Beautiful almost aestival like conditions at Coxes Bay Reserve yesterday, for the Michael Trevor Jones Cup Semi Final between Western Springs Villa and Eden Stallions.
The teams met at the 3rd time of asking all previous attempts to get the game played having been interrupted by the wet weather this winter.
Not a lot was known about the Stallions; they were a new team this season and had romped away with the abridged version Division 5, their squad contained a fair sprinkling of former Premier Division players plus they had yet to lose a game all season in addition to knocking out 2 other division 3 teams on their path to the semis.
Team news for the Villa saw Emmett out injured, so Phil stood in in-goal. Heath, Stew, Paul and Conor lined up at the back. Matt, Jonny Sax, Ross and James were in midfield with Steve and Jon C up front. Dunny, Dan, Simon and Chopper warmed the bench.
The game kicked off with Villa kicking with the wind, in truth the wind was blowing diagonally across the pitch and it made life difficult for passing football. With neither side playing for 3 weeks things started off a bit scrappily.
14 minutes on the clock and first blood to the Stallions saw nice passing down left inside channel saw a Stallions striker free in the box about 9 yards out, his shot looked to be covered by Phil and but it struck Stew on the behind and deflected into the bottom right hand corner.
14 Minutes 0-1 Stallions
A tough break for the Villa, but this seemed to inspire the Seddon Fields men, and for the rest of the half, Villa dominated possession with only an inspired performance by the Stallions' 'keeper keeping their lead intact. Chances aplenty fell to Matt, Steve and Jon C but the Stallions No.1 was equal to them all.
Half Time 0-1 Stallions
James gave a good team talk and it seemed to work as 5 minutes into the second half Villa were to go from 1 down to 1 up, the first a strong finish from Jon C from the edge of the box the second a header from Paul up from the back from a corner.
50 minutes 2-1 Villa
After this it looked like the Stallions were going to struggle to stay in the game and Villa should really have put a few more away to make things comfortable, but the Stallions' hung in there and were rewarded for their tenacity with an equaliser.
The ball was played into the Villa box where a Stallions striker appeared to be in an offside position, with Villa appealing the striker quite rightly played on the ball however the ball appeared to be played with his hand, the ball then fell to a second Stallions striker who also looked in an offside position and he then bundled the ball over the line.
Not a candidate for goal of the season that one.
70 minutes 2-2
Villa feeling a sense of injustice lifted again, and the rest of the game was played pretty much in the Stallions half.
It took a moment of class to win the game though and the 'Bramall Lane Maestro' stepped up to score with a fabulous header after a great cross from Matt in-off the post.
The scoring had finished but not the goal mouth action, Dan on as sub for Steve had a bizarre 60 seconds on field. First he was adjudged to be fouled in the penalty area when it looked like to me he was backing into the defender. A very soft penalty was awarded to the Villa; Dan stepped and hit it wide. In this writers view the referee had a poor game overall with the only consolation to both teams is that he seemed to be equally poor to both teams.
No more action to speak off and Villa saw out the remaining time to claim a berth in the Cup Final for the second successive year.
Full time Villa 3-2 Stallions.
Well done to the Stallions boys you gave it everything, a little bit of fitness perhaps and Villa getting on top in midfield in the second half proving to be the difference. You would definitely be able to hold your own in Division 3 I reckon.
Next week.....
Two trophies on the line when Villa takes on age old rivals Oratia Old Fellas at Parrs Park. Massive advantage to the Old Fellas being able to play the final at home but we'll give them a game just like we always do.
GDunne
