Peterborough FA Senior Cup Fianl
at the Abax Stadium, London Road, Peterborough United FC
Peterborough ICA Sports (0) 0
Pinchbeck United (0) 0
ICA Sports won 9-8 on penalties
Mills, Bennett, Curtis, Farrow, Gilbert, L Glover, N Glover Macianskis. Smith, Wayte, Williams
Subs - Elvestad, Kilby, Pridmore, Nooteboom, Pjetra, Wells
Pinchbeck United:
Martin, Murrell, Gardner, Gordan, Smith, Brooks, Edwards, Bishop, Maltby, Wright, Ogden.
Subs - Sergeant, Dunn, Lawe, Eyes, Ramos.
It's official, I have now spent more time in the company of the A1 this season than I have with my missus.
But, I promise faithfully, with the inexplicably rapidly increasing THE66POW readership as my witnesses, that it won't happen again next year... because I will be utilising the the back roads more often instead.
League runners up Pinchbeck, who had finished the season four places and twenty eight points ahead of ICA Sports, had already won the President Premier Shield on Friday night, by virtue of a solitary goal, scored by Ian Ogden in the closing stages of the final against Netherton United.
So it would be safe to say that Ian Dunn's side were favourites to win tonight too and claim a double into the bargain, but it wasn't to be and Peterborough ICA Sports (who for the benefit of the uninitiated are a completely different club altogether to Peterborough Sports, who actually won the league this season), deserved their moment in the spotlight tonight and were the more creative of the two sides overall, especially in the first half.
John Smith, out on the right flank for 'ICA' appeared to be the main outlet for their numerous forays forward into the Knight's last third and he came close to scoring twice but was denied by a fine save by Ben Martin in the first instance and crashed a shot against the woodwork a few minutes later.
Andrew Wayte, Ollie Maltby and Tyler Wright all had half chances for United, but struggled to find the incisive final touch and when Tony Edwards found his range with a dipping shot Adam Mills twisted and turned the ball over at full stretch.
Simon Farrow's cross/shot was turned around the post by Martin at the last moment.
In added time at the end of the first half, Harley Williams got onto the end of a looping cross from Tom Curtis, but headed over the Pinchback bar from close range.
HT - Nil each
There was no disputing that Pinchbeck had been up against it in the first half, but they rallied after the break and gave a far better account of themselves while still absorbing a fair bit of pressure from 'ICA' with the (ever so) lively Smith still catching the eye as he mapped out his influence and input all over this intriguing final.
That said he really ought to have open the scoring just before the hour mark, but having made a clever off the ball, blind side run to meet Williams cross at the back post, his contact let him down and... err, his shot troubled the pigeons sheltering under the stand roof more than it did United's goalkeeper.
Meanwhile at the other end only a last ditch block by Farrow denied Maltby from scoring.
Wright’s was unlucky not to beat Mills with a sweetly struck volley, but the Sports keeper was possibly left feeling even less fortunate as the ball hit him full on in the face. That is going to smart in the morning.Maltby had two headed chances, Mills saved the first before Maltby nodded the second one wide of the upright.
Right at the death, Mills was well placed to repel another thumping shot from Wright... and that was that, the game would now go straight to penalties to decide who would be lifting the cup.
90 minutes - Still nil each
After both sides had successfully converted eight spot kicks apiece, Pinchbeck's Luke Gardner stepped up and missed with his effort. Mills who had already acquired hero status, with some great saves late in the game and having survived copping Wright's well struck shot straight in his face, stepped up and put his side's ninth kick past Martin to settle the game.
ICA Sports won 9-8 on penalties.
........................................................
Amnesty offer:
Dear Granddaughter, if you return my camera before I head to Bramall Lane on Wednesday night to watch the NCEL League Cup Final between Bridlington Town and Penistone Church, then I might remember the directions that I'll need to drive you to that place where you like to go horse riding... if not, you're screwed kid!!!
People will start to realise just how mundane this blog is without photographs to break all of the boring text up. So give it back ASAP.
And make sure that the battery is charged too!
