Slough Heating Laurencians Reserves will relish being underdogs in Ascot & District Cup Final

PICTURE: Slough Heating Laurencians F.C Reserves have already won the East Berkshire League Division One title this season and can now complete a league-and-cup double in the Ascot & District (Fielden) Charity Cup Final at The Racecourse Ground in Ascot this Friday night.

Slough Heating Laurencians F.C Reserves manager Carl Feasey insists his team will relish the chance to be the underdogs in the Ascot & District (Fielden) Cup Final on Friday night.

The underdog is a role not normally associated to The Lauries given their dominance in the East Berkshire League this season, but higher-league Taplow United will start as favourites for many people when the two sides go toe-to-toe at The Racecourse Ground (8pm kick off).

A bullish Feasey said: “Going into the Final, we find ourselves in great form. Our last defeat in any competition match came back in December however, we are under no illusions that we’re the underdogs against quality opposition from a higher division. It’s a role we’ve not often found ourselves in, but one we will relish.

“We have the quality to beat anyone and, regardless of the outcome, we will certainly put on a performance worthy of a Cup Final.”

Slough Heating proved their fighting spirit in the Semi Finals when recovering from falling two goals behind to draw level with Old Windsor F.C Reserves and eventually win the tie on penalties.

The Ascot & District Cup Final gives Slough Heating the chance of a league-and-cup double this season having secured the Division One title last week with a game to spare.

The Lauries have won an impressive 17 league games in the campaign, suffering defeat only twice. Feasey’s men have the best defensive record in the division having conceded only 16 goals in 19 matches.

The champions were out-scored only by the runners-up, F.C Bracknell, and Feasey is thankful that they were able to bring out the best in his side this year.

He said: “The league title was secured with a game to spare and in dominant fashion, something that we’ve shown all season despite a number of injuries and suspensions to key players. Having Craig Kelly, our Captain and top goals scorer, missing for more than 10 games highlights the fact that squads win titles.

PICTURE: Slough Heating Laurencians F.C Reserves clash with Taplow United in the Ascot & District (Fielden) Charity Cup Final at The Racecourse Ground in Ascot on Friday night. Click here to purchase tickets at the discounted online rates.

“We must also say thank you and big respect to F.C Bracknell for pushing us all the way. We had three competitive matches (we eventually won 2-1 in the head-to-head score) against those boys, who were worthy challengers.”

Slough Heating Laurencians Reserves have not been without some controversy this season: removed from both the Presidents Cup and Slough Town Junior Cup for fielding an ineligible player.

Feasey explained that damaged ambitions set at the start to the season, and he insists the mistakes came from “honest administration errors” and not a genuine attempt at cheating.

The boss said: “At the outset, Slough Heating Laurencians F.C set ambitious goals, aiming for the Division One title and winning both the Slough Town Junior Cup and Presidents Cup.

“Success in the Ascot & District Cup was always on the wish list although lower down our list of targets. But, we’re delighted to have made the Final.

“This is our first season playing for the Slough Heating Laurencians badge and we would like to place on record our thanks for being welcomed and made to feel at home by everyone within the Club. Onwards and upwards, as the saying goes.”

Feasey added: “We will address the elephant in the room: due to honest administration errors of which the respective committees can attest to not cheating, we were removed from the Slough Town Junior Cup Final and the Semi Finals in the Presidents Cup. As disappointing as this was, we have no doubt success in these competitions would have been achieved.

“As a Club, we will learn from our mistakes, but on the pitch there can be no questions.”

Craig Kelly could well be the main danger for Slough Heating in the Cup Final match, the Captain has scored an impressive 19 goals in 19 appearances this season. Taplow will need to keep tabs on Callum Stanley also, he has netted 12 times in 17 matches during the campaign.

Alfie Jago (11 goals in 18 games) and Sherif Elghoneimi (10 goals in 15 matches) are other players that have regularly hit the back of the net for The Lauries this year.