Gower Allstars Div Cup final vs North London Crickets - Apr 22nd 2007

Allstars 14:-
Ossack, Paley (GK), Durrant, Mitchell, Kelly, Glyn (cpt), Medley, Duggan, Street
Howard, Chittenden, Selbie, Blandy, Stiefel, Klinger

Gower Allstars secured a unique league and cup double by beating N.London Crickets in the Camden Dvisional Cup Final. On a hard and bobbly pitch, Gowers had a horrific and uncharacteristically slow start, with Crickets seemingly hungrier and more determined from the outset, to lift the trophy.

It was not long before the Allstars were 1-0 down from a controversial penalty decision, where Paley got a touch but then clattered into the oncoming striker. Referee deemed it “taking out the man”, a seemingly harsh decision.

The Allstars simply could not gather themselves, throughout the first half. Our midfield were anonymous, and the whole team’s passes were going astray, tackles were being missed, and marking was loose. As a result it was Crickets, who having been relegated last week from the Allstars league, were the surprise package and dominating proceedings. And for the Allstars, apart from one fine move down the right channel, which ended with Howard crossing far post to Duggan, who could not convert, there were no open play opportunities created.

Crickets well deserved their lead and went into the break one up.

Two changes were made at half-time, Klinger on a left midfield, and Chittenden on at left back. Within 10 mins, the Allstars started to find their rhythm a bit more. Holding the ball up via Klinger and the strikers, gave time for the team to push forward and create more opportunities.

Still, in the first 20 mins of the half, it was Crickets who looked more dangerous, using the flanks to much better effect than the Allstars. In fact, it was Crickets’ skilful no.10 who was causing our full backs problems. And it was Howard, on a yellow, and a final warning, who had to be substituted before he was ordered off.

It turned out to be an effective manoeuvre, as Durrant moved to right back, and Blandy came on at right midfield.

Blandy, using his skill and pace, combined well with Kelly and Medley upfront, and eventually some decent channel play allowed the Gowers to get in behind the back four of Crickets. Durrant too did a decent job in an unfamiliar right back position.

Gower pressure began to mount with 25 mins to go. And an Ossack free-kick just inside the Crickets half, fell to Klinger at the far post, who volleyed across the keeper and into the corner of the goal. Huge roar from the stands. The stars were back in it.

1-1

Game on. Big time.

This was a turning point for Gowers – who had largely been outplayed and particularly off their game. But the scores were level and the game was there for the taking.

Some classy and at times dogged defending from Ossack and Paley in goal, kept Gowers in the game and enabled the team to turn Crickets attack into our attack.

And finally our skilful combination play began to pay off – with Blandy, Klinger and Medley shining in the last quarter of the game.

With 5 mins to go, 28-goal striker Medley turned it on. Picking the ball up the right wing, he ran 30 yards across the Crickets defenders who couldn’t keep up with his pace, allowing Medley to get just inside the box, and with his left foot, he finished perfectly across the keeper, into the corner of the net

2-1, with only 4 mins to play! What a turn around….

It should have been game over, but somehow Crickets, to their credit, fought back valiantly, and a clever pass by their keeper, found their right winger, who outpaced Chittenden in a straight 30-yard race, and crossed to the far post, perfectly for their no.10 to slot home with 10 seconds of the game to go.

The Allstars were distraught. They were within touching distance, and threw it away. Truly gutting.

2-2 Extra-time.

Gowers started as they left off. Dominating the play, and creating chances down the flanks. And it was a combination between Medley and Kelly that set Kelly free down the right channel. He held the ball up, turned onto his left foot, crossed it in, to find Selbie on the edge, who one-two’d with Chittenden on the left, to gain ground just inside the box, and first time, with his left foot, he struck a perfect top spin effort which looped over the keeper and into the top corner.

3-2 with 20 mins to play.

Gowers moved to a 4-5-1 and with the superior fitness, closed up shop to stop the Crickets, who by this stage had very little left in the tank.
But one last ditch effort from Crickets came with 2 mins to go, when their striker was just about to pull the trigger on the right hand side, inside the box, when Ossack flung himself leg first, to save the day. A world class saving effort, which led Gower Allstars to victory!

3-2 after extra time. A mammoth effort, after an abysmal first 60 mins.

MOTM = unquestionably Dave ‘Rio’ Ossack, without him we would have lost the game, plain and simple. He was an absolute rock. Brilliant performance, especially after playing a total of 200 mins football in one day.

So Gowers Allstars are deserved League Champions and Divisional Cup double-winners for the first time in the clubs history. What an achievement.

A huge congratulations to everyone of you, who have made the season what it is. I think every one of you has achieved a MOTM award throughout the season,, which is testament to how much of a true team we are, and how hard we must really be, to beat.

It is now beautifully set-up for a unique “winners take home the treble” final versus Camden Red Star, who have won the Group cup and (have almost won) the Premier division, to be played on May 13th at Wingate & Finchley.

But we need not worry about that for now…its time to revel in glory and what the Allstars and the Phoenix have both achieved in 2006-7, truly amazing.

Not good times, these are great times….remember them.

V.Proud Captain Phil Mourinho