WE'RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER 'HALLIDAY' !!!
Guide Post win through to cup final after momentous display from their diminutive giant of a goalkeeper Mr Liam HALLIDAY puts in a showstopping last 10 minutes.
Most of the team now have bragging rights over their school mates at Bedlington High as Cramlington Blue Star (Flying high a league above and still in three cups - oops! now just 2) were brought to their knees by a magnificent display of skill, grit, determination and wonderful management (now I'm starting to exaggerate too much !)
Starting as underdogs against last seasons runaway league champions, a team who Guide Post have never previously beaten, the boys never looked daunted or nervous and in fact dominated the early stages of the game. The immaculate back four of Robson, Dixon, Brown and Boyd became an impenetrable wall against which each of the Blue Star attacks crumbled. Anything knocked over this wall was capably dealt with by man of the match Liam Halliday (thanks must go to Liam's parents who must've put him to bed early on Saturday night as he looked bright as a button - either that or his XBOX must be broken !).
After much deliberation by the management duo of Brown and Pattison (who must surely now have booked their place on the England coaching squad for the World Cup in South Africa!) Guide Post reverted to a 4 - 5 - 1 formation in order to get control of the centre of the park and squeeze the opposition. This meant that George Allsopp (and Grant Brown in the second half) had to put in another hard shift alone up-front, holding up the ball for the midfield to link up, and also closing down the defenders. This pattern was certainly working in midfield with the central trio of Moore, Taylor and Young certainly dominating over their opposition. Out wide Guide Post also had the edge thanks to the pace of Pattison down the left and the quick feet and trickery of Bosomworth down the right.
Guide Post always looked the more likely to score and they were rewarded from a corner knocked in by Moore and finished by the 'King of the Air - Adam Dixon'. Dixon rose like a youthful salmon struggling against a raging torrent of water yet still managing to leap wonderfully beyond the reach of the waiting Grizzly bear (You get the picture - he's great at headers !!)
Every Guide Post corner lead to panic and disarray in the Cramlington box as Dixon again rose highest striking the crossbar. Half time came with the score at 1 - 0, a well deserved lead.
Allsopp was moved wide left at half time and Grant Brown came on as the lone striker. Surely Cramlington would come strong in the second half.
The second half however was much like the first begin with. Guide Post coping well with Cramlington attacks forcing them to shoot from range. Young was replaced in central midfield by Besford after 10 minutes of the second half and slotted in easily with another gritty and battling display.
Another corner after 53 minutes was met by Reece Brown who headed just over the bar bringing gasps from the massive crowd (of about 50 or maybe 60!). Cramlington were beginning to gain sone momentum and more and more of the game was being played in the Guide Post half although they struggled to carve out any clear opportunities. A second goal was needed by Guide Post to relieve the nerves of the supporters.
It was at this stage of the game that Cramlington pressed hard and began to click. Cross after cross, shot after shot was dealt with by the defence and by the outstanding Halliday in goal.
Pattison and Young were brought back on with just 10 minutes left replacing Allsopp and Bosomworth out wide. Minutes later the vital second goal came from Grant Brown after a wonderful piece of interplay between Moore and Taylor gave Ross a bit of space to fire a fierce drive from 25 yards which the keeper could only parry into the path of the onrushing Grant Brown who coolly knocked it into the net whilst under pressure from two defenders.
Eight nervous minutes followed during which Cramlington had their best spell of the match. This coincided however with Liam Halliday's best eight minutes of the season so far. Showing great agility, bravery and handling skills he saved the game and preserved the well deserved clean sheet. The final whistle came not a minutes too soon and prompted wild celebrations from coach John Brown who was last seen running semi naked over two garden fences towards Ashington Drive.
Thanks must go to the last minute stand in referee Lee Taylor who is remarkably youthful looking and still manages to get about the pitch well for a 53 year old.
