A review of this weekend’s action from the
Lewis Evans Upholstery
sponsored
Macclesfield & District Sunday Football League.
League Cup Semi Final
A C Bollan 2 Boarhound 5 a.e.t.
Boarhound reached the League Cup final after a remarkable game at Mary Dendy Fields .They follow the Lamb Inn, the last side from the First Division to reach the final in 2005 06. In the end their victory was deserved , but the scoreline was harsh on Bollan who dominated the opening exchanges and indeed led 2-0 after only eighteen minutes. Ben Davenport gave Bollan the lead after a scramble in the Boarhound penalty area and ten minutes later they doubled their advantage, the unfortunate Chris Taylor
 |
| AC Bollan's Neil Benney closes down Craig Hayes |
deflecting a speculative ball past keeper Pete Slack with his head.
Bollan were cruising,but the whole game changed barely two minutes later when defender Liam McCullock was sent off for deliberate handball by referee Andy Atkinson. It was debatable whether the ball had actually crossed the line but Wayne Riley made certain , smashing home emphatically from the penalty spot. Boarhound were back in the game and Bollan were forced to re-group. One minute into first half stoppage time Dec Fletcher out sprinted the Bollan defence to knick the ball past James Flower to tie the game . It was a killer blow for Bollan who despite having chances , never regained their early momentum. Les Sykes , now at centre half produced the best chance of the second half , thundering a free kick against the bar but that aside , Boarhound’s goalkeeper Pete Slack was well protected by his defenders , in particular captain Rick Nelson who had an excellent game.
James Flower pulled of a couple of great saves to deny Boarhound the lead with Dave Bradford sticking tight to danger man Fletcher. Les Sykes won everything in the air at the back for Bollan but with a man advantage Boarhounds superior numbers eventually told in extra time as Bollan legs visiblely wilted . Man of the match Ben Hamand scored twice , either side of a coolly taken Dec Fletcher strike.
 |
| Boarhound's Chris Taylor and Tim Hammond of AC Bollan |
It will be a fitting end to the season for Dave Hulme’s young charges when they walk out in the final on 7th May at the Moss Rose against either Pack Horse or Macc Boys Seniors , whether they can go that one step further and lift the trophy remains to be seen but they have certainly got their on merit and thoroughly deserve to enjoy the occasion.
