with 20 to play!

<p class="MsoNormal">Steamers created only a few scoring opportunities in the 2nd half but did manage to hang on the ball better to put an end to the relentless attacks. Loddon&rsquo;s corners were all on the money and Lee had to be at the top of his game to keep some efforts out.

<p class="MsoNormal">Steamers dragged themselves over the finish line after playing a great 1st half and an abysmal 2nd. Steamers need to make sure they don&rsquo;t repeat a similar performance as they will get punished.

<p class="MsoNormal">Credit to Loddon who at half-time looked dead and buried put in a hearty 2nd half, almost saw them through.

<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe not a match to pick a MOTM but Jonny scored 2 superb headers and got 2 assists. Bert also played well and scored the goal of the game. A 1st half of heroes followed by a 2nd half of zeros.

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<p class="MsoNormal">LVC&rsquo;s Steamers are now through to the last 32 with a game against Polonia Reading awaiting them in a months' time.