Oakridge West 2 AFC Aldermaston 1 (after extra time)

A GOAL in the second half of extra time by man-of-the-match Stacey Clay proved the decider in a closely-contested Peter Raynbird Cup final at the Camrose Ground on Saturday.

AFC Aldermaston, considered favourites because several Oakridge West players were unavailable, had the better of the first half.

Steve Rose had a shot deflected dangerously close to the Oakridge goal in the third minute and, two minutes later, Dave Bridge headed a Rose corner into the hands of 'keeper Colin Davies.

Oakridge replied with a 25-yard shot from Duane Crome, which went just wide, and Fred Slynn fired a good chance straight into the hands of Russell Hancock.

Aldermaston came again and both Ian Cadman and Graham Hill forced good saves from Davies while Rose broke on the left only to see Davies save at the expense of a corner, so it remained 0-0 at the break.

The half-time deluge softened up the pitch and seemed to suit both sides. In the 52nd minute, Aldermaston broke the deadlock. The goal followed a good run by Simon Betts, who cut in and laid the ball across the six-yard box for Vas Stefanopoulos to beat Davies with a shot in off the post.

The introduction of Carlton Smith made a difference up front for George Johnson's Aldermaston side but it was Oakridge who were now pressing and Crome flicked a header just wide from a Stacey Clay corner and Clay had at least three shots on target blocked by the packed Aldermaston defence.

The equaliser came in the 79th minute and it was from a direct free-kick by Ben Nichols, some 40 yards out, that somehow got through a packed penalty area. Nichols almost won the match in the 85th minute when his shot deflected wide of the stranded 'keeper.

In extra time, Carlton Smith saw his early shot sail over the bar and Davies was out to stop at the feet of Ian Cadman but it was Oakridge who looked the more hungry side.

They had plenty of the play but their many shots at goal somehow were kept out.

With a penalty shootout looking likely, Oakridge came up with the winner. Clay shot from the edge of the box to beat Hancock.

The cup and awards were presented by Peter Raynbird, general secretary of the Basingstoke and District Football League.

Oakridge West: Colin Davies, Jason Bridger, Danny Dolan, Ray Taylor, Stacey Clay, Jon Nichols, Sean Kehoe, Craig Ramsay, Duane Crome, Ben Nichols, Fred Slynne. Subs: Gary Tollett, Paul Baker, Tommy Black.

AFC Aldermaston: Russell Hancock, Matt Tyler, Gareth Cavanagh, Gary Bone, Andy Rimmer, Dave Bridge, Vas Stefanopoulos, Simon Betts, Steve Rose, Graham Hill, Ian Cadman. Subs: Carlton Smith, Stuart Smith, Joel Scotford.

Referee: Mick Noakes. Assistants: Steve Lavender. Andy Roberts. Fourth official: Gary Beldaus.

- Bernard Brown, a former chairman and president of the Basingstoke and District League and a past secretary of the North Hants League, has died aged 84.

He was secretary of Park Albion in the 1950s and 60s when they were one of the best-known sides in local junior football.

A service will be held at Basingstoke Crematorium on Wednesday at 10.30am.