Charnwood Mountsorrel travelled through unseasonal
late-spring weather to Timperley, but found the venue snow-free, if a little
chilly! A few late drop-outs changed the
tournament format, resulting in each team playing four others at random in the
qualifying stage, with the top four going into the semi-finals.
The team featured debuts for Ash Mulley, Iain Brown
and John Evans, all of whom acquitted themselves well.
Charnwood 0 v 2
Winnington Park (Northwich)
As in previous years, Charnwood were slow out of
the blocks, losing the early initiative to the eventual semi-finalists. An early, scrappy goal put Winnington Park in
front and it took Charnwood a while to settle into the game, but once they got
going, they dominated. They created
enough chances to win the game, but poor finishing and dogged defence meant
that they could not get on even terms. Striker Adrian Dewick unluckily had a shot
deflected onto a post and cleared away from danger. Winnington scored a late goal from a penalty
corner, after Mulley had parried the initial strike. This was a disappointing result, but the
performance really did merit more.
Charnwood 1 v 1
Ashby
Weaver
Charnwood’s second game was against local rivals
Ashby, who had won their opening match. Charnwood
started brightly and dominated the match from start to finish. The midfield quartet of Kevin Stanton-King,
Ian Dayman, Chris Waterfield and Brown controlled the game and set the tempo,
creating lots of chances, most of which were spurned by the profligate strike
force, though they were not alone.
Charnwood took the lead in brilliant fashion, however, when Mark Weaver
finished a length-of-the field move involving Waterfield, Brown and Adrian
Dewick, who unselfishly played-in his strike partner. The defence was largely untroubled, well
marshalled by Tony Kirk, but they allowed Ashby a rare attack which their
marauding midfielder converted from a narrow angle. Once again, Charnwood were left to rue the
lack of a clinical cutting edge.
Charnwood 2 v 0 Nuneaton
Dayman 2
This was Charnwood’s most fluent performance, as
they dominated from the start – the ball retention and confident passing style
opened up the opposition time and again, but chances were spurned as quickly as
they were created. It was left to Dayman
to apply a bit of quality in front of goal, scoring first after a prolonged
period of messing about in the circle, then drilling his second past the
‘keeper before he could react.
Charnwood 2 v 2 Crewe
Dayman
Dewick
The last group game was a competitive affair
against the eventual runners-up Crewe.
Charnwood spurned a great chance to take the lead in this one, with
Dewick having a penalty stroke saved well by the Crewe ‘keeper. It was to prove crucial, as Charnwood
conceded shortly afterwards, Mulley saving the first shot before being beaten
by the follow-up. Dayman levelled the
scores, finishing well after a period of prolonged pressure. Crewe re-took the lead when a speculative
drive into the circle was deflected into his own net by the partially unsighted
Mulley. Charnwood kept playing well,
however, and drew level when Dewick was put through on goal by Waterfield,
playing up front due injury, and the striker’s simple finish emphasised what
had been missing in the earlier games.
Eight points was not enough to send Charnwood
through, which, considering the bitter weather, biting wind and stiffening
limbs, was a blessing!
Squad:-
A. Mulley (GK); T. Kirk T, McKee, N.
Rixon, J. Evans;
I. Brown, I. Dayman, C. Waterfield, K.
Stanton-King (c); M. Weaver, A. Dewick.
Timperley
record:-
|
Year |
Position |
Winners |
|
2008 |
Finalists |
Timperley |
|
2009 |
Semi-Finalists [Lost 1-3 on
shuffles v Chester] |
Timperley |
|
2010 |
Semi-Finalists [Lost 1-3 on
shuffles v Bolton] |
Bolton |
|
2011 |
Winners [Won 3-0 on
shuffles v Crewe] |
Charnwood Mountsorrel |
|
2012 |
Second in Group [Failed to progress after shuffles] |
Wolverhampton |
|
2013 |
Did not qualify from Group |
Bebington (Wirral) |