Barrel
16-02-2008, 20:34
WHITTLESEY UNITED RESERVES 5
COATES ATHLETIC 2
Whittlesey progressed to the final of the Cambs Junior Challenge Cup with a hard fought victory over local rivals Coates after extra time in a topsy turvy affair.
The much anticipated match drew in a large crowd with over 200 people in attendance and a record breaking day for the WUFC clubhouse bar takings.
The opening exchanges of the game were played out in a tense and frenetic fashion more akin to a Barclays Premier League game as both teams attempted to stamp their authority on this cup tie from an early stage.
It was the visiting side who started to gain a stranglehold on the game though with the visitors winning the majority of the second balls and causing the Whittlesey side numerous problems. Coates midfielder, Kev Gilbert spent much of the first half running the midfield alongside his midfield counterparts Craig Crofts and Luke Mason. It was after 25 minutes Coates took a deserved lead when Matty Heron felled a Coates attacker in the box and after consultation with the linesman, the referee rightly pointed to the spot. Up stepped Coates front man Dave Moore, who planted the ball into the left hand corner, sending Fletcher in the Whittlesey goal the other way to make it 1-0. Despite this goal the home side failed to kick into gear and the Division One visitors remained in the ascendancy, as they pushed on to double their numerical advantage. On the stroke of half time a defensive mix up allowed a Coates player to smash a low ball across the box that was prodded home by Chris Heron despite the efforts of the Whittlesey goalkeeper to make it 2-0 to the visitors. Coates then had the chance to make it 3-0 but Fletcher in the Whittlesey goal made a terrific agile save to turn a certain goal over the cross bar.
Soon after Coates goal the referee blew for half time and as the players trudged off the Whittlesey management team knew that we had been outclassed and outbattled by a side who had dominated play.
The half team talk was one that was to enable the side to start believing in themselves, we needed to up the tempo and decided to take a change in formation introducing Stefan Green and Luke Quince to the fold and adpoting a new formation. At half time their was a few choice words stated as we told the players to start performing or risk being well beaten by the opposition. Big up to our skipper Paul Minett who gave a rousing passionate half time speech after the management talk, that really hit home.
The boys entered the second half knowing that they had to perform better or they were to go out of the Cup and if they were to, they needed to do so with a bit of pride about them. The visitors had an opportunity to make it 3-0 as Gilbert skipped away from the home defence and bared down on Fletcher one on one but a combination of resolute defending and excellent goalkeeping kept the visitors at bay.
With the game entering the final quarter of play, Micky Burch found an opening out wide and delivered a ball into the box that evaded the Coates players and their was Whittlesey marksman Paul Hibbins who chested down and volleyed home to reduce the arrears and make it 2-1. The game was now up for grabs and the Whittlesey lads found new impetus, Stefan Green started to stamp his authority on the game and the energetic Adam Moore in the centre of Midfield started to drive the lads on. With just three minutes left on the clock an innocuous looking ball into the box was poked goalwards by Luke Quince and eluded the dive of Higgins in the visiting goal to make it 2-2 and level the game. The boys celebrated wildly and knew that they had got themselves back into the cup tie.
The game again rekindled its frantic pace as the 90 minutes drew to a close and despite each sides push for the win, the referee blew for full time.
The team talk between full time and extra time was one where the belief word was reiterated several times, Whittlesey had made all their three allowable substitutes and the lads were told to beleive and battle for the win.
Inside the opening two minutes of the first phase of extra time, Whittlesey had gained the numerical advantage as predator Hibbins poked home from close range to to turn the tie. The visitors were clearly rattled and Hibbins duly added his hat trick and 39th of the season as he found space in the box and volleyed into the far corner to make it 4-2.
In the second half of extra time Coates almost made it 4-3 but Adam Moore managed to head onto the bar to keep the ball out and keep Whittlesey's two goal advantage. As the game wore on and Coates pressed for a goal, Stefan Green pressed on an applied pressure on his uncle Gary Butterworth to find space in the box and prod home to make it 5-2 and put the game beyond doubt.
The final whistle sparked mass celebrations from the home side who had dug themselves out of an almighty hole. The changing room was rocking and the beers flowing as the lads celebrated their teriffic come back.
All credit to the lads for having the desire, belief and passion to come back in a game where at half time we looked dead and buried against a good Coates side, we never stopped believing though and for that quality alone we have a Cambs Cup Final to look forward to at Histon United on 30 April and I am so proud of the lads!
All credit to the Coates lads and management team for playing their part in an epic County Cup semi final that some locals described as the 'best game of local football they had ever seen'. Well next week they get to witness another Semi Final this time in the North Cambs Junior Cup between????? Whittlesey United Reserves and Coates Athletic in what im sure will be an equally competitive and nervy affair and one that the Coates lads will be looking to win.
