Wycombe & South Bucks U13 League Cup Final
There’s a great saying that’s often used to describe really close cricket matches that perfectly conveys how tense and tight this hard fought final was between two teams neither of whom deserved to get beat. It really was one hell of an arse-nipper!
Ruislip went into this game as warm favourites, they are top of the table, a full 11 points ahead of mid-table Chalfont. They have also won 20 of their 21 games this season including their last 18 straight, but it was Chalfont who started the better of the 2 teams as they knocked the ball around confidently and most of the early stages were played out in Ruislip territory. However it was Ruislip who had the first chance as Ryan Morgan pounced on an 8th minute mistake but his low drive was well saved by the keeper to his right. This proved to be an isolated Ruislip attack as they struggled to get to grips with a new midfield formation and the resultant lack of cohesion was all too evident. Chalfont were quicker, stronger and had a better shape. Chances fell their way but thanks to wayward finishing, a smart Harry Sandiford save and a brave block from Luke Massingham the Ruislip goal remained intact. That all changed on 28 minutes as a right wing cross was criminally not dealt with by Sandiford or his defenders and was cleverly flicked home by a grateful Chalfont striker for a goal that had been coming for some time. Something needed to change and it was the midfield formation that was tweaked as Mark Webb was pushed into the ‘No 10’ role to provide a link between the midfield and attack. All of a sudden, Ruislip players in possession had an outlet and the team were able to operate 10-15 yards further upfield. On 31 minutes, Ruislip attacked down the right and good work by Finn Edwards resulted in a free kick which was swung in by Massingham and when the ball wasn’t cleared it fell to Jack Neill who sharply swept home for his 20th and most important goal of the campaign. There was a sense that Ruislip has got out of jail somewhat but there was also a sense that the game was changing.
That sense grew to reality in a second half that was a total transformation to the first. Omari Reynolds, as effective as a paper boat before the break, was suddenly a battleship afterwards and with Harrison Deas holding and Webb probing, Ruislip were at last winning the midfield war. But still Chalfont were a threat as they went more route 1. Lewis Crowley, so impressive in the 1st half, looked like he was running through treacle as he was caught out by a through ball but Sandiford bailed him out with a smart save. Ruislip looked the more likely however and Chalfont were indebted to their keeper for an excellent double save, firstly pushing out Lennox Kedman’s cleverly improvised shot before diving bravely at the feet of the onrushing Ben Higgins. Higgins was called into action at the other end as both he and Massingham performed desperate last ditch clearances as the play switched to the other end. Still, the feeling was that the game was there for Ruislip to win and with time running out they were the ones pushing for the winner. With 4 minutes remaining, Webb was desperately close when his wonderful turn and shot fizzed just over. Extra time beckoned but there was still time for one last chance as Neill dug deep to hunt down and win a ball on the byline. His intelligent pull back to the edge of the area was met by Webb but his controlled goal bound effort was agonisingly deflected inches wide with the keeper beaten. The corner was cleared and the referee’s whistle was a signal for a further 20 minutes.
Extra time was tight and both teams really only had 1 chance each as fatigue kicked in. Chalfont’s moment came as early as the 1st minute but Sandiford produced an amazing reflex save to claw away a close range effort. Ruislip’s big chance came with 3 minutes left as Charlie Coshall sent Kedman away down the left but his fierce drive across the keeper narrowly evaded the far post and also Neill who was inches away from a cup winning tap in. 1-1 it finished and few could argue that a draw was the right result but there had to be a winner and spot kicks would decide it.
Ruislip went first and their 1st 3 penalties were all dispatched confidently by Edwards, Webb & Massingham. But the real damage was done by Sandiford as he brilliantly kept out Chalfont’s opening 2 attempts and it all meant that when Coshall put the ball on the spot, he had the chance to win the game and the trophy for his team. It was never in doubt and Ruislip had won.
You have to be fair and say it was tough on Chalfont as they had pushed Ruislip all the way and they will regret not taking more of their 1st half chances. For their part, Ruislip, who are in the middle of a really testing run of high pressure games, again demonstrated their strength of character and once more found a way to win whilst not being at their absolute best. The 1st leg of a possible treble is now safely in the bag…next up the County Cup Final.
Ruislip squad:
Harry Sandiford
Lewis Crowley
Luke Massingham
Ben Higgins
Harrison Deas
Omari Reynolds
Mark Webb
Remi Ogunbayo
Ryan Morgan
Jack Neill
Charlie Coshall
Finn Edwards
Lennox Kedman
Eli Soque
MoM: Harry Sandiford – should’ve done better for the Chalfont goal but more than made up for that with a brilliant instinctive stop in extra time and 2 match winning saves in the shoot out.
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