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Tuesday 7th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 25th April 2009
It's tight, but Paull and AFC Preston 2nd go through to Junior Final - and it's a red letter day for Dave Dean!
A pleasant spring afternoon with a slight wind, which was not strong enough to provide any real advantage on the pitch, greeted the sides competing at Springhead Lane for the right to contest the final of the Amateur League Junior Cup.
Paull Wanderers felt that they had assembled a side who would challenge for the Division 1 title this season, but indifferent form early in the campaign dispelled those ambitions and while results have improved towards the latter, business end of their fixtures, their only real hope of success lay in the League Junior Cup where they made club history by claiming a semi final place, and were hoping to add to this achievement by triumphing over giant killing opponents AFC Piper.
Piper, who are looking to step up from Division 2, passed the ball a lot better than Paull throughout the game, but when Paull finally did string some passes together, they posed problems for Piper, and when Tommy Donnelly sent over a cross from the right, he found veteran Terry Thompson who had peeled away from his marker in the vicinity of the back post, and his finish was decisive.
With Piper forced to look for an equalising goal, Paull were able to find a bit more space, but Piper continued to try to play neat football and were rewarded with an equaliser around three-quarter time from Andy Kingston.
The game eventually hinged on a penalty decision awarded eight minutes from the final whistle, which brought mixed reactions from the competing sides. Paull Wanderers, who were awarded the spot kick considered that, in a rare attack, Tommy Donnelly had been ‘cleaned ‘out, while Piper argued that the defender took the ball first!!
The important ‘take’ on the incident was the referee’s and Donnelly was able to compose himself to take the kick which he placed to the left of keeper Jamie Walker, who got a hand to the ball, but could not prevent it rolling over the line.
Piper had little time to recover but set out to, but in trying to do so, almost conceded a further goal with Paull’s Danny Wilbor looking a likely scorer, but his effort was charged down but Paull still had done enough to enter their next history-making phase – the final at Dene Park (2.00pm) on Saturday 9 May.
On an adjacent pitch AFC Preston 2nds faced an AFC West Hull B side which was stretched for numbers as cup rules prevented other club players from selection, but the available players nevertheless performed well despite going behind to a relatively early goal from Aaron King.
Neither side established any real superiority, but when Preston scored a second goal through Ricky McNee, the game looked to have been put beyond West Hull.
A wounded animal, is more dangerous, it is said, and this was the case with West Hull who quickly responded with a neat goal from Lewis Hoy, to put the match back into the melting pot!!
Although Preston had a long time to protect their lead, they were able to do so, encouraged by a solid show from keeper Malcolm Parker, and duly claimed a final place, where they will be hoping for a better conclusion than experienced last year in the ERCFA Qualifying Competition.
The League Premier title is still undecided, but while it is mathematically possible for Crown FC to be caught, it would take a series of catastrophic results to prevent them taking the honours, particularly after their latest competent 2-0 successes over AFC West Hull and Eddie Beedle, and they should go into the League Cup Final against Quaddy Rangers in confident mood.
Quaddy Rangers had nothing to play for in their league match, and had one eye on their cup final appearance when selecting their side to face Kingburn Athletic Reserves and were also severely restricted by injury and other commitments, but still opted to omit, at least onto the bench, playmaker Danny Thompson who has had an outstanding season for the club.
Quaddy were hoping for an injury free afternoon, but within fifteen minutes, an injury to a forward necessitated his replacement, and reluctantly, Thompson had to enter the fray, but upfront, so as not to be so involved (as he normally is in midfield).
Having been amidst the action for a mere two minutes, Thompson proved what a catalyst he is, taking the ball on his chest and with a touch of magic, smashed a volley into the Kingburn net to give Quaddy the lead.
Quaddy’s attention appeared to wander from the matter in hand, and Kingburn were able to pull the goal back, and the interval was reached with the scores level.
The second half saw both sides refocused on the game and each gave a good account of themselves, with some great tackles going in. Quaddy won a throw in which was launched into the box where Dave Dean found the ball at his feet.
The game appeared to momentarily stand still as he adjusted his feet and placed the ball into the Kingburn goal for his first goal for 6 years!!
With 20 minutes remaining Kingburn pulled another goal back, but within a couple of minutes Quaddy restored their lead when keeper Mark Foster cleared the ball well into the Kingburn half where Danny Thompson gave chase despite the ball bouncing all over, and going further and further away from the Kingburn goal, but as he caught the ball, Thompson unleashed a superb shot which gave Kingburn keeper Keith Simmonds no chance as the ball flew into the top corner, and the score remained unchanged to the final whistle.
The chase for the Division 1 title looked all over weeks ago, but a late winning run by Hull Athletic has left AFC Hull looking over their shoulders, though Athletic’s heavy backlog will probably prove their undoing, should the unthinkable happen and AFC Hull fail to get the single point needed from their last game against Anlaby Park.
Swiss Cottage had put themselves into a good position to claim the runners up slot, but successive defeats to Hull Athletic and Anlaby Park have seen them slip down the table, already beneath Hull Athletic, and they may slide further.
The title in Division 2 has been won comfortably by Skippers FC, who have remained unbeaten all season, though at times in close encounters, and with little publicity – as they prefer to let their football do the talking!!
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Match Reports
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24th April 2010
17th April 2010
10th April 2010
3rd April 2010
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