SPRINGHILL - DADS LEAGUE TROPHY FINAL
SPRINGHILL DADS v SECURICOR
by Scoop

Sunday 4th July 1999

 

The last game of the season an the most important one - The League Trophy Final. Finally, the Dads have their best ever chance of actually winning some silverware. Securicor are a good bunch of lads they've been good sports the last few times we've played them but they are beatable!
The Dads welcome back Golden Boot winner, Dave Smith from his travels also making a return to the side is Mark Shipside, covering for Tim who's going to the pictures. Unfortunately, Jerry has gone now but he will be with the team in spirit. With John Frisby still struggling with his fitness the Dads are taking this opportunity to try out a new, attacking formation, with Dave joining Rob and John up front.
Martin joins John Lynch on the subs bench with an injured Mad Mal.

SPRINGHILL DADS
Les Maros
Rob Thorpe - Brian Medway - Tony Pascoe - Mark Shipside
Jason Furness - Dave Hedges - Jim Allen
Dave Smith - Rob Frisby - John Elms
Subs; Martin Kingsbury, John Lynch
Ref; Slackbladder O'Neill


From the kick-off, Tony 'won the ball' but it went out for a throw-in. The ball was played into the area and Jason cleared as far as a Securicor forward who volleyed over the bar. Ball boy Rick Heysome did the honours and retrieved the ball - 'Cumon!'
There followed some dodgey defence but, luckily, the forward scuffed his shot to allow Les to pick up the harmless ball. A loose ball and Jim back headed to John Elms who laid it off for Dave Hedges to shoot wide. An extended period of pressure from the Dads but there was no shot on goal. A good bit of play on the right of mid-field saw Jim lob just over.
Robbie was caught out at right back, he was beaten all ends up, by the nippy winger but Brian was there to cover up. Unfortunately he only managed to dummy himself but luckily dummied the forward, too. The Dads were rewarded with a couple of corners - from one, the ball found its way out to Jason right corner of box who's shot crashed against the cross bar.
Poor old Dave Hedges wasted his free kick but the clearance fell to Rob Frisby who's shot was well blocked. Brian took a throw-in to Rob Thorpe, he crossed for John Elms to try a volley which was blocked and Mark shot the rebound over. That winger Thorpie again but Brian was there again to clumsily bundle him off the ball, oops! In some slack play Les was called on to make an incredible flying one-handed block which looped the ball over the bar. Even Rick was impressed with that one. The corner was put directly over.
With Rob Thorpe calling Les rolled the ball out to him. He was promptly robbed again but this time it was Tony into the rescue. A ball was played out to John Elms on the right side of goal but his first touch let him down and the chance was gone. In a bit of show-boating, Dave Hedges demonstrated a bit of ball juggling on the touch-line (a la Mattie) and crossed into the box. Rob Frisby was muscled off the ball and John Elms shot over.
Les had to come quickly off his line to clear a through ball but the forward was quicker and had a crack which, luckily, was too hurried and sailed harmlessly over. Another ball out to left for John Elms to shoot, blocked, again! Then Mark and Jim had headers cleared off the line in quick succession. Jim linked up well with John Elms on the left for John to shot wide.
Just a minute before the whistle now, the half had seen the Dads with 99% of the ball. The only time Securicor had any kind of possession they crossed the ball crossed over box and Dave Smith, out of position, panicked and appeared to flap at the ball? Slack reckons he didn't see it but sporting, as the Dads are they let their opposition have their penalty - no mistake.
HALF TIME
DADS 0 - 1 SECURICOR
Rob Frisby gave a great half time talk it sounded great but I think the Springhill Kids are a bit more understanding of positional play, tactics and passing strategy. Some of the talk was about passing short in your own area, keeping possession and then a long one into the box. 'Ok, Rob, we've got that!'
Directly from the kick off Rob Thorpe got the ball and took Rob on his word. He played a short pass, which never made it, but Les managed to scramble across to keep the Dads in the game. Back to normal, now!
John Elms flattened a forward - free kick - wall lined up - shot around wall through area and bounced harmlessly wide, phew! A quick break away and John Elms it was again to test the fencing! Jason crossed - Jim played the ball back over to Dave Hedges on the right. He put the ball through for Jason to lay it off for ROB FRISBY to shoot a rocket into the back of the net.
John Elms was put through one on one with the keeper, his shot was blocked but there was Dave Smith following on with an open goal beckoning - oveeeeeer. The Dads were sure making it hard for themselves. No harder than after the next debacle. Securicor played a through ball - Robbie chased after it, no pressure. Les called out 'My ball' Robbie thought he'd be clever and have a touch anyway which put it out of Les' reach to dribble into the empty goal.
John Elms was stretching Slack's charity when he blocked a defender, the ball fell to Rob Frisby who shot well wide off the out side of his boot with an open goal in front of him. The keeper cut out a through ball and as a mid-fielder beat Jason to the throw in he just managed to clip his heels but as Jason was off with the ball he had his heels clipped in turn. Bit of a tit for tat, really. Jason tried one of his trademark 25-yard lobs and was was well on target but keeper did great to fingertip it over the bar
From a throw-in Rob Frisby took Tony Crook out and the ball flew through for Jason to get a great volley off, which went narrowly wide with Dave Smith diving but just failed to get a touch. Rob Thorpe gave a foul away but then won the ball back and passed to Jason who played it on to Rob Frisby to shoot just over.
A cross into the box and Dave Smith climbed above the melee to head the ball firmly against the cross bar. Robbie Thorpe couldn't believe his luck when it bounced off his gut giving him the simplest volley to crash into the back of the net.
FULL TIME
DADS 2 - 2 SECURICOR
After long and agonising discussions, it was decided to decide the match on penalties.
PENALTIES
Securicor put the first away no problem. Player of the Year Dave Hedges stepped up to blaze wildly over for the Dads (Some folks were asking for a re-vote at this time).
Own Goal king, Mark Kingsbury and Golden boot, Dave Smith matched the opposition and despatched their chances with aplomb. Securicor were stepping up to take their fourth pen 3 - 2 in front but their man promptly blasted the ball against the cross-bar to bounce away harmlessly.
The pressure was on now as Jim Allen stepped forward and made no mistake to fire it into the top corner, 3 - 3.
The pressure was on Securicor now but they had an old head coming forward who'd done this kind of thing a hundred times before. Les had been a bit frustrated until now but this was his moment as he reached out to claim the ball.
Then, it was all down to Rob Frisby to win the Trophy for the Dads, if his shot goes in the Dads win 4 - 3. He made no mistake cleverly placing it in the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance.

 

MOM
Tony Pascoe

He was nominated because he'd been running around a lot.

 

 


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