A STUNNING brace from striker Adam Bicknell helped Dial to a comfortable 3-0 win over Addlestone to book their place in their first county cup final since being formed in 2020.

Bicknell scored in each half to mark his return to The Dial, with Jordan Carter adding to the goal-scoring tally to round-off a disciplined performance at Jubilee High School.

Despite being without several key members, including Danny Taylor, Louie Rogers and Ross Ewen, due to competition (eligibility) rules, Dial boss Steve Brown was pleased to welcome Charlie Marshall back to the fold after he missed Dial’s hard-fought goalless draw the previous week.

Brown also named veteran striker Matt Bunyan in his 15-man squad just five weeks shy of the former Farnborough, Ashford Town and Farnham Town striker’s 40th birthday.

Having already beaten Parkside (6-0), Worplesdon Phoenix (6-1), Tongham (6-0) and Horsell (2-1) en route to the semi-finals, the stage was set for Dial to go one better and reach their first county cup final after missing out on a semi-final place the previous two seasons.

With the prospect of reaching their first of two cup finals this season, Dial got off to a dream start when Bicknell volleyed Dial ahead after just two minutes following some good wide-play from Jordan Carter. It was the striker’s first goal after resigning for Dial last month.

There was an element of surprise regarding Dial’s second goal when Carter’s cross looped over Luke Edgecombe and ricocheted in off the far post to double the visitors’ lead with just six minutes played.

Although Dial were briefly down to 10-men after Callum Abraham-Barlow was sin-binned for dissent, they rarely looked troubled, with Harry Wood’s shot-on-the-turn from inside the box easily gathered by George Mead midway through the first half.

At the other end, Daniel Cenzano’s low shot was palmed away by Edgecombe, before Carter lashed his shot wide of the target after breaching The Stones’ backline 10 minutes before the break.

Dial continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession after the interval. And when Bicknell showed up to rifle in his second from 20 yards just 10 minutes after the restart, there was no way back for Addlestone.

Fletcher Knight and Ashley Crowe both had half-changes to reduce the arrears for the hosts, but Dial defended stoutly across the backline as they booked their place in their first county cup final.

Speaking after the match, Brown said: “I thought we dominated the match from near enough start to finish. We matched them physically and getting two early goals really helped to put us in the ascendancy.

“Addlestone are a difficult side to break down by how they set up, and the playing surface didn’t help. That said, I thought the boys were excellent; they managed the game well and it’s always pleasing to keep another clean sheet. It was an accomplished performance to advance to the cup final,” he added.

DIAL SQUARE: Mead, Rose-Davies (Corner), Abraham-Barlow, Hayes, Marshall, Norman (Brown), Carter (Bunyan), Adag. Bicknell (Vass), Frith, Cenzano.

MotM: Adam Bicknell