League Challenge Cup Competition 2007-08

Coulby's James Myers holds off a Smithy defender in their League Cup encounter __________________________________________________ League Challenge Cup Final Wednesday, May 7 Coulby Newham 4 Acklam Steelworks 2 (After extra time) Coulby Newham picked up their third trophy of the season despite having to twice come from behind against a determined Acklam Steelworks side. Having already won the league championship this year as well as lifting the Wilf Leader Trophy, Coulby got off to the worst possible start when Steelworks took the lead after just five minutes. Richie Cook latched on to an inch perfect through ball and the Steelworks striker calmly rounded Graham Turner in the Coulby goal before firing into an empty net. The goal unsettled the league champions and for much of the next half hour they were second best to the Steelies with Andy Richardson threatening on a number of occasions while Andy Bowman and Lee Bowes also saw efforts go narrowly wide. Coulby did manage to show a little more composure as the half neared its close with Craig Bishop palming a shot from James Myers just over the bar and Antony Peacock firing just wide of the target. The start of the second period saw Craig Thomas heading just wide following a corner while Steelworks team mate Bowes also had two good opportunities to double his sides advantage. Ten minutes in however, Coulby drew level. Sean Wilkinson timed his run to perfection to latch on to a ball from Martin McManus and he coolly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper. Coulby’s joy at getting back on level terms was short lived however as just three minutes later, Lee Bowes was brought down in the area and Ben Wheatley made no mistake from the penalty spot. Apart from a header from Paul Rae, Coulby only rarely posed a real threat and the Steelworks looked to heading for victory. Five minutes from time however, a mazy run from Peacock ended with the Coulby midfielder being brought down in the area and from the resulting spot kick, Peacock duly fired home the equaliser. Having found it difficult to get into their stride during normal time, it was a very different Coulby side that emerged for extra time. Within a minute, only a great save from Bishop stopped Coulby scoring but they took control of the final with two goals in as many minutes. Johnny Mason broke down the right wing before firing home from a tight angle with Paul Rae making it four when he scrambled the ball home from close range. Steelies to their credit battled hard to get back into the game but a resilient Coulby rearguard marshalled by man of the match Martin McManus held firm to the final whistle. After the game, Stokesley League president Brian Hugill presented medals to both side together with mementoes to the match officials Ted Meaburn, John Freeland and Kevin Blackburn Monday, April 7 League Cup – Group Stage play off The Miners 4 St. Mary’s College 2007 1 The Miners will play Coulby Newham in the semi finals of this season’s League Cup after beating St. Marys College 2007 in their group stage play off game. Tony Bradley picked a good time for his first goal of the season heading home Liam Martin’s corner with just fifteen minutes gone and The Miners went two up ten minutes before the break when Simon Milton’s shot come cross ended up in the back of the net off the far post. Milton was also on hand to slot the ball home early in the second half following good work by Lee McQuillen and Alex Davies and The Miner’s hot shot completed his hat trick running through before firing hoe fro fifteen yards out. Two minutes from time, Lewis Kaid earned a consolation goal for the College when he capitalised on a defensive mix up to force the ball home. Saturday, March 29, 2008 Group 3 - final game Coulby Newham 3 The Smithy 2 St. Mary’s College 2007 will play The Miners in the League Cup semi final play off after The Smithy narrowly missed out by failing to secure the point that they needed. Fro as early as the fifteenth minute The Smithy were chasing the game after Paul Rae put the home side in front on fifteen minutes. They did manage to equalize ten minutes later but by half time they were trailing once again after James Myers had put Rae through to score from ten yards out. With Myers and Antony Peacock dominating the midfield it was surprising that it was not until fifteen minutes from time that Coulby extended their lead when Myers cut in from the wing before bending a left foot shot into the back of the net. The Smithy did manage to pull a goal back with five minutes remaining, but try as they might, they failed to find the crucial equalizer. Saturday, March 15, 2008 League Challenge Cup – Group Stage - Match 6 Group 3 The Smithy 3 Coulby Newham 5 With the league title all but in the bag, Coulby Newham made sure of