Contact WFC
|
|
 |
Woodhurst 2 - Gidea Park 4
Godbold Cup Semi-Final
Parmiters Sports Ground, Sunday 30th March 03
A lack of creativity and courage in front of goal and mistakes at the back sent Woodhurst out of the Godbold Cup in a match they largely dominated, and they were up against in from the start.
The young side from Gidea Park arrived late but up for it and caught the Hurst defence, bolstered by the return of Paul Jones, napping after only two minutes. A corner from the left was turned goalward by an unmarked head but Steve Hughes blocked well on the line, only to see it fall back to where it came from and this time he made no mistake.
A goal down Woodhurst stepped up the pressure and retained much of the ball, without finding a goal, Jimmy Woodham came close but his chip from 8-yards from a Matt Bradbury reverse pass beat the goalkeeper and the cross bar.
But the Hurst were soon level, Jason Fullerton providing the thrust. Collecting the ball from deep on the right, the barrow-boy carried forward and was surprised at the space offered to him. Before he realised he was nearing the box and a side step to the left open up a shot on his un-favoured foot which, combined with a bobble, fooled the keeper and spun into the net.
It was no more than they deserved and Gidea Park looked down, but the Hurst failed to capitalise and went in 1-1 at the break. But moments into the second period, the unfancied Romford youngsters took the lead again when a Jones back header towards Norton beat the on-rushing keeper, giving the forward the simplest of goals. More surprise was to follow when a third Gidea Park goal - again against the run of play - put them further ahead.
Woodhurst now need to find the cutting edge and with 20 minutes left grabbed a goal back and it was game on. Jimmy Woodham fed a first-time cross into the box from the left and Ryan Houlton was on hand to guide home with his ginger head.
The home side felt an equaliser coming, but the luck was against them today and with two-minutes remaining Nick Bashford was left isolated at the back, and though he did well to cut out the through ball, it fell kindly for a Gidea Park striker to supply his partner beating the offside trap and his chip over Norton snuggled into the net.
On another day it could have been a very different story, but as it was the youngster' were more clinical than the cup holders and Woodhurst's defence of the Godbold Cup was over.
Team
Andrew Norton
Jason Fullerton
Steve Hughes
Roy Lawley
Paul Jones
Nick Bashford
Ryan Houlton
Matt Bradbury (Parris)
Leevan Rogers (Leonard)
Jimmy Woodham
Jan Souleyman
Subs
Terry Parris
Miles Leonard
|
|
|
|
