Gowers lined up with Paley in goal, Gladstone, Glyn, Ossack & Selbie at the back, with Klinger, Duggan, Street & Durrant in midfield, with Kelly and Medley upfront – and Stiefel, Howard, Mitchell & Blandy on the bench.
Red Star came out firing on all cylinders. They passed the ball excellently and dominated possession, quite concerningly for the Allstars. Nevertheless, Gowers held their own and absorbed the Red Star on-slaught by putting pressure of their own onto their opposition, positioning themselves well and staying well organised in defence.
But 17 mins in against the run of play, a free-kick on the right was switched quickly to the left to Gladstone, who was unmarked on the half-way line. He pushed the ball forward 10 yards, and saw an outrageous opportunity to test the dodgy keeper. He lined up quite deliberately and struck an absolute monster of a strike which flew all of 35-40 yards into the roof of the net, leaving the keeper flapping and stranded on the floor, Seaman stylee.
Incredible goal – worthy of a treble winning final. 1-0 Gower.
This actually swung the momentum of the first half in favour of the Gowers. For every move that Red Star put together, the Allstars had an answer. Whether it was Ossack’s sliding tackles, Gladstone’s composure on the ball under pressure, or Selbie’s winning headers down the right, it was certainly the back four that stood out in the first half as the foundation on which the team could build counter attacks led through both wingers in Klinger and Durrant.
In fact it was Durrants through ball, low and across the area which found Kelly far post with a gilt-edged chance to give Allstars a 2-0 lead, but somehow and quite uncharacterically, he managed to strike the ball wide, with his right foot, when really it should have been a left foot finish.
Although it didn’t extend their lead, the chance certainly lifted the Gowers spirits. After a somewhat difficult first 20 mins, the hard tenacity of Street & Duggan began to shine through, and some quick feet and fine counter manoeuvres gave the Allstars more and more confidence as half-time arrived.
The roar from the 50 strong crowd as the Gowers walked off was simply epic and highlighted just what the Allstars were on the verge of achieving.
Team-talk at half-time was good. “Keep up the intensity, think about your passes, win your 50-50s, play good football and we can win this game.”
The second half started similarly to the first, with Red Star passing the ball well, and Gowers relying on their grit and determination to keep the more technically astute opposition at bay.
Unfortunately 60 mins in, Gowers fortune ran out. Red Star’s keeper actually ran out of his area with the ball in hand, the linesman flagged for hand-ball, but the referee did not see it. Play continued, and the keepers clearance, found Red Star’s striker on the edge of the box, Ossack forced him wide, to the by-line and slid in to tackle, as Paley stormed out of goal. The striker lifted his cross over Ossack’s outstretched leg, Duggan was on the line ready to head clear, unbeknown to Selbie who dived to get a slight flick, taking the ball away from Duggan, and landing unluckily right at the Red Star midfielders feet, who had an empty net in which to equalise for Red Star.
1-1
Literally only one minute later, Red Star had a free-kick 40 yards from goal. A perfect free-kick dropped in between the keeper and the last line of defence, causing confusion amongst Ossack and Glyn, and the big Red Star striker nipped in to head firmly into the back of the net.
2-1 and the Allstars had undone all the hard-work they had put in, over the first 60 mins of the game.
Testament to the fighting spirit of the Gowers this season, the Allstars still believed they could equalise. They had matched Red Star thus far, so they had to continually push forward in the hope of nicking an equaliser.
Substitutions Durrant for Blandy and Klinger for Mitchell, gave the Gowers some fresh legs, and some renewed impetus. Blandy was highly effective down the right, beating his marker, and dribbling down the channels to great effect. And after his usual 10-min warm-up, Mitchell added some good re-inforcement to the battle in central midfield.
Medley and Kelly began to come into the game much more in the last 15 mins as the reliable legs of the Red Star centre-backs began to tire, and the Allstars strikers began to win their 50-50s and create a number of renewed counter-attacks.
Time was however running out, and for every Gower attack there was a saving tackle at the back, noticeably by Glyn and Ossack and also Paley, who put their bodies on the line, against two very accomplished strikers.
