Match Day 17 and a QF tie in the Jim Fleeman Cup, a rare true away day as we made our way to Muntz Hall, Tamworth In Arden to take on Beoley Village...upon arriving we were met by a pitch that can only be described as a farmers field and waited around for near on 45 mins while our opponent's cut the grass, Sunday morning football, god bless it!!!
We assembled a 15 man squad with keeper Tom Whitehead not available and Adam Sharp dropped out the morning of the match due to personal reasons, all being fair in love and war we couldn't complain about the squad available though. You can see from the starting 11 from the pic attached as we reverted back to type rolling out 4-3-3, Ibby donning the gloves for us and 4 players on the bench, on a unbelievably hot day hopefully that would work in our favour as our older opponent's only had 12 players.
Onto the game then and we started well, Jon Pearson in particular got on the ball and found the feet of both Cuan Partridge and Tommy Williams, with Stewart Rowland winning headers, holding the ball up its fair to say we dominated the opening half an hour. Goals win football matches though and despite good individual displays, half chances and more, good possession in wide areas and a set piece threat I can't recall many genuine chances, Beoleys only threat being 60/70 yard punts from there monster keeper of which we misjudged a couple of early ones and the odd Beoley player threatened occasionally through pace but Ibby had nothing to do in the opening half an hour. We made a change 25 maybe 30 mins in when Tyler came on for Stew and as the first half wore on, a forced drinks break coming 35 mins in despite several requests previously it was Beoley who finished stronger with a couple of set pieces which we dealt with well, the first half which kicked off late then went on for 55 mins ?
Second half and the incline in our favour I honestly thought we'd go on and take the game to them but it didn't really happen, Owen Lewis was flagging in the heat and was replaced by Derek J Harkin 55/60 mins in and more changes followed here and there as we looked to freshen things up. Neither keeper had a lot to do, Ibby still pretty much untested 60 plus mins in and Tyler went close with 20 yard effort. We continued in patches to play well with Lee Ewens reliable in possession, Harri Wiley aggressive as always and our backline didnt look under due threat with the offside flag playing its part. ROB THOMAS and David Lewis got themselves forward from the back but we just couldn't find that final bit of quality in the final third, penalty box. Then with 15 mins plus left Matthew Rowland made a challenge, barely touching there forward with a hand in the back at best, more a holding him off duel etc which was a few yards outside the box but with the opposition screaming penalty from distance and the Ref 50 yards from the action he gave it based on who called first and loudest, pathetic decision from a inept official who's officiated in the same manner for years, he got further from the game as it wore on and just went with who moaned more about any given incident, anyway despite our protests the pen stood and was dispatched to put Beoley 1-0 up. We threw bodies forward and with 5 maybe more minutes left we got awarded a similar pathetic penalty when first Cuan went down like he'd been shot by a sniper and Ben was challenged heavily but never a pen, we all screamed penalty for either one hoping for the best and he awarded us a penalty, who knows for which challenge but Richard Tyler stepped up, kept his nerve and dispatched his effort to make it 1-1. We then ended up playing a near on 60 minute second half in baking heat, no drinks break given but due to so many inept decisions given players at times were able to take on fluids, right in the final moment of normal time Jon picked out a superb through ball and Benjamin James fell over his own feet 6 yards out without making contact with the ball, match goes to penalties...
With there keeper covering half of the goal I'll be honest I wasn't confident and it panned out that way, we missed our first 2 pens and Ibby Akhlaq make a smart save later in the shoot out to give us hope but Beoley ran out 4-2 winners on pens in the end.
Congrats to Beoley who've been around for ever so hopefully they go and get themselves a bit of silverware, good lads in the main tbf so no grumbles on that point. As for the pitch and Ref it always sounds like sour grapes when you lose but my god, not a great advertisement for any level of football, untimely though we lost because we can't score goals, everything is right and so much is good until we get into the final third, it's a collective thing, no fingers pointed as certain individuals played well and have done all season, our league record for goals would of had us in the bottom 3 this season though and as I say ultimately it's cost us again as we were, are the better side but didn't capitalise on our better moments and goals change games and then results...frustrating morning/afternoon, season done, roll on the summer ??
As per thx to those who attended including Jamie Cantona and Daniel Rowland who was a unused sub in the end ?
As for M.o.M I thought 4/5 were contenders, Ibby although little to do, Rob, Lee and Tommy but myself and Jim plumped for JON PEARSON who seems to like that awful pitch lol, constantly probing and first half especially he won some towering headers for a wee man??
Our final curtain closer to bring the season to a complete end as such is a friendly on Thursday June 24th as we take on Sss Vets at the Studley Entaco 6.30 pm kick off ???