This was going to be a tough game as Midland main man Phil Crowther went to watch them in their previous round and came back with a report that this was a very good team and would give most teams in the Premier Division a tough game.
The game started much as he thought it would with Midland knocking the ball around and DC chasing and making Midland fight for every ball and were tough in the tackle with no quarter given with few chances in the early stages it was DC that had the first chance of the game as they beat the Midland offside trap and were in 1 on 1 with the keeper but Sedman put it wide and then within 2 mins they had another chance 1 on 1 and again the same result wide again, but some credit must be given to Fletcher in goal for Midland for closing the players down quickly. Midland still had chances and but for some good defending it could have been Midland who took the lead but it was Dc United that scored first, but it was not them that scored it. It was a harmless looking cross with no DC United player around and defender Tommy George went to head the ball to his keeper , who thought he was going to leave it and he headed the ball into an ungraded net, 0-1 and to be fair it was about the right score. Just before the half time break a strong challenge left Lee Brophy with a shoulder injury, possible dislocated ,and he had to leave the game.
Half time Midland Phoenix 0 D C United 1
After the half time team talk Midland looked like they meant business and took the game to DC and in the first 10 mins had 3 good chances and Scott Highton , back with Midland after 1 year in a lower division , hit the post with one and had one saved but as usual with Scott scored the hardest chance to put Midland level 10 mins after the restart. It was now Midland time to put so pressure o the DC defence and see what they were made of and they managed to hold off and still had the chances to go back in front, but for some of their players trying to do it all themselves and leaving their team-mates screaming at them as they should have put the game out of Midlands reach. DC came more and more into the game and it was no surprise when the took the lead after another Midland chance broke to DC and a quick break and Sedman was found this time by one of his team-mates and coolly finished to make it 1-2 to DC. Midland again took the game to DC but it was DC that looked more likely to score even though Midland had most of the ball without many chances and as time was running out Midland were now throwing everything at them trying to force penalties , but were caught with a sucker punch. Midland were trying to force everyone forward and left the backdoor open and another quick break down the DC right and the cross came in and again Tommy George was in the wrong place as he tried to clear he put through his own goal again. It was no game over for Midland !!
Full time Midland Phoenix 1 D C United 3
It might seem this is a big shock result but to be fair D C United deserved to win and good luck to them in the next round and I am sure there will be teams in the coming rounds not looking forward in playing them as they are a good side that work for the full 90 mins and do not give up on any ball or any tackle so be warned !!!!!!
