AFC Prospect Farm Rangers of division 5 took to the park this Sunday to go head to head with Kerley Builders FC of the senior division. From the start it was evident that PFR had set up very defensively hoping to keep the score line down and catch the senior team on the attack.
And what a start to the game it was when almost immediately from the kick off Kyle Needham found himself clear through and 1 on 1 with Kerleys goal keeper and calmly slotted the ball home to put the division 5 side 1-0 up in the very first minute of play.
PFR re grouped into their deep defensive set up and invited Kerley to attack them, which they did time and time again, but PFR's back line stood strong and somehow managed to get something in the way at the last minute to deflect balls in all directions out of harms way.
It looked as if the plan was working until after 20 minutes Kerley found the breakthrough they were looking for and levelled at 1-1. PFR knowing that they would again need to try and go forward themselves started to leave gaps at the back and in the middle of the park and it wasn't long before the quick passing game of Kerley opened up the PFR back line and quickly found themselves comfortably 4-1 up at half time.
The second half started as the first had finished with Kerley on the upper foot and launching attack after attack and after 20 minutes of being frustrated by the superb defending by PFR got their 5th of the day.
Shortly after this Kerley found the net once again only for it to be disallowed for offside.
PFR legs were heavy by this time so a second substitution was made with Lee Callaghan coming on for Ryan Doran who had worked hard in midfield all morning. Within minutes PFR found themselves awarded with a free kick just outside the Kerley box which was beautifully swung in from Sally and headed home by Lee Callaghan only for the goal to be disallowed for off side.
The final 20 minutes of this cup tie was played with Kerley camped in the PFR half but with stout defending and an ever alert Dave Hunter in goal. PFR achieved what they had set out to do and that was to put in a good shift in their first ever cup game in the CPSFL against a team from the top division and play the game in a good spirit. A well deserved win by Kerley Builders and a good platform for the young lads of PFR to build on.
