A Review Of The Trade Mark Collections East Cheshire League
By Matt Eagles
Week Thirty–. Heart break for Boarhound at Bentley but Mary Dendy go through to the final.
Inter-League Cup Semi- Final
Mary Dendy 4 Lostock Reserves 3 (a.e.t)
Mary Dendy booked their place in the Inter-League Cup final in a seven goal thriller at Mary Dendy Fields which was settled in extra-time. Dendy got off to a terrific start with the prolific Matty Morris and Will Tolley both on target to give the hosts a two goal cushion in the first half. However a lapse in concentration let Lostock back in the game as they pulled a goal back when Dendy failed to clear the ball from their own penalty area.
With the home determined not to concede again it was going to take something special for Lostock to draw level- and so it proved, a curling freekick making it 2-2 with ten minutes remaining.
Into extra time and it was Dendy who fell behind to a swift counter attack but facing defeat they poured bodies forward and with goalkeeper Stewart Davies pumping a long free kick upfield , it was left to centre half Gareth Worrall to turn in an equaliser. Minutes later Lostock thought they’d won the game as they scrambled the ball home following a throw-in but referee Pete Gregory ruled the goal out with his assistant flagging for a foul throw. The drama hadn’t finished and with the game seemingly heading for penalties Simon Lee went on a mazy run in the final minute only to be hauled down for a penalty. Up stepped Matty Morris to confidently despatch his fifth goal of the competition and send a relieved Dendy side through to the final in Crewe at the Cumberland sports ground on 14th May.
Bentley 1 Boarhound 0
All Boarhound’s good work was undone in the final four minutes as Bentley snatched victory at Sunny Bank Road. Boarhound created several chances in the first half but failed to find the net and their defence held firm in the second half until Bentley’s last gasp winner sent them through to play Mary Dendy in the final.
Subsidiary Cup- Group A
Club AZ 1 Poynton Kingfisher 1
With AZ already through to the semi finals Kingfisher needed a win to join them. This was an extremely tight game but AZ got off to the better start, taking the lead after five minutes with a penalty from Dave Lovatt. With no further score it was left to inspirational midfielder Tom Hopkin to weave his way through the AZ defence and crash an unstoppable shot past a helpless keeper to earn the visitors a deserved point- unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough.