But it was a break from Blandy down the right, in the 87th minute, that created the best opportunity of the half. A poor cross was not cleared effectively, and the clearance fell to Blandy on the edge of the box. A quality shimmy, enabled Blandy to skip past the full-back, cut inside the box, and a left foot strike was deflected viciously off the centre-back, leaving the Red Star keeper stranded, as the ball trickled into the back of the net. GOAL!
2-2, 88 mins gone, and Gowers were good value to take the game into extra-time.
But sickeningly, Red Star’s attacks were not over. A great move by the Red Star midfield and then strikers, put their main man through, who opened himself up for a one-on-one, but Paley came storming out of his area, to block the strikers shot on goal to save the day, with his legs.
2-2 final score
Extra Time.
Amazingly, it was the fitter, more determined Allstars who went for the win through-out both halves of extra-time.
After 10 mins, a scuffed goal-kick from the Red Star keeper, fell straight to Kelly, who took a great first touch to set himself for a one-on-one to take the lead, but Kelly’s lofted effort was saved excellently by the keeper, and Gowers rued the best and easiest chance of the game.
In the 2nd half of extra-time, all the action arrived.
Red Star broke away, with the pacey striker sprinting toward goal, with the injured Selbie desperately chasing back – and somehow as Red Star’s stiker was about to pull the trigger from 10 yards, Selbie slid in with a world class saving tackle to push the ball out for a corner.
But in the last 10 minutes of the game, Gowers could have had a hatrick of goals, with half-chances falling to Blandy, Medley and Duggan – all of whom could have finished Red Star off.
But it wasn’t to be. The fantastic and exciting game finished 2-2. And Penalties were to decide who were to become the treble winners of 2006-7.
There were plenty of brave Gowers willing to step up for penalties.
Medley, Duggan, Ossack, Blandy, and Kelly, were the takers.
Medley, the Allstars usual penalty taker, stepped up and belted his strike cleanly but against the post and didn’t find the goal.
Red Star put all their penalties away until it reached their 4th. Their big centre-back who took an age to place his ball down on the spot. Predictably he struck the ball about 4 yards wide. No exaggeration.
Our next four takers all converted beautifully, and it was left to Red Star’s 5th taker to score, otherwise they were out.
Unfortunately he did and the pens were taken to sudden death.
Up steps Captain Marvel.
Although struck well, it was keepers height, but luckily it was struck with power, and the keeper could only parry the ball into the top corner. Glyn’s celebration was Stuart Peace esk.
Red Star equalised.
Up steps the machine, Robin Street. Horrifically, he struck it brilliantly but too brilliantly, and the ball re-bounded off the cross bar, to leave Red Star, with one more penalty to take the treble.
Their man-of-the-match semi-pro midfielder then stepped up, and slotted home coolly.
In doing so, Red Star became MA Cup winners, and treble winners, and left the Allstars, somewhat bewildered and gutted about what could and probably should have been.
Red Star were reasonably humble in defeat, on the pitch, but when off it, showed a lack of class when repeatedly banging on the Gowers changing room door, celebrating in victory. Something every one of us will remember come next season when we play them in the Premier division.
Result aside, this game really was a super human effort by all the Gower Allstars.
Every single one of them were awesome. They could not have battled any harder. Even the Red Star coach wrote an email saying how surprised his team were at the quality and determination of the Gowers.
MOTM = Dave Ossack, is the guy human? Does anyone get past the guy? A truly massive asset to the team and a class show yet again, standing out amongst 14 great performances in a huge game.
If a team is to lose in such an important game, it might as well be to penalties – to a lottery. Red Star couldn’t beat the Allstars. No one has beaten the Allstars for 9 months. We are a formidable team in our own right, and deserve the credit of being Double winning Champions.
It has been one hell of a season for every one involved. I have had the pleasure of managing a great bunch of guys, throughout a long hard season. Every single one of you has played your part. I think every one of the squad has won a man of the match at some point which is testament to the impact and strength of the players involved. You have all been magnificent, and remaining unbeaten in the league and winning the double is simply one of the greatest sporting achievements I will certainly ever achieve, and I thank you all for that. Bring on the Premier division. Right now, I can see no reason why we cannot challenge for the title, I know you agree.
And that is all without even mentioning the Phoenix’s phenomenal first season, which is just spectacular. What a club!
Stay committed, stay fit, and stay Gower, forever….
See you all this Sunday.
