BackFri 20 May 2016
Boldon CA
Gateshead Leam Rangers
B player (38'), (73'), (92' Pen)
3
2
A Mulholland (5'), C Lowther (26')
Boldon v Leam Shipowners Cup Final
Dave Justice21 May 2016 - 11:57
Heartbreak in the Final
The last game of a long season, a Cup Final against local rivals Boldon in front of a big crowd, we couldn't have asked for more. After the difficult job of picking a starting 11 and subs from a big squad, Chris Lowther returned at centre half and Liam McVicar started up front with Connor Halpin.
As instructed the team started quickly and took the game to Boldon from kick off. Alan Mulholland opened the scoring on 5 mins after good work by Halpin. Joe Hunter put a chance wide on 20 mins and Chris Lowther headed off the Boldon bar on 25 mins. A minute later he headed in a Hunter corner to put us 2 up and in a commanding position. On the half hour Boldon had their first chance of the game and it took a clearing header off the line by Ben Miller to keep them out. Miller ran through onto a square pass across the box by Mulholland on 32 mins and slotted the ball home but was flagged offside by the linesman. Spectators who were level with play tell me the decision was wrong and our killer 3rd goal was ruled out by an officials mistake. Boldon rallied towards the end of the half and forced a great save from Neil Postlethwaite on 37 mins. Failed tackles in midfield cost us a corner on 38 mins and Boldon pulled one back from it, as the ball was headed through a crowd of players and crossed the line before it was hooked clear. McVicar blasted a shot wide from 8 yards on 41 mins. HT 1-2
Second half and neither side came quickly out of the blocks, the first chance of the half fell to Boldon on the hour, Postlethwaite tipping a shot over the bar. 0n 61 mins they had another chance from a corner but it was wide. Connor Halpin had a shot saved on 63 mins and as we introduced David Stephenson and Jonny Hirst they both began to make an impact. Dava fired just over the bar on 64 mins and Hirst ran down the left and flashed a great ball across the face of the goal but no-one could poke it home. Hirst was 1v1 with the keeper on 73 mins, his shot was saved by the keepers legs and the ball rebounded to a Boldon defender who hooked the ball forward, over the heads of our defenders and Boldons forward won the race to calmly finish for 2-2. Once again we took hold of the game and Mulholland put a chance wide on 75 mins, Miller hit the bar on 78 mins and Dava had a free header from a corner which he headed down and it bounced up just over the bar on 80 mins. He headed wide from a corner on 84 mins and Halpin had a blistering shot deflected over the bar on 89 mins.
it looked to be going to extra time but on 92 mins a corner for Boldon was headed away by Lowther and as he chased out his own header he dived in to a tackle on the left side of our box. Although it was a foul it was outside of the box, the referee blew straight away and pointed to the spot. The lad that was fouled was still lying in the same spot outside of the box but the ref wouldn't have it. Credit to Boldons forward he stepped up and slotted home to win them the cup in injury time.
Absolutely gutting for everyone at the club, a big thanks to all those who came along to support us. The players didn't let anyone down and worked hard for the whole game.
As the game was being recorded I'm waiting to see the dvd to check on the decisions by the ref and his team, it wont change the result but Ill make sure its highlighted if proven to have cost us.
As instructed the team started quickly and took the game to Boldon from kick off. Alan Mulholland opened the scoring on 5 mins after good work by Halpin. Joe Hunter put a chance wide on 20 mins and Chris Lowther headed off the Boldon bar on 25 mins. A minute later he headed in a Hunter corner to put us 2 up and in a commanding position. On the half hour Boldon had their first chance of the game and it took a clearing header off the line by Ben Miller to keep them out. Miller ran through onto a square pass across the box by Mulholland on 32 mins and slotted the ball home but was flagged offside by the linesman. Spectators who were level with play tell me the decision was wrong and our killer 3rd goal was ruled out by an officials mistake. Boldon rallied towards the end of the half and forced a great save from Neil Postlethwaite on 37 mins. Failed tackles in midfield cost us a corner on 38 mins and Boldon pulled one back from it, as the ball was headed through a crowd of players and crossed the line before it was hooked clear. McVicar blasted a shot wide from 8 yards on 41 mins. HT 1-2
Second half and neither side came quickly out of the blocks, the first chance of the half fell to Boldon on the hour, Postlethwaite tipping a shot over the bar. 0n 61 mins they had another chance from a corner but it was wide. Connor Halpin had a shot saved on 63 mins and as we introduced David Stephenson and Jonny Hirst they both began to make an impact. Dava fired just over the bar on 64 mins and Hirst ran down the left and flashed a great ball across the face of the goal but no-one could poke it home. Hirst was 1v1 with the keeper on 73 mins, his shot was saved by the keepers legs and the ball rebounded to a Boldon defender who hooked the ball forward, over the heads of our defenders and Boldons forward won the race to calmly finish for 2-2. Once again we took hold of the game and Mulholland put a chance wide on 75 mins, Miller hit the bar on 78 mins and Dava had a free header from a corner which he headed down and it bounced up just over the bar on 80 mins. He headed wide from a corner on 84 mins and Halpin had a blistering shot deflected over the bar on 89 mins.
it looked to be going to extra time but on 92 mins a corner for Boldon was headed away by Lowther and as he chased out his own header he dived in to a tackle on the left side of our box. Although it was a foul it was outside of the box, the referee blew straight away and pointed to the spot. The lad that was fouled was still lying in the same spot outside of the box but the ref wouldn't have it. Credit to Boldons forward he stepped up and slotted home to win them the cup in injury time.
Absolutely gutting for everyone at the club, a big thanks to all those who came along to support us. The players didn't let anyone down and worked hard for the whole game.
As the game was being recorded I'm waiting to see the dvd to check on the decisions by the ref and his team, it wont change the result but Ill make sure its highlighted if proven to have cost us.
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