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PICTURE: Old Windsor Reserves welcome Stoke Poges to the Recreation Ground in the Slough Town Junior Cup first round this Saturday (2pm ko).
Old Windsor Reserves manager Laurence Chetwynd is hoping that the Club can make its mark in the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Slough Town Cup this season.
The first team won the Senior Cup for the first time in its history last year and has the responsibility of defending that silverware this time, while Chetwynd wants the Os’ Reserves side to spread the success in the Junior Cup competition.
Old Windsor start with a tough home draw against Stoke Poges, who boast a fine perfect winning record in Division One so far this season, at the Recreation Ground this Saturday (2pm ko).
Chetwynd is more than aware of the threat Poges carry to derailing Os’ Slough Town Cup party and he is expecting a close and competitive first round tie.
He said: “It has been a tough start for us really, not reflected in our league results because they’ve gone quite well, but we’ve had a few difficulties with getting our squad together with quite a lot of changes from last season.
“We’re starting to gel really well now, made a little bit more difficult by having a lot of away games in Reading but, when we’ve got a good team out, we know that we will give anyone a really good game in this league and in any of the cups.
“We’re starting to gel and bring in some younger players. Some of the players that we had last season have moved up into the first team which is great for everyone at the Club because it demonstrates their is a progression from the Reserves side into the first team, and it has strengthened our first team as well so that’s great.”
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Looking back on the heartwarming success the first team had in the Slough Town Cup last season, Chetwynd added: “Anyone that was at the final last season would have seen what it meant to the football club, it was the first time we had won the competition, certainly the Senior Cup.
“We’re looking to spread that success into the Junior Cup. We’re really looking forward to the campaign.
“We know it’s the 100th year of the Slough Town Cup so we’re looking to do as well as we can in the Junior competition, and we know that we have a lot of responsibility in the fact we're the defending champions of the Senior Cup. We’re looking to really make a mark in the competition this year.”
The first round tie this Saturday pits two in-form teams together, both favourites to fill the promotion places in Division One this season. Stoke Poges have a perfect three from three record and stand in second position, with Old Windsor successful in three of their opening four league matches including a victory over current leaders, Sandhurst Town.
PHOTO: The current Division One table with red-hot Stokes Poges narrowly ahead of an improving Old Windsor Reserves side.
Chetwynd predicted: “Stoke has made a great start to the season, particularly in the league, and we know from seeing their results and our experience of playing them in the past that it’s going to be a really tough game.
“A game that we’re expecting to be really close and competitive, and hopefully we can come out of it with the victory that we want and get our campaign off to a great start.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone from Stoke Poges on Saturday. Hopefully it will be a good, close and competitive game, and hopefully we will come out on the right side of it and get through to the next round.”
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