Match Report: Phoenix into the Last 8 Thanks To Medley Magic

Gower Phoenix – 6 Camden Athletic – 3

Gower FC has two teams in the last 8 of the divisional cup following victory over a attacking Camden side on Sunday, but 6 goals from red-hot striker Tim Medley obscured a poor 2nd half in which a combination of injuries and rushed play saw the men of the Phoenix struggle for possession.

The starting 11 say a return of Rod between the sticks; the previous week’s back four of Dens, Treeno, Luke and Elliot remain intact. In Midfield the return of Miles on the right and Thompo from a knee injury in the centre, where he joined the Wall, allowed Jake to push on to the left. Up front Jon Hanna was reunited with Tim Medley, partners in crime from the 8-1 drubbing of Good Mixer two weeks previous. The venue was the slightly unusual 3G astro of the new river sports stadium in White Hart Lane.

Phoenix started slowly, despite a dynamic warm-up which saw most of the team looking very slick in their new training tops. A couple of driven through balls evaded the back four and Camden lacked the clinical finishing needed to capitalise. Then the Medley show took off. First a dribble from right to left ended in a pinpoint shot of significant power to leave the goalie stranded, 1-0. Then following good work on the left from Dens and Jake, Tim burst into the area and has crudely felled, he stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, 2-0.

2-0 up and then the Phoenix lost Jake to a groin strain, bringing Henry, our only sub, into the fray with less than twenty minutes played. Thompo was struggling with his knee injury allowing Camden to pressure in the centre of the pitch. Phoenix caught the opposition well on the break, Jon using his strength to play in Tim for a 1 on 1 that he managed to tuck away for a 3-0 half time lead.

2nd half and Henry began to struggle with an injury to his knee, with 2 midfielders semi-injured and Camden willing to put caution into the wind the pressure grew on the men of the Phoenix, eventually and inability to clear their lines allowed a Camden Striker to loop a long range effort passed Rod, who’d already made some smart saves in the first half, 3-1. Phoenix repealed several attacks before breaking forcing a corner which came out, was hit back in by Dens, headed down by Treen and finished by Tim to make it 4-1. Almost immediately Camden struck back as Tim lost possession in a dangerous area of our own half allowing Camden to play up through for a clinical finish for 4-2.

Phoenix then suffered a knee injury to the burly Jon Hanna further hampering our ability to get hold of possession despite the hard running of both the Wall and Miles on the right, who played some deft combinations with Elliot before spanking a half-volley from a tight angle which was well saved. Tim then scored a regulation knock in after beating the few defenders that Camden left at the back, 5-2

Poor defending deep in Phoenix territory allowed a Camden striker to score a superb looping effort to make it 5-3 in the last five, however not to be outdone right from the kick off Tim spanked a long range effort from the centre spot that flew and dipped in over the keeper in the middle of the goal. It was a goal that put simply was too good for the Camden Music League; it can therefore be described as out of this league.

So Phoenix march on to play Clissold Thistle in the last 8 (a team we spanked earlier in the season). Hopefully those who picked up knocks will make speedy recoveries. Big league game at Regents Park against British Samurai at 2pm next Sunday, let’s be having them…

MOTM: Tim 'the Machine' Medley