their semi-final place in the League Cup by beating near rivals The Smithy in a well contested game. Despite kicking into the wind first half, it was the Smithy who almost opened the scoring when Chris McGill saw his effort kicked off the line with just ten minutes gone. Minutes later, Coulby did find the back of the net when Paul Rae headed home from ten yards out and they might well have gone further ahead when a free kick from James Myers was tipped onto the bar by the Smithy keeper. Despite having as much midfield possession as their visitors, The Smithy went further behind when Rae hooked the ball home on twenty minutes and then completed his hat trick with a neat flick over the advancing keeper on the half hour. Having seen a twenty yard effort from Alex Brown crash against the cross bar just minutes before the break, The Smithy kept the pressure up following the restart. Andrew Gove saw his free kick tipped onto the bar by Coulby keeper Graham Turner while Brown and McGill both saw good efforts saved. Turner pulled off another fine save when Liam Bedford went through one on one but he could do nothing moments later when McGill curled the ball in with the Turner stranded off his line. Twenty minutes from time, McGill struck again following in a free kick that was only partially cleared but the home side's comeback was put on hold when James Myers broke down the left before finding Scott McCabe who capitalized on some indecision in the Smithy defence to score. Coulby’s two goal advantage did not last long however when they failed to deal with a long ball into their box which McGill gratefully slotted into an empty net for his hat trick. With the game delicately poised, it was Rae who put the result beyond doubt firing home his fourth of the game just minutes after seeing another header go just wide of the post. Despite the defeat, all is not lost for The Smithy in the competition as a point in their final game against Coulby would be enough to give them a play off against the Miners to decide who takes the fourth semi final spot. Group 3 standings Coulby Newham - P 3 PTS 9 The Smithy - P 3 PTS 4 Stokesley - P 4 PTS 1 Group 1 St Mary’s College OB’s 3 Acklam Steelworks 1 Fortunately for Acklam Steelworks, they already had enough points to win group one, which was just as well given the first half performance of the rejuvenated Old Boys. The College took the lead with just five minutes gone when following a good build up, Peter Griffin gave the Steelies keeper no chance with a shot from just inside the area. Dave Aspery added a second on the quarter hour with a brilliant solo run. He won the ball just inside his own half, saw off the challenge of three defenders before unleashing an unstoppable left foot shot from twenty five yards out that nestled in the bottom corner of the net. Five minutes from half time, St. Mary’s took control of the game when a long clearance out of goal bounced once before Griffin lofted the ball over the keeper for his second of the game. The second half saw Acklam pressing well and coming close to scoring when Andy Brown was denied by the upright. In the event, it was not until five minutes from time that they finally got the ball in the back of the net when Ben Wheatley converted from the penalty spot following a handball in the area. Group 1 standings Acklam Steelworks – P 4 PTS. 7 St. Marys College 2007 – P 4 PTS. 5 St. Marys College OB – P 4 PTS. 4 Group 2 The Miners 3 Grangetown YCC 3 A win for the Miners in this game would have given a place in the semi final but having twice come from behind to secure a point, they had to settle for a play off place against either The Smithy or St. Mary’s College 2007 to decide which team will take up the fourth semi final place. Despite Grangetown starting well, the Miners went ahead on the half hour when a long throw from Terry Strange was bundled over the line by Dave Manging to give the home side a lead which they held till fifteen minutes from time. Two quick goals from Grangetown turned the game on its head but the Miners got back level with just seven minutes remaining when Strange broke down the right wing before finding Michael Taylor. His neat lay off set up Graham Cousans who fired home from just inside the area but the Miners found themselves trailing once again when a Grangetown breakaway resulted in the scoring what looked to be the winner. With the last kick of the game however, the Miners gained some reward for all their hard work when Alex Davies got on the end of a cross from Cousans to tap the ball home at the far post. Group 2 standings Grangetown YCC - P 4 PTS 7 The Miners – P 4 PTS 5 Bulls Head - P 4 PTS 4 Saturday, February 23, 2008 League Challenge Cup – Group Stage - Match 4 Group 1 Acklam Steelworks 3 St Marys College 2007 1 St. Mary’s College 2007 started well going close on a