Hallsy's Academy Report - County Cup Special

As promised here is the much anticipated match report from the 2nd XI's County Cup Semi Final, with guest reporter Iain "9 toes" Haggart taking up the action:

The second team had the biggest game of their season this week in the county cup semi final against the Weald. The team may not have been here because we made the run up to the final hard for ourselves in the early rounds by having to go 2 goals down against St Wilfreds and Thomas Bennett until we began to play football. The quarter final was more like ourselves and we comfortably beat Imberhorne 4-1 to progress to the semi’s. This match was the chance for the football team to win their first trophy and on our ability we were quietly confident of progressing into the final.

The venue was the fortress of Worthing United where the 2nd team have been undefeated this season and we were determined to keep that record. The conditions were not the best for us because of a strong wind which held the ball up and on some occasions blowing it backwards prevented us from using the chip over the top for our fast strikers to run onto. The game began in a tight fashion with both teams not a lot of chances and it being a gritty midfield game. The first chance though fell to the Weald number 9. A long ball was played down the line, however their number 10 was in a offside position, the problem was that he deliberately blocked Jack Buchannan from getting near the number 9, and wasn’t penalised for what was a clear obstruction. However Kieron Gillard made an excellent block to deny the number 9. (These types of saves and blocks were to continue throughout the match in what was an excellent display from the Worthing keeper.) This was the only real major chance of the half, with only a few half chances falling to both sides in what was a tight match.

The second half was pretty much the same with the wind playing a deciding factor and caused problems with set pieces for both sides, with it either blowing an in swinging corner out of play or very close to going into the back of the goal. There was though a rather comical moment in the half when man of the match Liam Dunbar managed to get shot by a sniper on a hill and comically rolled over backwards much to the amusement of the bench. Certainly a you’ve been framed moment and it could be easily sent in because it was caught on camera! A nervous moment came in front of the Worthing goal in the last minute from an in swinging corner. Gillard came to catch the ball but the wind blew it away from him and fell to a weald player only for it to be cleared off the line by Dunbar.

0-0 was the final score in full time and the match went to extra time and after extra time it was still 0-0. (extra time was the same as the normal time with both teams unable to break each other down + I can’t be bothered to write in detail what happened because it wasn’t that interesting)

It was penalties. Captain Matt ‘Ginger Prince’ Dodd under advise from the cameraman chose to go first to put pressure on the Weald. Thom Taylor, Tomas Nemeth, Andy Herrington (who had earlier forgot his squad shirt and had to have it delivered by his mum), Kieron Gillard- who took the keepers head off nearly and Phil Charman all stepped up, slotting their penalties away with ease. The same happened to the Weald although Kieron almost had two of their penalties, just flicking the tips of his gloves. It went to sudden death and Paul Jackson was the first up and put his penalty away, same for the Weald. Next up was Lewis Humphrey and credit to him for stepping up. He stuck the penalty well but sadly failed to hit the target and missed. All the pressure was now on the Weald number 5 to send his team to the final. Quoting Zaki Rahman ‘he’s left footed he can’t take penalties’ this was true and he struck the bar and missed! Lucky boy Lewis! The rest of sudden death went through the whole Worthing team and Thom Taylor was ready to step up again. However after Liam Dunbar scored his penalty the Weald number 4 stepped up. After number 5 missed earlier surely he would score? NO, he scuffed it into the post and prompted exuberant celebrations from the Worthing team on the field and in the changing rooms. Coach Cullip was proud of the boys and said it was deserved after the effort we have put in over the season.

So a first final for the Men’s football and a chance to win the football team a piece of silverware for the team.

Role on the final lads!!

Good luck in the final lads. You thoroughly deserve a chance of some sliverware after all your hard work and efforts, this goes to both sides this season as you have all been a joy to work with!

Cheers,

Hallsy