Stourbridge FC 5 WBA Colts 4 (ET & pens)
28/04/13 11:45
A sunny and blustery April afternoon sees us travel to Inkberrow FC to face West Bromwich Albion Colts for a 2pm KO in the final of the MJPL Cup competition. WBA finished in the top half of the league this season, so the manager and players know they are in for a tough game today.
Once again, the Stourbridge manager has the luxury of a full squad to choose from today. Luke Bradley starts the game in goal today with a back four made up of Kieran Conlon and Jack Clarke at full back and Hayden Reeves and Will Rawlins (capt) the central defence partnership. Ben Jones, Dylan Multani, Josh Beard and James Welch form the midfield with Rohan Brown and Jordan Edwards as the preferred strike partnership. Substitutes for the first half are Alex Walters, Lewis Gregory, Lewis Nicholls, Casey Sutton and Tyreece Ruddock.
The ref gets the game under way on a fantastic playing surface which looks fairly dry in places. It’s Stourbridge that start the game on the front foot. With their first attack Jordan Edwards battles hard on the edge of the WBA box, slots the ball through to Rohan Brown who pokes the ball past the keeper. GOAL! Stourbridge go 1 nil up in the first minute. From the kick off, Stourbridge are back on the attack. Once again, Jordan squares a great ball to Rohan on the edge of the box on 8 minutes but Rohan pulls his shot just wide. As the first half progresses, WBA are becoming more and more assured on the ball on knocking it around well. With 15 mins on the clock, WBA loop a ball over the top of a defender’s head for the striker to latch on to. Hayden Reeves is there to put in a last ditch tackle and the ball goes out for a corner. The ball is swung in well into the danger zone, there is a scramble in the Stourbridge box and the ball is poked home. GOAL! WBA level the match at 1-1. The goal gives the WBA players a huge lift and they’re straight back onto the offensive to try and take the lead. They win another corner on 21 mins. The ball is fired across at pace, hits the outside of the upright and goes wide. WBA continue to pile on the pressure in the remaining minutes and win a free kick on the edge of the Stourbridge box on 24 mins. The ball is struck hard but the Stourbridge wall does its job and blocks the shot. HALF TIME – Stourbridge FC 1 WBA Colts 1.
After a short break and a team talk from their respective managers, the game resumes. Stourbridge get off to a good start but the attack is snuffed out quickly by the WBA defence. 5 mins in and Dylan wins a big header in midfield. The ball finds Jordan clean through but the linesman has his flag up for offside. The game is fairly even in the early exchanges with both teams working hard to close down and get in their tackles. With 18 mins gone, WBA win a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box. The shot clears the Stourbridge wall and goes agonizingly wide. 2 mins later and the ball is played back into the Stourbridge box. There’s a big block tackle put in by Will Rawlins and the ball goes out for a goal kick. 27 mins in and Rohan finds a bit of space on the edge of the WBA box. He pulls the trigger but the keeper makes a comfortable save. With just 1 min left on the clock, Stourbridge win a corner. Rohan puts in a superb ball which is headed just wide by Ben Jones. Straight from the goal kick, Stourbridge win a free kick on the edge of the box. Rohan strikes but once again his shot is well saved by the WBA keeper. FULL TIME - Stourbridge FC 1 WBA Colts 1.
After another short break for both team, the first 10 minute period of extra time gets underway. It’s WBA who are doing all the pressing in the first period but without creating any clear cut chances. The Stourbridge defence are working well as a unit and holding strong. FULL TIME (1st period of ET) - Stourbridge FC 1 WBA Colts 1. The second half of extra time gets underway and this time it’s Stourbridge who start on the offensive. Jim loops a ball over the top and Rohan fights off two strong challenges to win a corner. The corner is pulled out too far though and the danger is cleared. With 4 mins on the clock, Jordan is through on goal, the defender puts in a tackle and the ball goes high in the air. Rohan heads the ball goalwards but straight into the keeper’s arms. With just 1 min of extra time remaining, Stourbridge win a free kick just inside the WBA half. Rohan flots a beautiful ball into the box and Dylan sidefoots the ball into the back of the net on the volley. The Stourbridge celebrations are short lived though as the linesman has his flag up for offside and the goal is disallowed. The second period of extra time comes to an end. FULL TIME (2nd period of ET) - Stourbridge FC 1 WBA Colts 1.
The game goes to penalties. There are some great penalties taken and some great saves made by both goalkeepers. Stourbridge win the game 5-4 after Extra Time and penalties.
A fantastic performance from both teams today. You have to feel sorry for WBA Colts who played some great football at times and a penalty shoot-out is a tough way to lose a cup final. Credit must go to Stourbridge though who hung in there and worked hard throughout the game. Credit to the five players who volunteered to take a penalty also, very brave. Congratulations to Neil and the lads. League and Cup double winners in their first MJPL season.
Parent’s MOTM – Hayden Reeves
Manager’s MOTM – Ben Jones
Author: Neil CONLON
West Brom Colts
Well the season has come to an end, and with the cup final just slipping away from the team. It must be said that it has been an enjoyable season, all round, with some ups and downs but never the less we as a team made it to the finals and many others did not.
This team has a lot of talent and some boys who will go on to bigger and better things, but from me as the Manager of the team, I can only thank you for your efforts and ask that next year we don’t sit back on what we had achieved, but what we want to achieve, and as you know this can only be done by you, we can only improve and become better.
Remember be the best that you can be
And next season they will see.
tony bertie
Stourbridge U12
1-1(AET)
Pen 4 - 3
FT 1 - 1
HT 1 - 1
West Bromwich Albion Colts U12
