After last week’s postponement we today travelled to play Warmley in a GFA Cup Semi Final tie with a place in the Final awaiting the winners. Earlier in the season Warmley knocked us out of the Avon Youth Cup so we were today hoping for revenge for that defeat. However, in order to get through the Avonmouth players knew they would have to be at their very best against this high flying team.
Avonmouth started confidently & almost took the lead after 10 minutes when a good run & pull back by Mitch Harris unfortunately eluded all the in rushing players who could have had a great shot at goal. After 20 minutes Warmley started to get on top for the first time although the Avonmouth defence restricted them to having shots from outside the box. Their best chance came from a corner when a header from close in was well saved low down by deputy keeper Sam Reynolds. On the half hour mark Avonmouth had their best chance of the half when on a break away an excellent ball by Prevan Rajh set Harris on his way but his angled strike at goal went just wide of the post. In first half injury time an excellent Warmley free kick was headed just over the bar and the half time whistle came with a stalemate & defences on top but with both teams putting in plenty of effort & endeavour.
Half time: Warmley Rangers 0 Avonmouth 0
The second half continued in a similar pattern with a hard fought midfield battle when on 55 minutes came the best chance of the game so far. Warmley worked the ball well on the left with an excellent cross into the penalty box, Haydn Curtis did well blocking but at the back post a Warmley player looked to have scored with a shot but somehow keeper Reynolds managed to save the ball on the line with his legs with the loose ball then being cleared by Alex Wilkins. This spurred Avonmouth forwards & on the hour mark came the important first goal. Harris found James Skelton on the right who after a mazy run sent an excellent cross into the area. The ball eventually fell to Montel Riches whose effort from close in managed to get past the keeper & almost in slow motion the ball hit the post & trickled past the line - screams of delight could be heard from the Avonmouth contingent. The goal appeared to shake Warmley & Avonmouth were suddenly having their best period of play. Harris had 2 good attempts at goal that brought saves by the keeper & following a great Sam Eastwood through ball, Rajh on his favoured left foot sent his shot over the bar. Warmley are not at the top for nothing & appeared to go up a gear with urgency. However, Avonmouth now had something to protect & they did not allow the home team any easy attempts on goal, those that got through where dealt with by keeper Reynolds. The away side now had to rely on breakaway’s, & on one such occasion Harris put in a fiercely hit cross that hit the keeper & then the post; there were claims that the ball had gone over the line but the official linesman waived play on. As the game wore on the atmosphere was getting more & more tense, which could be felt by the crowd as every home attack was blunted by resilient defending from every one of the Avonmouth players. Injury time arrived & as the clock was ticking you knew Warmley had one more chance in them & sure enough in the dying seconds an excellent cross came over but the strikers header from close in went over the bar. Within seconds the waiting was over, the referee blew his whistle and the Avonmouth players, coaches & parents could at last give the cheers of joy & have shear relief that the game was over & with a result deservedly in their favour.
Today Avonmouth produced yet another outstanding performance both as a team & as a set of individual players. Each boy had the desire & commitment to win their individual battles, which was necessary against a very good team like Warmley. There were some very tired players who came off the pitch at the end & plenty who could have a claim to being given man of the match. After four successive promotions the team have now reached their first major Cup Final & everybody connected to the club should feel proud of what has been achieved. Congratulations to everyone especially the boys, lets hope we do ourselves justice in the Final in April against Bristol City Juniors Supporters Club.
Full Time: Warmley Rangers 0 Avonmouth 1
