Canterbury City 1 - 0 Hollands & Blair - Geerings Challenge Cup Final
By Ken Brooke. Sunday, 7 March 2010
Jimi hits extra time winner!!!
In front of an execellent and supportive crowd on a sunny but very cold day, Canterbury City under 13s captured the first League Cup Final of the season, which was played in a fantastic spirit between two very good sides, who should be encouraged for the way they both tried to play football.
With a severe overnight frost, it was a relief to see the sun which helped thaw out the pitch. Both sides have played each other this season, so knew what to expect, but the football on show was a credit to the young players of Kent.
Physical presence always helps at this age, and both sides had a couple of strong big players who influenced the game throughout. For City it wa the eventual match winner Jimi Lawal who has plenty of raw talent, a left foot, and I am sure will develop into an even better player with the right coaching.For Blair, Louis Payne stood out, sufficiently well enough to impress Charlton's Community Trust executive Peter Varney who presented him with the Man of the Match award at the end of the game.
Both teams started brightly, and played some neat football. But both keepers, Toby Woods (City) and Michael Tyrer (Blair) commanded their penalty box and organised their back four really well, so first half chances were limited. For Blair Danny Ansell stood out down the right hand side, and the combination of Lawal and Elliot Cutts for City worked hard without reward. Joe Halford showed some nice touches playing down the left although naturally right footed. One to watch.
In the second half, Blair came closest to scoring when a superb corner was met by the head of the unlucky Payne who saw the ball strike the cross bar and come back into play.
Blair had the majority of possession but could not find a path to goal as the two centre backs of City Kieran Owen and Keiron Watt were very efficient all match. They were helped by for me the outstanding Rob Lofting who will develop into a very good right back. Not the biggest yet, he had an excellent game for me and is in the notebook to keep an eye on!
The game ended 0-0 and went into extra time with penalties looming. But one minute into the second half of a 5 minute extra time period saw a City free kick met by Lawal who slotted it past Tyrer from close in.
Blair then threw everything at City as keeper Tyrer took a couple of free kicks that went high over the bar, but when the whistle blew City had held on to claim the trophy.
An enthusiastic crowd gave both teams a fantastic ovation at the end which was thoroughly deserved. Well done to both coaching teams who clearly believe in playing football and should be encouraged to continue to do so. For messrs Smith and Baker known to me personally, it was a great reward for two promising coaches (well that's what they asked me to say!!!).
At the end there were plenty of reasons to be warmed up by the attitude and play of both teams. Both teams gave the Referee the respect he deserved and it was nice to se young players accepting the decisions made. A yellow card for City's Cutts for not retreating for a Blair free kick was the only caution of the day.
Well done to Referee Rob Lavery, Assistants Shane Brown (only 15) and Karen Jones, and of course an outstanding performance from our 4th Official Will Sanderson :).
Our thanks to Lordswood F.C for use of their facilities, and to Molten for supplying the match balls.
Teams: City: Toby Woods, Rob Lofting, Liam Kennelly, Callum Dock, Kieran Owen, Kieran Watt, Joe Halford, Dominic Snee. Jimi Lawal, Elliot Cutts, Billy Shearer, Owen Kermode, Blu Woods, Callum Kennelly, Stanley Allan, Jesse Hitching.
Blair: Michael Tyrer, Alex Armstrong, Austin Edwards, Barney Fllod, Daniel Bennett, Danny Ansell, Finn McGibbon, Joe Beatson, Louis Payne, Mark Wood, Owen Heathfield, Sam Murray, Scott Bennett, Tolly Beatson, Zach Jakubowski.
Scorer: Jimi Lawal (76)
Independent Legionella Consultancy Service (Kent) Man of the Match: Louis Payne.