couple of occasions but it was the Steelworks who booked their place in the semi finals of the competition with three first half goals. Their first goal came after fifteen minutes when Craig Thomas broke out of midfield before finding Lee Bowes. Bowes ran to the bye line before cutting the ball back for Gary South to head home. Five minutes later, the Steelies doubled their advantage when a corner from Andy Richardson was cleared back into his path. Richardson’s second ball in found Bowes who headed down for Ben Wheatley to help the ball over the line. Ten minutes before the break, Acklam took control of the game when Bowes ran from the half way line leaving two players in his wake. His run took him to the bye line from he crossed giving Lewis Reid the easiest of tap ins. Steelworks keeper Craig Bishop saw a lot more of the ball in the second half pulling off some great saves to restrict the College to just the one goal on the hour mark. Group 1 standings Acklam Steelworks – P 3 PTS. 7 St. Marys College 2007 – P 3 PTS. 2 St. Marys College OB – P 2 PTS. 1 Group 2 NS Bulls Head FC 2 The Miners 2 The Bulls Head came within a minute of their second win in as many weeks only to be denied by a late equaliser. Kicking into a strong wind, they had gone behind after just five minutes when Mark Renton fired home for The Miners but they failed to make any more inroads during the first half. Once they had the wind at their backs, the Bulls surged forward at every opportunity and they drew level ten minutes into the second period when Chris Dixon latched onto a long ball before scoring. Midway through the half, things got even better for the Bulls when another shot from Dixon was only parried into the path of Neil Stephens who slotted the ball home from close range. Some solid defending looked to have given the Bulls the win but they had to settle for a share of the points when The Miners equalized deep into injury time. Group 2 standings The Miners – P 3 PTS 4 Bulls Head - P 3 PTS 4 Grangetown YCC - P 2 PTS 3 Group 3 Coulby Newham FC 6 Stokesley 0 Coulby Newham eased through quite comfortably in the end against Stokesley but it was not until the second half when they were kicking into the strong wind that they found their scoring boots. They dominated the opening exchanges but the only goal of the first half came on fifteen minutes when Richie May and Antony Peacock linked up well to put Paul Rae in to score. May almost added a second right on the stroke of half time when through one on one but his shot went narrowly wide. Fifteen minutes after the break, May did find the back of the net beating two defenders before a firing into the top corner from twenty yards out. Stokesley added to their problems when a corner from James Myers was sliced into their own net by a defender and they fell still further behind when Rae beat the offside trap before scoring his second of the game. Sean Jenny made it five when he fired through a crowd of players following another corner from Myers but it was Scott McCabe who had the final word with five minutes left. Normally a stalwart of Coulby’s rearguard, McCabe was pushed up front for this game and got his name on the scoresheet controlling the ball on his chest before volleying home from fifteen yards out. For Stokesley, Colin Wilkinson ran his heart out in midfield while Steve McDonald tried his best to control the centre of the defence. Group 3 standings Coulby Newham - P 2 PTS 6 The Smithy - P 1 PTS 1 Stokesley - P 3 PTS 1 Saturday, February 16, 2008 League Challenge Cup – Group Stage - Match 3 Group 2 Grangetown YCC 0 NS Bulls Head FC 1 It was a good day for the league’s two bottom sides with Bulls Head pulling off the upset of the competition so far by beating Grangetown YCC and Stokesley overcoming a two goal deficit to draw with The Smithy. Without a league win this season, Bulls stunned their hosts when they took the lead on ten minutes. Following a hectic end to end start to the game, it was Jason Blackett who set up the opening goal with a run down the right wing. Chris Dixon timed his run to perfection to latch on to the ball from Blackett before steering the ball home from ten yards out. Stirred into action, Grangetown pressed hard for the equalizer and they were very unlucky on twenty minutes when a strong drive came back into play off the post. For much of the first half, Bull’s stand in keeper Jamie Rendall was certainly the busier of the two keepers but along with the rest of the Bull’s defence, stood firm against the Grangetown attack. Indeed the visitors might well have doubled their advantage in the fortieth minute when Blackett turned on the edge of the area before shooting just wide of the upright. In the second half, the closest anyone came to scoring was when a free kick from Mike Guiney just needed a touch from a Bull’s player