Bedfordshire 2 - 2 Berks & Bucks
The Douglas Frost Memorial Trophy will be shared for only the second time in its eight year history after the two sides before a Carlsberg Stadium (Biggleswade Town FC) crowd of 70 played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.
After the early exchanges had been shared, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 13th minute, Dan Kelly giving home custodian Ryan Yule no chance has he drove the ball into the right hand bottom corner of his net from a free kick taken from the edge of the penalty box.
The home side then gradually started to boss the midfield, first James Bishop tested the visiting goalkeeper Jamel Richmond from distance, then Josh Sturniolo spurned a chance from inside the six yard box to level the scores before on the half-hour mark an inch perfect chipped free kick from Bishop opened up the visitors backline only to see Kye Andrews push his effort wide of Richmond's uprights.
However, home supporters hearts were in their mouths seven minutes from the break when Yule sent a clearance straight into the path of Kelly, alas their fears were unfounded as Yule redeemed himself with a fine out-stretched save with his legs.
The home side gaining their reward by levelling matters just three minutes later, a fine break down the right flank by Andrews saw him round the out-rushing Richmond and unselfishly set up Claudio Ricci on the back post for the simplest of tap in equalisers. Then with just 60 seconds of the half remaining Sturniolo was outfoxed by Richmond as they went head to head right in front of goal to deny the home side a half-time lead.
That lead was however only two minutes coming in the new half, when from close range captain Paul Cooper shot the Beds Boys 2-1 up, alas their joy lasted just 60 seconds before Ruben Diaz levelled matters for the visitors.
If there was going to be a winner, the odds now looked in favour of the visitors with Yule in the home goal being required on three occasions to show his talent to keep his side on level terms, first he diverted a long range effort from Diaz onto his upright and caught the rebound, then from the same player, he flew to his left for the save of the game to hold onto an effort delivered in from all of 30yards, before a minute later he comfortably held onto a low drive from Alex Collard.
With just four minutes remaining the visitors were down to ten men when Diaz was red carded by referee Russell Endacott for verbal dissent and then but for a brave save by visiting substitute goalkeeper Jake Somerville at the feet of Joe Stacey the trophy would have been returning to Bedfordshire for the fifth time rather than a second only share.