Press Release
28.3.09
Charnwood Mountsorrel travelled to Timperley in glorious weather and in expectation of challenging for the trophy again, following last year’s defeat in the final.
Charnwood 1 v Timperley 0
Weaver
The opening game featured last year’s finalists and it was the home team that started the best, dominating play for large periods and testing keeper Mick Barlow from a penalty corner - fortunately, Barlow was up to the task and denied Timperley with a fine save. Gradually, Charnwood found their feet and won the tie with a breakaway goal – Mark Weaver taking a driven pass from Tony Kirk around the last defender and slipping it under the advancing keeper. The defence held firm and a somewhat fortuitous result got the campaign underway.
Charnwood 1 v Bolton 0
Allen D
This match saw Charnwood back on form, with crisp passing and fluid play leading to the creation of many chances – it was only the superb performance of the Bolton keeper that kept them in the game. The breakthrough came late on, after concerted attacking play, when a powerful shot from Dave Allen was deflected past the helpless keeper by his own defender. Fortunately for Allen, there is no such thing as an own goal!
Charnwood 2 v Crewe 1
Taylor
Weaver
In the last of the league games, Charnwood maintained momentum by outplaying Crewe for large parts of the game – it was Mark Taylor who opened the scoring following a length-of-the-field move started by debutant Ravi Matharu and featuring most of the midfield. Weaver doubled the score after a shot by Nigel Calow was saved following some lovely breakaway play. Crewe responded with a goal of their own (the only one Charnwood were to concede) but it was never going to be enough, as the hardworking midfield of Ross Merrick, Taylor, Chris Waterfield and Kevin Stanton-King snuffed out any more opportunities for the opposition.
QF Charnwood 2 v West Bromwich 0
Weaver 2
Charnwood qualified as fourth seed and drew seventh seed West Bromwich in the first of the quarter finals. By now, Charnwood were playing really well, impressing onlookers with their smooth passing style and decisive finishing. Top-scorer Weaver scored twice to make the score line a true reflection of the game. The first, a brilliant finish into the bottom right corner past the diving keeper, the second an easy tap in after a fast breakaway by the midfield saw Stanton-King draw the keeper before pass to the waiting striker.
SF Charnwood 0 v Chester 0 (1-3 on penalty shuffles)
Charnwood could hardly do more to win a game than they did here – they had 90% of possession, several penalty corners and many shots on target, but were denied by a tenacious Chester team who defended in depth and numbers. Their goalkeeper pulled off an excellent save to deny Weaver, but the concerted pressure did not produce the goal that the team play deserved.
The tie was scoreless after 20 minutes and so four players had to complete the dreaded shuffle (20 seconds to score from the halfway line against the opposition keeper). A lack of experience in this form of shootout told, as Chester converted their first three attempts and Taylor was the only Charnwood player to score, thanks to a misdemeanour by the Chester keeper. The sheepish handshakes from the Chester players showed that they knew they had nicked the game, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
The tournament was won by Timperley (on penalty strokes), after another tight game against Chester.
After consoling ourselves in the bar after the game, it was good to reflect on the high standard of play produced, with all members of the squad contributing to an excellent tournament.
Squad:
Mick Barlow (GK), Ed Allen, Dave Allen, Paul Carter, Tony Kirk, Graham Wolloff, Ravi Matharu, Ross Merrick, Kevin Stanton-King, Mark Taylor, Chris Waterfield (c), Mark Weaver, Nigel Calow