| Gadeside Rangers made a bold statement of intention with this thumping of Cassiobury Rangers in their quest to retain the Birkdale Trophy. Tariq Khan was the star of the show with a classy hat-trick while Gadeside's second half performance was very impressive. |
| Gadeside were on the attack from the word go with Tariq Khan causing problems with his pace down the right hand side. It was his direct running which created an early chance for Dan Campbell who met Khan's near post cross on the volley but saw his effort cannon off the underside off the bar and bounce out. Three times Tom Mitchell saw headers from corners go just wide while Daniel Brooks dragged a shot wide when well placed. Gadeside's early dominance finally paid off when Tariq Khan grabbed the first of his treble when he pounced after the visiting keeper had parried a low drive by Tom Mitchell. The lead was doubled on the half hour mark when Russ Popplewell set off on a mazy run down the left that saw him ghost past three players before beating the keeper at the near post. However, just like the league game against Cassiobury two weeks ago - Gadeside let their opponents back into the game gifting them a goal on the stroke of half-time. |
| Tom Oliver sold Matt Evans short and Cairns capitalised before squaring to Hutchison who had the simple task of tapping the ball home - despite being yards offside. With the managers words of getting the all important next goal, Gadeside produced a storming second half performance that Cassiobury had no answers to. Tom Mitchell scored the third goal with a classy finish and this signalled the floodgates to open. Dan Campbell got himself on the scoresheet when he was on hand to score from close range after good build by Brooks and Popplewell and Tariq Khan grabbed his second with a classy finish after good play by Campbell. Gadeside were now cutting through the Cassiobury defence with ease and subs Ivanz Mani and Evren Altinok provided much ammunition with strikers with a number of teasing crosses from the wings. Altinok saw a header superbly saved by the keeper and Mani's cross found Campbell who blasted over. |
| Dan Campbell grabbed the sixth with a low drive across the keeper after escaping the desperate and cynical lunge of a Cassiobury defender and the scoring was rounded off late on when Tariq Khan finally completed his hat-trick when he netted from close range after Campbell's header had been saved. A pleasing performance by Gadeside who march on into the quarter finals. Gadeside begin their County Cup campaign next week with a tough home fixture against Berkhamsted champions AFC Boars. |
| Tom Oliver, Ian Freeman, Jay Evans (Danny Everritt), Matt Evans, James Bridges, Tom Shurville, Tariq Khan, Daniel Brooks, Dan Campbell, Tom Mitchell (Ivanz Mani), Russ Popplewell (Evren Altinok) |