as it sped across a crowded six yard box. Both sides had claims for a penalty turned in the last ten minutes but Bulls were not to be denied a win that keeps their league cup hopes alive. Group 2 standings The Miners – P 2 PTS 3 Grangetown YCC - P 2 PTS 3 Bulls Head - P 2 PTS 3 Group 3 The Smithy 3 Stokesley SC 3 Stokesley opened the brighter of the two sides and should really have gone ahead on five minutes when Luke McGloughlin fired wide with the goal at his mercy and minutes later, only a last ditch clearance off the line from Mark Baker denied Stokesley for a second time. The Smithy, glad to be welcoming back Michael King for his first game since breaking his leg a year ago in the North Riding Cup, gradually began to get on top with Alex Brown heading against the cross bar on twenty minutes before Liam Robson put William Bedford through to open the scoring. On the half hour mark, Stokesley got back on level terms when Craig Wilkinson found McGloughlin who beat two defenders before finding the bottom corner of the net but it was The Smithy who finished the first half the stronger with two goals in the space of five minutes. Chris McGill scored running on to a long ball from Brown that beat the Stokesley offside trap and their third goal came following a good build up involving Robson and Jenkins that created the opening for Nathan Tidy to slot the ball home. With The Smithy seemingly in control, the second half by comparison to the first was a bit of a non event until twenty minutes from time when Kevin Hugill finished off a good build up from Brett Humphries and Alex Dougall. Just two minutes from time, Stokesley completed a great fight back when McGloughlin rose above the Smithy defence to head the ball into the roof of the net for a share of the points. Group 3 standings Coulby Newham - P 1 PTS 3 The Smithy - P 1 PTS 1 Stokesley - P 2 PTS 1 Group 1 Acklam Steelworks 3 St Mary’s College OB’s 0 Fifteen seconds was all it took for Acklam Steelworks to take the lead in their League Cup tie against St. Mary’s College 2007. Ben Wheatley, Lee Bowes and Gary South were the players involved in the build up that put Richie Cook in to slide the ball home to get the Steelies off to a great start. Peter Mellon had a great chance to bring St. Mary’s back on level terms after ten minutes but he was denied thanks to Acklam keeper Craig Bishop who somehow managed to get a leg to the goal bound ball. Midway through the first half, Steelworks doubled their advantage following a break down the left from Cook. He found Bowes who ran to the bye line before cutting the ball back for Craig Thomas to side foot home just inside the six yard box. For much of the remainder of the game, Acklam’s defence held the upper hand restricting St. Marys to a few half chances and they made sure of the three points when Bowes turned his marker on the half way line to put Gary South through. South timed his run to perfection, outpacing the nearest defenders to go through on goal for an excellent finish. Group 1 standings Acklam Steelworks – P 2 PTS. 4 St. Marys College 2007 – P 2 PTS. 2 St. Marys College OB – P 2 PTS. 1 League Coulby Newham FC 2 The Miners FC 1 In last weekend’s league game, Coulby Newham increased their overall lead at the top of the table to nine points with a win over the Miners who started well but went behind on ten minutes when debutant Phil Parker scored with a bullet header from a James Myers corner. Despite their pressure, it was not until the half hour mark that they doubled their advantage when a shot from Antony Peacock was well saved by Miner’s keeper Steve Callion only for the ball to fall to Jamie Clark who reacted first to slot the ball home. Towards the end of the first half, The Miners came back strongly and although they failed to score by half time, within a minute of the restart they reduced the arrears after pushing forward straight from the kick off. Unfortunately, for most of the rest of the half, Coulby Newham had the better of the exchanges and it was only the goalkeeping heroics of Miner’s man of the match Callion that kept the scoreline so close . Saturday, February 9, 2008 League Challenge Cup – Group Stage Match 2 Group 1 St Mary’s College 2007 4 Acklam Steelworks 4 St. Marys College staged a great second half comeback after Acklam Steelworks had hit three goals in a six minute spell either side of the interval. There was little to choose between the sides during most of the first half with goal scoring chances at a premium. The best opportunity fell to Steelwork’s Lee Bowes who was denied by a fine save from Thomas Straker after the striker had broken clear with half an hour gone. In the last minute of the half however, Acklam broke the deadlock when Richie Cook beat his marker wide on the left before crossing for Bowes to score with a diving header. Barely