Chadlington First Team go into their first final for 10 years on Wednesday evening as they face Siege FC in the Watts Junior Challenge Cup at Moreton.
Watts Junior Challenge Cup
The Junior Cup is in its 91st year having first been played for in 1932. The first ever winners were Bampton and since then 44 clubs have lifted the trophy. North Leigh have won the trophy the most times (6) between their firsts, reserves, A and B teams over the years, Combe have won it 5 times. Chadlington have won on 3 previous occasions in 1982, 1993 and 2013. Siege are yet to lift the trophy .
In its various different formats it is the second tier league cup of the Witney & District and competed for by teams in Division One and Division Two.
In January 2017 the cup was named in honour of Bob and Margaret Watts in recognition of their many years of service to the league and local football. Bob Watts passed away that summer but did get the chance to award the trophy to FC Hollybush that year.
Sadly Margaret passed away in January of this year and it is hoped a member of the Watts family will be present to handover the trophy once again.
Chadlington Football Club
Above - 1982, 1993 and 2013 Chadlington cup winning sides.
Chadlingtons lifting of the Junior Cup 10 years ago in 2013 was the clubs last silverware, however they remain the most successful Witney & District club behind North Leigh FC who have moved up the football pyramid. 5 Oxfordshire Junior Shields, 2 Oxfordshire Charity Cups, 5 Premier Divisions, 5 Senior Cups and 7 Fred Ford Cups have been collected along with numerous others. In 2002 the club moved into the Oxfordshire Senior League for a 10 year spell resulting in the Division One title and the lifting of the Presidents Cup in 2009. In 2012 the club returned to the Witney & District League and albeit for a one season spell in the Premier Division have played at the top end of Division One ever since.
In Chads Junior Cup cup final squad are both Josh Betts and George Slatter who are the only members of the side that won 10 years ago. They will look to pick up their second Junior Cup winners medals.
Pictured above - Chadlingtons winning side in 2013 along with manager Barry Mulhearn and player/manager Greg Kemp.
2022/23 Season
James Maynes Chadlington finished 7th in Division One this season having chalked up 7 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats. 45 goals were scored with 49 conceded. In league and cup they are now 6 games unbeaten and have scored an impressive 22 goals in that spell. Alfie Peachey is Chads top scorer this season with 17 goals followed by his striker partner Hans Korge who is on 12.
Road to the Final
Chadlington started their cup campaign away against Milton-under-Wychwood Reserves of Division Two on 18th April and made the difference count. Chadlingtons Alfie Peachey scored a hat trick in the first ten minutes which was added to be Hans Korge and Pete Tate.
In the Quarter Final they came up against a rejuvenated Faringdon Development who looked a different side from the one that Chad had beaten twice in Division One. It took them 85 minutes to get a winner after Faringdon imploded through sin bins and dismissals. Alfie Peachey was the one to take Chad through to the Semi Final.
In the Semi Final they travelled to Hailey Reserves and battled out a victory in a 4-3 thriller. Chad took the lead after just 70 seconds via a Jordan Charlesworth penalty with the lead doubled by Hans Korge in the first half. Hailey struck back before half time but Chad restored a two goal cushion when Brinley Mayne scored from a freekick. Hailey then fought back with two goals to make it 3-3 before Jonnie Walker scored in the 85th minute to give Chad the win and put them through to the final.
Players to Watch
Alfie Peachey is the danger man for Chadlington and has formed an impressive partnership with Hans Korge. Also watch out for experience stiker George Slatter popping up. He found the net three times in his last outing on this pitch just a few weeks ago for Chadlington Reserves Jack Busby semi final.
Siege Football Club
Siege were formed in the summer of 2016 and take their name from The Siege of Orlean bar in Carterton. Since this time they have mostly played home games on the recreation ground in Carterton but have latterly switched to sharing Bamptons pitch. The nucleus of the side that was formed came from West Witney FC who had folded after winning the Premier Division titled. It was no surprise therefore that during the 2016/17 season they won Division Four and the Hughes Supplementary Cup. The following season they repeated their success in winning Division Three. In 2020/21 they did not enter the league.
2022/23 Season
Siege returned to the W&D this season with a number of new players and finished a respectable 7th in Division Two having won 10 games, drawing 3 and losing 11. They scored 66 league goals and conceded 44. Their top scorer is Jonny Dover who is on 12 goals with Jamie Kennedy on 8.
Road to the Final
Siege started their cup campaign against Bampton on 12th April and secured a win on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time. In the Quarter Final they comfortably beat Witney Royals Reserves 4-1 and in the Semi Final they put themselves through on penalties once again. This time it was against Eynsham SSC after a 3-3 draw at the final whistle.
Players to Watch
Dover and Kennedy are clearly the ones to watch for Siege however quality also comes from Danny Allsworth and the experienced Kevin Lewis.
Officials
Experienced referee Bob Doolan is the referee and will be supported by the equally experienced dream duo of John Smyth and Tony Smith as linesman. Cliff Grove provides the youth as fourth official.
Match Details
The final is taking place on Wednesday 24th May 2023 and is being held at the home of Hellenic Division One side Moreton Rangers FC.
The postcode is GL56 0DH. Parking is limited so visitors are advised to use surrounding areas.
Kick off is at 7.30pm and entry is £3 cash or card.
The Moreton clubhouse and bar will be open before, during and after the game with food also on sale.
Copyright Greg Kemp - May 2023.
Oxford Mail does not have permission to lift and re-use large sections and publish under their own name for click bait purposes. Just saying.
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