ELE LEAGUE U13 CUP FINAL
22 MAY 2005
Aldersbrook (1) 2
Orton, Durmus.
Puma 2000
(1) 1
After extra time
Joe Wright
Harry Coffey
Max Shuttleworth Josh Pemberton John
Bradley
Jack
Tye James Orton (Captain) Robert Evans Liam
Bellamy
Ghokan Durmus Tom Jakob
Sub Joshua
Beveridge (replaced Pemberton H.T.)
Sub Robert Molloy (unused)
Sub
Josh Foster (unused)
League champions Puma
took to the enormous Blake Hall pitch in a confident mood. They had finished
the league season with fifteen straight wins to pip Aldersbrook to the title
by a single point... but this was the cup, and Aldersbrook were looking to
win it for the third consecutive season.
FIRST HALF:
Puma, with the
wind behind them, looked more dangerous throughout the half. A late tactical
decision to use John Bradley at left-back kept Aldersbrook in the game on a
number of occasions when his pace and strength thwarted the dangerous Puma
right-winger. Aldersbrook defenders were winning most of the aerial duels,
but looked vulnerable to the "over-the-top" ball, which keeper Joe Wright was
generally well positioned to claim.
Up front, Durmus and Tom Jakob were
struggling to shake off the attentions of the fast, powerful Puma centre
backs.
The half finished goal-less, and although Puma had the majority of
the possession, clear-cut chances were kept to a
minimum.
Pemberton had been having trouble with his breathing during
the first half so Joshua Beveridge came in on the left of midfield, with
Bellamy moving into the centre and Evans dropping to centre back to add some
additional pace to the back-four.
SECOND HALF:
With the wind now
behind them, Aldersbrook started to get the ball over Puma's defenders,
Bellamy looked more comfortable in the centre and with the speed of Evans and
Bradley in the back line, Puma's attacks became more rare.
On 53
minutes John Bradley's corner was swept home by Orton -
1-0 Aldersbrook.
Aldersbrook prepared themselves for seven minutes of
pressure. On 57 minutes, possession was lost on halfway and Puma broke. Evans
couldn't hold the centre forward who rounded Wright to slot home a deserved
equaliser - 1-1
With seconds to go, Puma's excellent left winger
stranded Wright with a shot that crashed against the underside of the bar,
fortunately the Aldersbrook defenders were on hand to clear and ensure the
final went to extra time.
Score at full time: 1-1.
Extra Time
(straight 10 minutes, no break)
In a cagey first 5 minutes, chances were
rare. On 7 minutes, Durmus latched onto a through ball and nipped around
the keeper to scored with his left foot - 2-1 Aldersbrook.
This time
Aldersbrook closed the game out successfully to complete a trio of cup
wins.
Special reporter: Bernie Jakob