The dream is over for Stronstad Utd after they went out of the cup in the Semi Finals against AFC Victory.
Stronstad were looking to make there first ever final with a win in their first ever Semi Finals.
AFC Victory should have opened the scoring as Ian Privett failed to claim a cross and as the AFC Victory player shot towards goal Jeff Needham was in the right place to block the shot and the ball was scrambled away to safety.
With a strong wide behind AFC Victory in the first half they almost took the lead as a long range effort had Ian Privett well beaten but the ball rebounded off the cross bar and the ball was cleared.
At the other end Stronstad managed to test the AFC Victory goalkeeper but the keeper easily saved Steve Beech’s tamed effort.
The next chance Stronstad had was when Nick Crocker won a free kick 25 yards out from goal. The AFC Victory wall blocked the first effort but the ball fell to Brad White who smashed a thunderous drive back towards goal, which flew inches wide with the keeper well and truly beaten.
From a corner Stronstad almost took the lead as James Clarke met and attempted clearance and his spectacular volley flew towards goal with the AFC Victory keeper beaten but the player on the line headed the ball clear.
Stronstad were dealt an injury blow as Mark Betteridge came off second best to 50-50 ball and his involvement in the game came to an end and he was carried off and replaced by Gareth Spicer
From the sidelines it looked as if AFC Victory were going to open the scoring but some important blocks and well-timed tackles denied AFC Victory any chance of scoring and the half came to an end with the underdogs Stronstad drawing 0-0.
Second Half Action
AFC Victory thought they had taken the lead after a ball into the Stronstad box went to the edge of the Stronstad box and the AFC Victory player’s shot beat Ian Privett and as the AFC Victory team started to celebrate the ball hit the post and Ian Privett dived on the loose ball to keep the scores level.
Stronstad almost broke the dead lock as an attack down the wing saw the ball worked to the centre of the penalty area and as James Clarke pulled the trigger it was well blocked by the on rushing keeper and the ball was cleared from danger.
AFC Victory then went 1-0 up after a mistake from captain Andy Scanlon as a long punt up field was misjudged by the captain and his header went towards goal and the AFC Victory player finished smartly past Ian Privett to make the score 1-0 in the Semi Finals.
This had knocked the stuffing out of Stronstad and they were almost 2-0 down but the linesman’s flag saved Stronstad as the ball into the centre was blasted into the roof of the Stronstad net but the offside flag saved Stronstad as they were at 6’s and 7’s.
Stronstad up to that point looked dangerous going forward using the wind as an advantage and they did pull a goal back to send the Stronstad players and supporters wild. Steve Beech showed an excellent turn of pace to get in ahead of the AFC Victory player who took him down and was lucky to get away without a card. From 25-30 yards out Brad White curled a shot that the AFC Victory keeper took and age to get down to and the down found the bottom corner to make the score 1-1.
This lifted Stronstad another gear and they almost got a second goal as started to pile the pressure on and as the a ball into the AFC Victory box saw Nick Crocker steam in from midfield and his header back saw the AFC Victory keeper taken out of the game. The ball fell to the feet of Steve Beech but the in form striker fired over from just inside the box.
With 10 minutes to go Stronstad were dealt another blow as AFC Victory went 2-1 up as a long range effort beat Ian Privett and into the top corner and this sparked wild celebrations from the AFC Victory players who thought they had done enough to earn a place in the Finals.
This goal came out of the blue as Stronstad looked dangerous and only some last ditch defending denied Stronstad a clear shot at goal and at the back the two centre backs for Stronstad looked solid and fairly comfortable dealing with the long ball.
But Stronstad showed great character and they pulled a goal back straight away. Stronstad forced a corner and from the resulting corner the ball was played in by Robert Pearson and from the goal mouth scramble James Clarke fired into the back of the AFC Victory net to spark yet more wild scenes.
Just before full time Stronstad forced another corner after a strong run from Gary Cowell saw his attempted cross blocked. From the resulting corner Brad White’s corner was a headed goal ward by Gareth Spicer but his effort went over and that was the last chance of the game.
Extra Time
With cramp setting in on both sides and the wind against Stronstad they did well to battle through this and they were almost rewarded with a penalty. A long throw from Robert Pearson saw the AFC Victory player misjudge the flight of the ball and it bounced down and appeared to hit the players arm but the referee waved away the appeals and the danger was cleared.
Then a defensive mistake was to cost Stronstad dear.
Robert Pearson won the ball in midfield and he then played the ball to Gareth Spicer in a neat triangle move but then the ball was played to Gary Cowell but he miss kicked the ball and it found an AFC Victory player and his defensive splitting pass found his striker partner who was able to dribble around the advancing Ian Privett and slotted into the net to make the score 3-2.
With Stronstad only 15 minutes away from the finals and the chance to play against Whitehouse FC after they won against Saturn Royale in the other Semis, Stronstad had run out of ideas and thet were punished again as another through ball saw the AFC Victory player round Ian Privett and slotted into the empty net to seal the cup final place and sink the hearts of a spirited Stronstad side.
Full Time Stronstad Utd 2 AFC Victory 4
