Charnwood Mountsorrel took a new look team to Timperley and came away with the trophy for the first time. On another sunny day (who says it always rains in the north west?), Charnwood played some super hockey, impressing many of the opposition with their crisp passing style. Tournament debutants Mick Kelleher, Ian Dayman, Tony McKee, Nigel Rixon and Steve Fairbrother all played well, featuring in key moments throughout the day.
Charnwood 2 v Morecambe 1
Fairbrother 2
Morecambe scored first in this group game, taking advantage of poor defending at a first penalty corner. Once Charnwood got into their stride, however, it was just a matter of time before they equalised and it came from a thunderous penalty corner strike from Fairbrother. New boy Dayman, impressing in midfield, arrived in the circle to set up Fairbrother for the winner late on.
Charnwood 2 v South Cheshire 0
Fairbrother
Weaver
This was a comfortable win, as Charnwood continued their good form. Fairbrother added to his goal tally with another smart finish and strike partner Mark Weaver finished off a sweet move which covered the length of the field, converting Ross Merrick’s well-timed pass to complete the scoring.
Charnwood 0 v Deeside 2
After a long break between games, Charnwood never really got going against a very good Deeside team who dominated midfield and ran out comfortable winners, inflicting Charnwood’s second-only defeat in regulation time in four years at the tournament, despite a late rally which saw several good chances go begging.
Having qualified as the fourth-best team in the group stage, Charnwood were a little unlucky to draw the second-best team in the quarter-final.
QF Charnwood 3 v Bebington 0
Merrick,
Dayman,
Fairbrother (PS)
After getting a salutary lesson last time out, Charnwood came back in style in the quarter-final, playing fast, controlled hockey, with the midfield duo of Dayman and Chris Waterfield dictating play throughout. Merrick hit a crisp shot to open the scoring, Dayman coolly finished high into the net from a slipped penalty corner and Fairbrother expertly converted a penalty stroke following a foot on the line by the hapless Bebington defence.
SF Charnwood 1 v Old Wulfrunians (Wolverhampton) 0
Fairbrother
This was a really cracking match between two good teams. The Charnwood defence, expertly marshalled by the fit-again Nigel Calow and left-back Rixon, performed brilliantly throughout and ‘keeper Kelleher was on top form when required. The midfield battle was excellent, with Merrick, Dayman, Waterfield and skipper Kevin Stanton-King gradually getting on top of their opposition. It was Fairbrother again who settled the match, bursting through the Old Wulfs defensive line and scoring with a squeezed shot over the oncoming ‘keeper. A late penalty corner was blocked and cleared by Waterfield to ensure that a clean sheet was preserved.
F Charnwood 0 v Crewe 0 (3-0 on penalty shuffles)
Having fallen at the semi-final stage in the two previous years, Charnwood were determined not to miss this opportunity to win some silverware. They played a Crewe team bolstered by several additional players following earlier injuries.
This was a hard match at the end of an energy-sapping day, but Charnwood’s passing game was as smooth as ever and the commitment of the players was exemplary. This was an all-round team performance for the tired players and they were unlucky not to score on a number of occasions against a packed Crewe defence.
The final whistle brought penalty shuffles (20 seconds to score from the halfway line against the opposition ‘keeper) to decide the winner.
Four players had to complete the shuffles. Fairbrother got Charnwood off to a great start, ramming his shot past the opposition ‘keeper. Kelleher then performed heroics to make several saves to deny the first Crewe forward. Waterfield coolly finished his attempt, sending a disguised pass into the bottom corner to make it 2-0. Kelleher denied Crewe again to set up skipper Stanton-King for the chance to finish the game, which he did with aplomb.
The squad retired to the bar to accept the Cup and the plaudits.
Squad:
M. Kelleher (GK); D. Allen, N. Calow, P. Carter, T. Kirk, T. McKee, N. Rixon;
I. Dayman, R. Merrick, K. Stanton-King (c), C. Waterfield; S. Fairbrother, M. Weaver.
Timperley record:-
2008 Finalists (Timperley)
2009 Semi- Finalists (Timperley)
2010 Semi-Finalists (Bolton)
2011 Winners