Hedgerley FC Edge Maidenhead Nomads Res In Cup Thriller

Hedgerley FC welcomed Maidenhead Nomads Res to their home ground on 5th October 2025 for a 10:30am kick-off in a fiercely contested cup tie. The match ended 2-1 in favour of Hedgerley FC after 90 minutes of competitive football.

Deploying a 4-5-1 formation, Hedgerley FC set up with Rory Scott guarding the goal. The defensive line featured Joey Carabini at right back, Charlie Parkin and Ryan Gibbs as central defenders, and Bradley Oxbrow on the left. The midfield was packed with five players: Ollie Parkin on the right flank, Billy Long, Adam Butler, and Jack Butler centrally, and Josh McKee on the left wing. Leading the line alone was striker Oliver Cottrill. This formation was designed to provide solidity at the back while maintaining width and creativity in midfield, with the lone striker expected to capitalise on chances created by the wide and central midfielders. Hedgerley FC named no substitutes for this fixture.

The match burst into life early on when Hedgerley took the lead in the 16th minute. Josh McKee’s precise delivery found Ollie Parkin on the right side of midfield, who made no mistake in finishing to give the hosts an early advantage. However, the lead was short-lived as Maidenhead Nomads Res responded swiftly, levelling the score just three minutes later in the 19th minute with a well-taken goal that tested Hedgerley’s defensive resilience.

Both sides battled hard through to the half-time whistle at 45 minutes, with the scoreline locked at 1-1. Hedgerley’s midfield trio of Billy Long, Adam Butler, and Jack Butler worked tirelessly to regain control, while the full-backs Carabini and Oxbrow looked to support attacks and contain the opposition’s wide threats.

The second half saw a more physical edge to the contest. In the 57th minute, Adam Butler was shown a yellow card for a late challenge, signalling the intensity and pressure mounting on both teams. Just two minutes later, Hedgerley were awarded a penalty, a crucial moment in the match. Billy Long stepped up confidently and converted the spot-kick, assisted indirectly by Oliver Cottrill’s work in drawing the foul, restoring the lead for Hedgerley FC.

From that point, Hedgerley focused on maintaining their advantage, with Rory Scott commanding his penalty area and the defensive unit holding firm against Maidenhead Nomads Res’ attempts to equalise. The midfield five worked cohesively to disrupt the opposition’s rhythm and launch counter-attacks, ensuring the visitors were kept at bay until the final whistle.

Hedgerley FC’s tactical discipline and timely goals proved decisive in this cup encounter, earning them a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Maidenhead Nomads Res. The early goal from Ollie Parkin and the penalty conversion by Billy Long were the key moments that ultimately secured progression for the home side.