The UNITS made the short journey to The Swifts to take on Redditch Div 1 outfit CBH Fasteners in the final of the WFA Junior Cup. Unfortunately Jay was not eligible so Cuzer had a squad of 16 as we lined up: Tom, Barney, Taylor, Sean, Gilo, DJ, Newts, Azza, Pountney, Ashton and Seeks. Subs were Ryan, Chinner, Ben, Trigger and Baker.
From the off the UNITS looked in command, CBH were working hard as you would expect in a cup final but the UNITS had all the quality on the ball. Seeks was released down the channel after only 5 minutes and he cut inside and dragged his shot inches past the post with the keeper at full stretch. Next a vicious ball in from Azza fizzed across the box with Tayl's and DJ inches away from converting. However on 10 minutes we got the opening goal and it was no more than our start deserved, Pountney did well down the left and sent over a cross which was half cleared to the edge of the box, Seeks retrieved the ball, made a yard of space for himself and fired an unstoppable shot home from 18 yards giving the keeper no chance. The one way traffic continued, Ashton dragging a shot wide and Seeks again going close as CBH struggled to get anywhere near the UNITS goal.
On 30 minutes the UNITS were coasting somewhat and this did give CBH some momentum as we became a little sloppy, CBH's best and only chance to date was from a corner the original ball in not dealt with and their midfielder poked the loose ball over from 10 yards. At the other end Taylor went close from a corner and it looked like the game would be finely balanced at 1-0 heading into the break however on 42 minutes we got some breathing space with our 2nd goal. Ashton found some space as he received a pass from Newt's, he turned and slipped a defence splitting pass in to Seeks who raced away from the CBH backline and finished clinically past the keeper.
HT CBH 0 v 2 TS UNITS
Cuzer was delighted with the score but still felt we were playing within ourselves somewhat, the message was to relax a bit and let our football do the talking. We started the 2nd half very well and had a dominant 5-10 minute spell where again we pegged CBH back and used the ball well, Ashton went close before Lewis volleyed wide at the back stick as the chances kept on coming. CBH forced a couple of back to back corners which were well defended by the UNITS as Tom remained untested. On 60 minutes the UNITS wrapped up the game with a delightful team goal. It started at the back with both Millette and Taylor showing quick feet to bring the ball out of defence, Taylor fed Newt who in turn fed the ball to Azza, Azza then passed to Ashton who turned and played a slide rule ball to Azza who had continued his run into the box, as the keeper came out Azza coolly slotted the ball underneath him to finish off a fine team move, superb goal.
Straight after the goal Cuzer replaced Barney, who had done well in his first start since the beginning of December, with Ben, DJ dropping back to right back. The only thing missing from what was a good team performance so far was Seeks getting a deserved hat-trick and that duly came on 70 minutes when the CBH left back played a suicidal back pass to their keeper under pressure from Lewis, Seeks was on to it in a flash and he rounded the keeper before cutting back inside, avoiding the back tracking defenders and rifled home from 8 yards to complete a superb hat trick and put the UNITS 4-0 up. Cuzer then replaced Newt with Baker and DJ with Chinner.
The UNITS really could and should have added another couple of goals in the last 20 minutes, Seeks was twice clean through and their keeper made two superb saves in one on one situations, Azza, Ashton and Pountney all wasted free kick opportunities around the edge of the box and the CBH keeper made a superb low save from Ashton’s 18 yard effort when it looked a goal all the way.
In the end we had to settle for a fine 4-0 win against a committed CBH but ultimately a side we had too much for on the day. We naturally wish them all the best for the rest of the season.
Man of the match went to Seeks who showed superb finishing ability to bag himself a fine hat trick in a cup final.
Next up the UNITS travel to Prem high flyers Grange Athletic in the last 16 of the Sunday Senior cup.
