Marlow to host MK Dons in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup semi-finals

Marlow’s Dave Tarpey. Photo: Steven Galvin

--

The semi-final draw for the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup was made on Wednesday, with Marlow handed a home tie against Milton Keynes and the winners of Beaconsfield Town and Flackwell Heath to host the other EFL side left in the draw, Reading FC.

The Blues cruised into the final four with a convincing 4-0 win over Winslow United last week and will be hoping to reach the final of the county cup for a second successive season.

Last year, the Blues made it all the way to the final at Ascot United’s Racecourse Ground, losing 1-0 to Bracknell Town in an evenly contested clash.

Reflecting on the draw, Marlow boss Mark Bartley said: “We feel as though we can win that cup. We have in the last few years played an MK Dons side and beaten them, we’ve played a Reading side at home and beaten them.

“Flackwell Heath are still in it but they’re a division below us and Beaconsfield are a division above, so they’re also sides we feel we’re capable of beating.

“We’d love to try and win that, but we’ve got some big games to come before that game against the MK Dons, but we’ll be giving everything to try and make the final.”

Milton Keynes advanced to the semi-finals following Maidenhead United’s decision to withdraw from the competition, the third time in recent seasons the Magpies have opted to withdraw having played matches in the earlier rounds.

Flackwell Heath required penalties to see off league rivals Reading City at Wilks Park in the quarterfinals while Reading proved too strong for Burnham at the 1878 Stadium as they claimed a 2-0 win.

Semi-final matches are set to be played by Monday, April 22, with the final to be staged at Slough Town’s Arbour Park ground on Tuesday, May14.