Under-19 Cup Semi-final, KGV Park, Tuesday, 28 July 2009
__________________________________________________
Metro 1-3 Clarence United
__________________________________________________
Metro eliminated the highly rated University in the quarterfinals of the Under-19 Cup, but on this form, it was difficult to see how.
Clarence United ran out comfortable winners and will meet Tilford Zebras in the final.
Clarence fielded several players with Premier League experience (Adam Knapek, Adam McIntyre, Jacob Huigsloot, Chris Nicholson, Brendan Garth, Ben Phillips and Matt Chapman), while Metro included some senior players from their Division One side (Jason Dawes, Wade Hawkins, Paul Hunt).
Travis Brooks was forced to make several saves in the first half as Clarence United dominated possession and launched wave after wave of attacks.
Metro’s attacking moves generally broke down in their attacking third as players either tried to take on one more defender, or as the final pass went astray.
Chapman had the first chance for Clarence after 10 minutes, but drove straight at Brooks.
The build-up to Clarence’s opening goal in the 26th minute was excellent, Angus Hardwick’s pass putting Ben Phillips in on the right side of the box.
When Phillips crossed low and hard across the face of goal, the unfortunate Nathan Dawes beat his own keeper with an attempted clearance that skewed off his boot and into the net.
Clarence almost had a second five minutes into the second half when Trent Delaney lost possession to Liam Marsh, but good goalkeeping denied the striker.
Clarence did make it 2-0 in the 51st minute after the Metro keeper and his defenders failed to deal with a high lob into the box and Marsh fired into an empty net.
Metro pulled a simple goal back in the 55th minute when Danny Cowen was allowed to head home Jack Turner’s corner from the left.
In the 59th minute, Jason Dawes worked his way into the box on the left, but he blazed over the bar when he should at least have worked the keeper.
Five minutes later, Clarence restored their two-goal buffer as Brendan Garth powered a shot home from 20 metres.
Jason Dawes was presented with another chance in the final minute, but his shot was well saved by Trent Cornish.
___________________________________________________
· Metro coach, Douglas Saunders, said:
“I thought our lads didn’t play to the level that they have played in the past.
“We were carrying a few injuries, as you saw, in the second half with the goalkeeper.
“It was a fair result, a fair result, really.”
· Clarence United coach, Alan Jablonski, said:
“I thought the boys played really well.
“I thought the back-four were solid.
“It was a good cup semi-final.”
_______________________________________________________
Metro: Jack Bowerman - Nathan Dawes, John Ramage, Trent Delaney, Wade Hawkins - Jack Turner, Jason Dawes, Daniel Brown, Danny Cowen - Jeremy Morris, Travis Brooks (Interchange: Paul Hunt, Mykel Porter, Cameron Lucas, Ryan Thurley)
Goals: Danny Cowen 55
Clarence United: Trent Cornish - Adam Knapek, Adam McIntyre, Jacob Huigsloot, Chris Nicholson - Brendan Garth, Angus Hardwick, Jake Undy, Ben Phillips - Campbell Flakemore, Matt Chapman (Interchange: Patrick Lenck, Nathan Cashion, Liam Marsh, Bradley Granger)
Goals: Nathan Dawes 26 og, Liam Marsh 51, Brendan Garth 64
Att: 90
Ref: J Priest
1 comment:
Wow!! Alan Jablonski - only three sentences? What's going on there?
Post a Comment