Jubilee FC arrived at Station Approach for the third round of the League Challenge Cup against TA FC. Manager Elton Marks played a 4 – 4 – 2 formation. Luke ‘Bosnich’ Lloyd started in goal with Max Charalambos and Chris-Ashley at right and left back respectively. Dean Powell and Nicky Alvarez resumed their partnership at the centre of defence. Johnny ‘left-peg’ Heather and David Binder took up positions on the left and right of midfield with Sam ‘spray-tan’ Brown and Matt ‘mad-dog’ Brown in the centre of the park. Joe ‘Chocolate’ Lloyd and Marc ‘Barnes’ Farrell led the Jubilee attack. Barry White, Saul ‘set-piece’ Charalambos and Piers ‘Livewire’ Short were warming the bench today.
Jubilee FC kicked off the first half and immediately tried to assert their authority on TA FC. However, Jubilee didn’t seem to have woken up and were immediately put under pressure by a long ball over the top. Nicky Alvarez headed the ball clear and was picked up by Johnny Heather who dibbled down the wing but was disposed. A scrappy 10 minutes entailed and a poorly cleared long ball from TA FC fell to an on running midfielder who calmly slotted into the bottom right corner of the goal. 1-0 to TA FC.
That seemed to be the wakeup call that Jubille FC needed and from the kick off immediately went on the attack. Debutant Chris-Ashley showed what he was all about with some excellent interplay with Johnny Heather down the left beating the player and whipping in a lovely cross that was cleared by the defender. It was now the right side of the Jubilee attack to threaten. Max Charalambos, David Binder and Sam Brown all linked up. Sam Brown played a ball to Max Charalambos who beat his man and had a shot on goal but was unable to trouble the keeper…
Jubilee were dominating and could sense the equaliser was coming but it was looking like they may have to be patient as Matt Brown had a shot saved by the goal keepers standing foot and Marc Farrell beat the keeper but skimmed the post. A cross from David Binder into the TA FC box was completely missed by Joe Lloyd who was unmarked in the box…looked like he shut his eyes.
Just when Jubilee looked to be going in at half time a goal down they got a free-kick on the edge of the box. Debutant Chris-Ashley stepped up and laced into the top right corner. Fantastic goal on his debut for Jubilee, 1-1.
The half time whistle blew and the Jubilee team was buoyant. Manager Elton Marks was pleased and informed the team to just keep playing, be patient and the goal would come. The players went back on the pitch ready to take the game to TA FC.
TA FC kicked off the first half and immediately tried to launch a long ball over the top of the Jubilee defence. The Jubilee defence coped well and immediately tried to pass the ball around. Chris took off where he left off and immediately bombed down the left flank linking up with Johnny Heather to put in a low cross across the box that was unable to be met by anyone and went off for a goal kick.
A move from the back up the right hand side allowed Marc Farrell to play a through ball central to Joe Lloyd who slotted wide of the far post. It was starting to become and extremely frustrating game with every chance TA FC defence got they would lump the ball up field only for Jubilee to build up possession to work an attack.
The game was becoming stretched with Jubilee dominating possession but TA FC always seemingly able to get a nick or deflection at the last minute. Matt Brown was unable to break through with a powerful forward run. Johnny Heather was the same no matter which way he turned the ball would seemly not fall to another Jubilee player.
As the score line stayed at 1-1 TA FC confidence grew and were trying a few more foreword runs. A through ball that beat the offside trap was cleared off the line by Chris-Ashley and out for a throw. While Max Charalambos made an excellent last ditch challenge to stop the attacker getting his shot away.
A powerful run from Dean Powell from the back line was unable to play an accurate enough through ball for the on running Joe Lloyd. A ball worked down the right was crossed in from David Binder and connected with Joe Lloyd. Unfortunately, the ball was ‘saved’ off the line by the TA FC goalkeeper. Elton Marks decided it was time to make a tactical change and substituted Joe Lloyd for Piers Short.
Piers had an immediate impact with his pace and was unlucky with one shot going wide. But just was the game was approaching extra time a through ball from Marc Farrell into the path of Piers Short was side footed into the corner of the goal off the far post. Jubilee was scored what looked to be the winner with 5 minutes to play.
After the kick off TA FC lumped men forward and were punting long balls into the box. Elton Marks made two substitutions Max Charalambos for his brother Saul Charalambos and David Binder for Barry White. Barry immediately committed a foul on the half way line and TA FC launched a ball in the box but was cleared by the Jubilee defence.
Full time and the game finished 2-1 to Jubilee FC. A game which Jubilee could of ended up losing due to some poor finishing from a number of players. Patience was key and Jubilee did get their reward. Jubilee will face AC Hertford in the quarter final of the League Challenge Cup. Well played to debutant Chris-Ashley.
The next fixture for Jubilee FC has is against Ware Saviours in the Division 1 shield.
