CUP WINNERS for the THIRD time in 3 years!!!!!
What an achievement, CARCROFT VILLAGE BOYS have won the DDJSFL league cup for the third time in as many years.
In what turned out to be a hard fought game we prevailed thanks to a last minute penalty after being 2-1 down with 15 minutes left.
The game started as you would expect with a big crowd and a few nerves among the players, it was scrappy.
Midway through the half we opened the scoring, Chris Caddy latching onto a through ball and he took his time (seemingly ages ) before he crashed the ball past the Hallcross keeper for 1-0. We then made the cardinal sin, fortunately we don't do this that often, but straight from the kick off, a hopeful through ball behind Troy at left back (wasn't concentrating) he had to last gasp - make up the ground and put it out for a throw. A long throw into the box, scramble and they poked the ball home 1-1. We were deflated by that and never really recovered any composure. Half time was a welcome relief for us!
HALF TIME 1-1
Half time can give a manager/coach a chance to point out a few things to the troops. I must say, without actually throwing the kitchen sink at them, a few things had to be pointed out. We asked for someone to stand up and win us the game.
We actually battered them for 20 mins of the second half, we hit the bar four time Calum twice from free kicks. When the bar didn't get in the way the keeper, who was impressive pulled off save after save.
The thing is, we didn't score. Then it happened, we tried to play out of defence Catty misplaced his pass, it was intercepted which left us short at the back a good cross and finish. 1-2 down 15 minutes left game on. The question i was asking myself was could we raise it one more time, did we have enough desire.
We showed enough but it did look like we had dipped the well too many times, the heat and nerves looked like it had taken its toll on us physically. We still looked the better side but we started to get desperate. We aren't three times cup winners for nothing though and with tim running out a near post cross caused all types of chaos, the keeper who had been great blundered there was an almighty scramble and Caddy managed to bungle the ball into the net. 2-2 with about five minutes plus stoppage time left.
The ref gave us a signal that there was three minutes of stoppage time and at this point i was thinking how to approach extra time.
But, a through ball was chased by Caddy who got into a tangle with the centre half, whistle and the ref pointed to what i thought was a goal kick. No No! a penalty. The defender had grabbed Chris's shirt.
Pressure! i looked around and Calum our normal peno taker was already off the field. Maddo stepped up and capped a good second half display by him with a well uted spot kick giving the keeper no chance!
3-2 with only seconds left. We managed to see it out without any problems.
FULL TIME 3-2
This wasn't our finest performance. By a long way. But in the history books it will show Carcroft Village Boys 3 - Doncaster Hallcross 2. Thats all that matters. We won again and showed good character by holding our nerve, not making too many mistakes and taking what came our way.
The officiating today was a bit ordinary, the funny thing is, when we were on the wrong end of the first 9 decisions, i could hear Donny Hallcross fans telling us to shut up moaning the refs fine. The same fans didn't think much to the ref at the end when he gave us the penalty. Who's moaning now!!
Well done boys, especially Maddo who was superb second half and Jimmy Davis another towering performance from the big man. Well done to you all, I noticed when we were 2-1 down there was a break in the play and in the middle you were all together encouraging one and other, It was only a couple of minutes after that we scored. Great team spirit!!
