Hat-trick of Penalty Woe For Brave Men of the Phoenix

Gower Phoenix 1 North London Cricketers 1 (NLC win 6-5 on penalties)

Gower Phoenix (4-4-2) Dan – Dens, Alex, Wall, Ell – Thompo, Jake, Adam, Jon – Bolu, Fleshie

Gower Phoenix exited the Divisional Cup at the semi-final stage this Sunday, losing as they did in the previous two competitions to sudden death penalties, a cruel end to any cup campaign.

The team was at virtual full strength will Bolu and Fleshie returning up front, Jon Hanna taking up station on the right and Thompo playing left mid. However the team list masked an injury to Hanna’s ankle and the fact that Thompo was playing with a heavy cold.

The game got off to the worst possible start, Phoenix failed to clear their lines and the NLC striker got the best of the Wall to hit home, 0-1.

The team rallied but on a windy and hot day never really drove up the gears as they have done in previous matches. Lucas and Jake were engaged in a scrappy fight for possession in the centre of the park and the teams lack of width meant the attacks were sporadic, although the team won a series of corners the burly NLC defenders were up to the task. Thompo had a shot charged down on the left and Hanna placed a shot into the keeper but otherwise the passing was sporadic and chances were few despite hard work from the teams strikers.

After a half time rally and the skilful Toby coming on to replace the struggling Thompo – Phoenix started anew causing more problems by deliberately stretching play on both flanks. The team had some decent chances but nothing clear cut, meanwhile at the back the Wall and Alex were proving more than capable of deflecting opposition route one attacks. Then following a foul on Toby and with the clock running down to the last fifteen the cunning Fleshie stepped up and curled a wicked free kick into the top right over the short NLC keeper – 1-1 and the Phoenix were right back in it.

Bolu had a decent chance to win it but curled a shot just wide and Toby shot right at the keeper when well placed. 1-1 it ended, cue extra time. A goalmouth scramble following a corner aside the Phoenix dominated extra time and came very close to scoring. Hanna and Bolu again missing good chances. Then in the last play of the game the keeper somehow managed to keep out a Luke Hill close range effort and the match went to penalties.

O’Hagan saved, Fleshie, Lucas, Jake and Dens scored but a Bolu strike on the woodwork saw sudden death. Wall scored, Alex Wright missed and the team once found itself out in the cruellest of ways.

So disappointment in the cup, however we cannot afford to be complacent and must re-focus on the league run in. We have four games remaining in consecutive weeks starting on the 15th of April when we have North Park at home. Do your best to make sure that you have as many April Sundays free as possible this month as we still have a job to do and a league to win. We need to show the character that I know we have by getting right back up again and winning the next four. COME ON THE PHOENIX.

MOTM: Jake – Tough tackling and a feisty attitude from our Alice-banded centre mid who won some crucial challenges in the middle of the park.