Russell Athletic 1 - 4 Barely Athletic
Subs:
Mark
John T
Kevin Dobbs
Laurie
Barely's unbeaten run now stretches to five games, four of them victories, as they avoided the visual impairment commonly called having one eye on the cup. With the final looming, one might have forgiven them a duff result in the league, but Batts was having none of it.
The pitch was rock hard with cracks wide enough to lose your car keys in, but fortunately Barely stuck with tradition and took to the field without them. A strong bench augmented the team's 4-4-2 line-up, with Gareth and Alastair making trouble up front. With several absentees in the centre of midfield Mike and Chris stepped up and started bossing things as Barely began well. In fact they should have began even better, but when a cross from the left fell to Sam, he skewed the ball wide of the post with the goal at his mercy.
No matter - five minutes later, Kev charged into the box and his Loftus-like persistence took him past a couple of challenges before squaring the ball. This time Sam made no mistake, and Barely were deservedly in front.
They had several opportunities to increase their lead before half time, as pressure on the Russell box increased, but seemed to lose its focus at the final ball. Gareth did manage to increase the lead, though, powering in Sam's through-ball to put Barely 2-0 up. It looked like the jig might be up for the home team... but Russell responded with an excellent free-kick flying in under the crossbar, to end the half just a single goal behind.
Batts shifted personnel while keeping the same formation, but Barely started the second half looking slightly bewildered as a transformed Russell laid siege to the Barely goal. Alan was called upon several times to snaffle up the odd ball, and the back line were kept busy.
But the Russell storm was weathered, and Barely began to shade the game again. Once more the ball was often flying toward the opposition goal, and once more it seemed it was destined to not go in - at first. Then a delightful Barely move down the right wing ended with Chris dancing to the byline and chipping a cross into the box. John Trimble was in the right place to bundle it over the line, and Barely's two-goal advantage was restored.
Russell weren't out of it - another free-kick looked in danger of sailing in before Alan pawed it over the bar - and although they weren't the most mobile team Barely have played, they put together the odd bit of decent pressure. But again, most of the chances fell to Barely, with Kev kicking himself after he sliced a chance wide of the post, and unluckily glanced a header a foot over the bar. Mike gambled into the box, only to see his shot cannon off the post. But Barely wrapped up the points with ten minutes left - Gareth chased down a short back-pass and as he and the keeper challenged, the ball broke to Sam, who shimmied past the goalie and claimed his second left-footed goal of the day - Barely's fourth.
There was still time for the odd moment of drama either end, but the scoreline had settled into place. The man of the match vote was again spread wide, reflecting the great team performance, but Gareth claimed it for his overall contributon.
Alan
Dave Colin Batts Graham
Sam Mike Chris Kev Andrews
Gareth Alastair
Subs:
Mark
John T
Kevin Dobbs
Laurie
Barely's unbeaten run now stretches to five games, four of them victories, as they avoided the visual impairment commonly called having one eye on the cup. With the final looming, one might have forgiven them a duff result in the league, but Batts was having none of it.
The pitch was rock hard with cracks wide enough to lose your car keys in, but fortunately Barely stuck with tradition and took to the field without them. A strong bench augmented the team's 4-4-2 line-up, with Gareth and Alastair making trouble up front. With several absentees in the centre of midfield Mike and Chris stepped up and started bossing things as Barely began well. In fact they should have began even better, but when a cross from the left fell to Sam, he skewed the ball wide of the post with the goal at his mercy.
No matter - five minutes later, Kev charged into the box and his Loftus-like persistence took him past a couple of challenges before squaring the ball. This time Sam made no mistake, and Barely were deservedly in front.
They had several opportunities to increase their lead before half time, as pressure on the Russell box increased, but seemed to lose its focus at the final ball. Gareth did manage to increase the lead, though, powering in Sam's through-ball to put Barely 2-0 up. It looked like the jig might be up for the home team... but Russell responded with an excellent free-kick flying in under the crossbar, to end the half just a single goal behind.
Batts shifted personnel while keeping the same formation, but Barely started the second half looking slightly bewildered as a transformed Russell laid siege to the Barely goal. Alan was called upon several times to snaffle up the odd ball, and the back line were kept busy.
But the Russell storm was weathered, and Barely began to shade the game again. Once more the ball was often flying toward the opposition goal, and once more it seemed it was destined to not go in - at first. Then a delightful Barely move down the right wing ended with Chris dancing to the byline and chipping a cross into the box. John Trimble was in the right place to bundle it over the line, and Barely's two-goal advantage was restored.
Russell weren't out of it - another free-kick looked in danger of sailing in before Alan pawed it over the bar - and although they weren't the most mobile team Barely have played, they put together the odd bit of decent pressure. But again, most of the chances fell to Barely, with Kev kicking himself after he sliced a chance wide of the post, and unluckily glanced a header a foot over the bar. Mike gambled into the box, only to see his shot cannon off the post. But Barely wrapped up the points with ten minutes left - Gareth chased down a short back-pass and as he and the keeper challenged, the ball broke to Sam, who shimmied past the goalie and claimed his second left-footed goal of the day - Barely's fourth.
There was still time for the odd moment of drama either end, but the scoreline had settled into place. The man of the match vote was again spread wide, reflecting the great team performance, but Gareth claimed it for his overall contributon.
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