Warlingham "B" reach the final of the Surrey Lower Junior Cup

Surrey Lower Junior Cup – Semi Final - Saturday 12th March 2011
Warlingham “B” 5 Sporting Kitz Vets 2

This always promised to be an excellent game pitching youth against experience. The Warlingham side was packed with 18 year olds blended with some good experienced players and coming up against one of the best Vets sides around who also find themselves in the Semi Final of the Surrey Vets Cup. As was delicately pointed out during the afternoon they have never beaten Warlingham Vets.

So into the game on a bright but chilly afternoon. Wars started quickly taking the game to Kitz and getting into their stride nice and early. In the 2nd minute Wars were ahead as Tyson broke down the left and Macca reached his cross before the Kitz keeper. Wars 1-0

Kitz quickly regained their composure and started work on their passing game. Tyson cleared from a corner at the other end shortly after the goal and the game was already end to end. After just 6 mins Bristow knocked a free kick into Norris whose knock back created another Macca shot.

This pattern continued but Kitz gradually got on top with Wars drifting further back and allowing Kitz more room in midfield to develop their passing and create problems for the Wars defence.

On 20 mins a goal mouth scramble ensued and Dungey made an excellent save and the rebound was crashed against the bar and cleared. Just 3 mins later more good work by Kitz saw the right sided midfielder cross the ball back but fail to find a Kitz player when he should have done better. Kitz were now building pressure and the Wars central pairing of Bristow and Herbert were doing well to hold their own against the more experienced Kitz forward line. Herbert was manoeuvred out of position after 28 mins but Kitz shot wide again.

Wars were now restricted to playing on the break and Norris did well just a minute later and his cross found Macca who volleyed just over.

The pressure had been building as Wars dropped deeper and deeper making it much more difficult for Fitzy and McIntyre to compete in midfield. The equaliser finally came after 35 mins as the ball was played inside Harper at right back and the Kitz left sided midfielder cut inside and beat Dungey from close range. Up to this point the cultured Harper had not put a foot wrong.

Wars reacted to the set back well and had a clear penalty turned aside after 40 mins as Macca was brought down a yard inside the area with the Referee somehow deciding the offence was committed outside. This was to be just the start of what was to become a nightmare for the Kitz centre half.

The half closed with Dungey making another good save as the Wars defence was again caught. Half time 1-1

Wars knew they needed to make their youth and superior fitness pay and they came out with a determined look after a dressing down at half time from the management team.

On 56 mins Macca tore past the centre half (for what was to become a recurring theme) and cut the ball back for Pavlou to convert from the edge of the 6 yard box. Wars 2-1.

Dungey was having a great day in goal commanding his area and making saves to keep Wars in the hunt. Down the other end Macca was continuing to wear down their centre half who was now being beaten time and again and spending much of his time gasping for breath. He won a penalty which was coolly despatched by Antino to make it 3-1. Kitz came straight back and a lob from the right of the Wars area sailed over the unfortunate Dungey who had no chance. Wars 3-2.

After 74 mins yet again Macca made ground down the Kitz left and his cut back was met beautifully by Norris who despatched his volley low to the keeper’s right. Wars 4-2.

Same again after 77 mins and again the centre half had to pull down Macca to stop his progress. This time he should have walked but again the referee strangely booked him presumably out of pure sympathy!! Antino had been replaced by Rolfe at left back so Macca stepped up himself and made it 5-2.

Dungey still had more work to do but held firm. The game ended with McIntyre blasting through from midfield leaving Kitz players trailing in his wake but he passed when he should have gone alone and the chance was gone.

A magnificent victory and an evening to look forward to on the 12th April at Redhill F.C 7.30pm KO.

Team: Dungey, Harper, Herbert, Bristow, Antino, Fitzgerald, McIntyre, Norris, Pavlou, Lacy, Tyson Subs used: Crutcher, Rolfe, Armstrong Not used: Manning

MOM: Great team effort with everybody playing their part. Harper looks a real find at full back, Herbert and Bristow held up to a stiff test in the centre of defence and Antino was strong against the Kitz right sided player who had been picked out as a real danger before the game. Macca and Norris showed all their class and Fitzy was tireless in midfield. For me the one person who really came of age today was Mark Dungey. He commanded his area, made some excellent saves when we really needed it and let everybody around him know who was in charge. Excellent display - his dad will be rightly proud.