What an advert for local football today was though, everything it should all be about, passion, ability, desire, hunger, determination and spirit
Here's to another big game next week and hopefully another win! :clap2:
COATES ATHLETIC 2
Whittlesey progressed to the final of the Cambs Junior Challenge Cup with a hard fought victory over local rivals Coates after extra time in a topsy turvy affair.
The much anticipated match drew in a large crowd with over 200 people in attendance and a record breaking day for the WUFC clubhouse bar takings.
The opening exchanges of the game were played out in a tense and frenetic fashion more akin to a Barclays Premier League game as both teams attempted to stamp their authority on this cup tie from an early stage.
It was the visiting side who started to gain a stranglehold on the game though with the visitors winning the majority of the second balls and causing the Whittlesey side numerous problems. Coates midfielder, Kev Gilbert spent much of the first half running the midfield alongside his midfield counterparts Craig Crofts and Luke Mason. It was after 25 minutes Coates took a deserved lead when Matty Heron felled a Coates attacker in the box and after consultation with the linesman, the referee rightly pointed to the spot. Up stepped Coates front man Dave Moore, who planted the ball into the left hand corner, sending Fletcher in the Whittlesey goal the other way to make it 1-0. Despite this goal the home side failed to kick into gear and the Division One visitors remained in the ascendancy, as they pushed on to double their numerical advantage. On the stroke of half time a defensive mix up allowed a Coates player to smash a low ball across the box that was prodded home by Chris Heron despite the efforts of the Whittlesey goalkeeper to make it 2-0 to the visitors. Coates then had the chance to make it 3-0 but Fletcher in the Whittlesey goal made a terrific agile save to turn a certain goal over the cross bar.
Soon after Coates goal the referee blew for half time and as the players trudged off the Whittlesey management team knew that we had been outclassed and outbattled by a side who had dominated play.
The half team talk was one that was to enable the side to start believing in themselves, we needed to up the tempo and decided to take a change in formation introducing Stefan Green and Luke Quince to the fold and adpoting a new formation. At half time their was a few choice words stated as we told the players to start performing or risk being well beaten by the opposition. Big up to our skipper Paul Minett who gave a rousing passionate half time speech after the management talk, that really hit home.
The boys entered the second half knowing that they had to perform better or they were to go out of the Cup and if they were to, they needed to do so with a bit of pride about them. The visitors had an opportunity to make it 3-0 as Gilbert skipped away from the home defence and bared down on Fletcher one on one but a combination of resolute defending and excellent goalkeeping kept the visitors at bay.
With the game entering the final quarter of play, Micky Burch found an opening out wide and delivered a ball into the box that evaded the Coates players and their was Whittlesey marksman Paul Hibbins who chested down and volleyed home to reduce the arrears and make it 2-1. The game was now up for grabs and the Whittlesey lads found new impetus, Stefan Green started to stamp his authority on the game and the energetic Adam Moore in the centre of Midfield started to drive the lads on. With just three minutes left on the clock an innocuous looking ball into the box was poked goalwards by Luke Quince and eluded the dive of Higgins in the visiting goal to make it 2-2 and level the game. The boys celebrated wildly and knew that they had got themselves back into the cup tie.
The game again rekindled its frantic pace as the 90 minutes drew to a close and despite each sides push for the win, the referee blew for full time.
The team talk between full time and extra time was one where the belief word was reiterated several times, Whittlesey had made all their three allowable substitutes and the lads were told to beleive and battle for the win.
Inside the opening two minutes of the first phase of extra time, Whittlesey had gained the numerical advantage as predator Hibbins poked home from close range to to turn the tie. The visitors were clearly rattled and Hibbins duly added his hat trick and 39th of the season as he found space in the box and volleyed into the far corner to make it 4-2.
In the second half of extra time Coates almost made it 4-3 but Adam Moore managed to head onto the bar to keep the ball out and keep Whittlesey's two goal advantage. As the game wore on and Coates pressed for a goal, Stefan Green pressed on an applied pressure on his uncle Gary Butterworth to find space in the box and prod home to make it 5-2 and put the game beyond doubt.
The final whistle sparked mass celebrations from the home side who had dug themselves out of an almighty hole. The changing room was rocking and the beers flowing as the lads celebrated their teriffic come back.
All credit to the lads for having the desire, belief and passion to come back in a game where at half time we looked dead and buried against a good Coates side, we never stopped believing though and for that quality alone we have a Cambs Cup Final to look forward to at Histon United on 30 April and I am so proud of the lads!
All credit to the Coates lads and management team for playing their part in an epic County Cup semi final that some locals described as the 'best game of local football they had ever seen'. Well next week they get to witness another Semi Final this time in the North Cambs Junior Cup between????? Whittlesey United Reserves and Coates Athletic in what im sure will be an equally competitive and nervy affair and one that the Coates lads will be looking to win.
What an advert for local football today was though, everything it should all be about, passion, ability, desire, hunger, determination and spirit
Here's to another big game next week and hopefully another win! :clap2: