2 February 2008

FA Carlsberg National League System Cup Quarter Final 

The SAL Representative Team is through to the semi final stage of the FA Carlsberg National League System Cup and therefore just two victories away from European Football as England's representatives in the UEFA Regions Cup, after defeating the Dorset Premier League in a tough quarter final played at Potters Bar Town FC.  

The opening exchanges saw both sets of players struggling to cope with the very poor and testing playing surface of the Potters Bar Town pitch, and as a result many early moves broke down as passes went astray.  However, the best move during a nervy first ten minutes was fashioned by the SAL and it produced the opening opportunity of the contest, which fell to Chris Kerr after Nathan Violet had put him in on goal with a superb diagonal pass from midfield - Kerr though unable to find the target.  A minute later at the other end, pressure from Dorset caused indecision on the edge of the SAL six-yard box, resulting in James Ayres, the SAL skipper, slicing the ball over his own bar. On 23 minutes, Dan Ashley in the SAL goal had to be alert to keep out a low-drilled free-kick, which he gathered at the second attempt.  Then, approaching the half hour mark, each side had a strong shout for a penalty waved away by the referee, Mr West.  Firstly, there were loud appeals from the Dorset players after they had seen a colleague go down under a challenge from Ayres, and then just two minutes later, the SAL players looked to Mr West when a Dorset defender clearly used his hand to gain an advantage when challenging for high ball inside the penalty area.  The Dorset keeper, Paul Maitland, then twice in as many minutes showed his class, in the 31st minute turning a strike from Violet behind for a corner, and after 33 minutes, coming off his line to get the better of Alex Ewin.  Although at this stage Dorset were clearly enjoying the better of the possession, nevertheless, it was the SAL creating the better opportunities.  And, ten minutes before half time, another chance for the SAL saw Kerr (Chris) pick out Nick Stavri who, despite making a good contact with the ball, failed to keep his header down and on target.  Dorset should have opened the scoring a minute before the interval through Mike Rousell - the reason they didn't was down to Ashley who produced the save of the day, athletically turning Rousell’s header over the bar. 

After the break Dorset were much the better of the sides, although rather surprisingly the opening chance fell to the SAL – Stavri after 52 minutes denied by Maitland when through on goal.  Then, having seen an earlier effort go wide, Dorset's Steve Devlin took full advantage of team mate Jon Vance's good play, breaking the deadlock with a thunderous 25-yard strike.  Thereafter, and with their outstanding midfield quartet orchestrating the play, Dorset were clearly in the ascendancy; indeed, but for the excellent work of centre-back pairing Ayres and Neil Currie, the tie at this point could easily have got away from the SAL.  As they went in search of a second goal that surely would secure a semi final berth, Dorset's Rousell missed a gilt-edged chance, firing into the side netting in the 70^th minute with the goal at his mercy having gone around the advancing Ashley.  Minutes later, the same two players were again involved in the action, Rousell on this occasion seeing his shot well-saved by Ashley.  With less than 15 minutes remaining, Ewin, who up to now had been kept reasonably quiet by Dorset's Devlin and Peter Goodbody, having received the ball into feet on the edge of penalty box, turned inside his marker and skipping a tackle, unleashed a superb effort that despite beating Maitland, was always rising and so whistled inches over the bar.  In the 87th minute, yet another opportunity went begging for Dorset when one of their talented midfielders strode forward and with Ashley rooted to the spot, rifled a shot that flew narrowly over the bar.  Moments later, from a corner on the Dorset left, Ayres headed wide and seemingly the SAL were on their way out of the competition.  However, as the tie entered its final minute, Chris Shaw on as a second half substitute, drilled the ball forward and into the path of Violet who at last had managed to find himself some space on the left.  Violet, knowing this would be the last throw of the dice, dispatched an inviting ball to the far post that when played back across the melee of players in the Dorset six-yard box, resulted in the ball being stabbed home inside the opposite post  - Kerr (Chris) being credited with the final touch that meant extra-time would be required.   

It was clear as the first period of extra-time got underway that the contest had now swung firmly in favour of the SAL, and their players inspired by Kerr's equaliser were now playing with a renewed confidence.  In sheer contrast, the Dorset players, looking tired and struggling to clear their lines, were for the first time in the tie looking second best.  With Dorset coming under increasing pressure and the game now being played almost entirely in their half, they gave away a corner after 98 minutes that was to prove costly.  For, when the ball was delivered to the edge of the box it was met superbly by Ayres, who put the SAL ahead, courtesy of a powerful header, although both his Old Salesians team mate, Nick Haynes, and indeed the Dorset defender on the line could lay claim to having got the final touch.  

The tie was put beyond the reach of Dorset within the opening minute of the second period of extra-time when a SAL move down the right was finished with a whipped-in cross to the near post where Ewin gave Maitland little chance with a splendidly placed header.  The SAL should have added a fourth goal late-on when Ewin spotted the intelligent run of Haynes and played a beautifully weighted pass in-behind the Dorset left-back.  However, with just Maitland to beat, Haynes hurried his shot, which he screwed wide of the far post.  Despite the drastic turnaround in their fortunes, and to their immense credit, the Dorset players never stopped battling, especially the industrious Adam Linaker, who on the day was head and shoulders above anyone else on the park and indeed was many spectators’ Match of the Match.  Finally, in the closing minutes, the last meaningful action of the contest saw Dorset denied a second goal when a last-ditch SAL interception took the ball away from Sam Vine.    

The SAL having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in what had been their toughest test to date in the competition can now look forward to what promises to be an equally as tough encounter in the semi final against their old rivals, the Amateur Combination League. 

Southern Amateur League:  Dan Ashley (Norsemen),  Matt Kerr (Nottsborough),  Andrew Diston (Old Finchleians),  Michael Ayres (Old Salesians),  Neil Currie (West Wickham),  James Ayres (Old Salesians),  Chris Kerr (Nottsborough),  Nick Stavri (Nottsborough),  Alex Ewin (Nottsborough),  Os Akaya (Old Wilsonians),  Nathan Violet (Nottsborough),  Chris Shaw (Old Salesians),  Mark Henry (Old Finchleians),  Nick Haynes (Old Salesians) 

Dorset Premier League:  Paul Maitland (Sturminster Marshall),  Adam Marsh (Hamworthy Recreation),  Paul Wells (Westland Sports),  Peter Goodbody (Cobham Sports), Steve Devlin (Wincanton Town),  Andy Perkins (Portland United),  Ryan Lucas (Hamworthy Recreation),  Jon Vance (Wincanton Town),  Adam Linaker (Portland United), Mike Rousell (Westland Sports),  Richard Proctor (Westland Sports),  Lee Diaper (Poole Borough),  Ross Doige (Portland United), Sam Vine (Wincanton Town) 

Ian Lewis