had the second period got under way and the visitors had doubled their advantage when good interplay between Cook and Bowman coupled with a deflection of a defender ended with Cook slotting the ball home as the keeper came out. Minutes later it was three nil when another cross from out wide on the left from Cook ended up in the back of the net after hitting a defender as it crossed the area. The frantic opening to the half continued but it was St. Mary’s who struck next when they were awarded two penalties in the space of four minutes and Paul Pearson duly obliged on both occasions. With twenty minutes left, Bowes restored the Steelies two goal advantage turning his defender on the edge of the area, then beating another College player before lashing the ball into the roof of the net from twelve yards out. Minutes later, Andy Bowman thought that he had put the result beyond doubt when his powerfully struck free kick hit the underside of the cross bar and bounced down only to have play waved on by the referee. St. Mary’s then pulled a goal back with fifteen minutes remaining but their battle to get back on terms was made difficult when a serious knee injury to one of their players caused the game to be held up for twenty minutes and left them having to play the last ten minutes of the game with just ten players. Once the game restarted however, the College went all out for the equalizer and their efforts were rewarded when they scored with just three minutes left on the clock. Group 1 standings St. Marys College 2007 – P 2 PTS. 2 Acklam Steelworks – P 1 PTS. 1 St. Marys College OB – P 1 PTS. 1 Group 2 Grangetown YCC 1 The Miners FC 0 Although Grangetown YCC had the better of the game for long periods, The Miners were always capable of taking something from the game. Chances were limited at both ends in the first half although Kenny Lake was unlucky with a header that went just over and both Sam Noteyoung and Paul Ritchie were unlucky not to get their names on the score sheet . Miner’s goalie Tony Knights was certainly the busier of the two keepers pulling off a couple of fine saves but ten minutes into the second half he was finally beaten by a shot from Mark Jones that went under his body and rebounded off the post and into the path of substitute David Boal who had the easiest of tap ins. Grangetown continued to dominate for long spells although The Miners finished strongly as they went all out take something from the game. Group 2 standings The Miners – P 2 PTS 3 Grangetown YCC - P 1 PTS 3 Bulls Head - P 1 PTS 0 Group 3 Stokesley SC 1 Coulby Newham FC 4 Stokesley nearly got off to a flying start when they hit the post in the first minute but it was the visitors who took the lead midway through the half when Anthony Peacock beat two players out wide before crossing into area. Paul Rae challenged the Stokesley keeper for the ball it managed to evade both of them and Peacock’s cross come shot ended up in the back of the net. Sean Jenney might well have increased Coulby’s lead when he headed against the bar on twenty minutes but it was Stokesley who drew level when Graham Turner could only parry a free kick from the edge of the area and Alex Dougall was first to react to tap home from close range. Five minutes into the second half, Peacock was on the mark for his second goal, a brilliant solo effort that left four Stokesley players in his wake before finding the back of the net and James Myers made it three chesting down Jenney’s corner before volleying home a curling shot from twenty yards out. Twenty minutes from time, Peacock was denied his hat trick when Stokesley keeper Gerald Malloy managed to hang on to the ball on the goal line but late in the game, substitute Johnny Mason put the result beyond doubt when he scored from close range after getting on the end of a curling cross from Myers. Group 3 standings Coulby Newham - P 1 PTS 3 The Smithy - P 0 PTS 0 Stokesley - P 1 PTS 0 Saturday, February 2, 2008 LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP - GROUP STAGE Match 1 Group 1 St Mary’s College OB’s 2 St Mary’s College 2007 2 Honors were shared in the St. Mary’s College ‘derby’ although it needed a great fight back from the Old Boys in the second half to take a share of the points. College 2007 had the advantage of the strong wind in the first half and they took the lead on the quarter hour when Craig Sillock ghosted in behind the Old Boy’s back line to score with a neat flicked header from Lewis Kaid’s free kick. College 2007 might well have doubled their lead midway through the half when another free kick from Kaid caused problems in the Old Boy’s defence but it was the Old Boys who finished the half strongest with two efforts from Arran Thompson going just wide of the mark. The opening exchanges of the second period saw College 2007 going close when only a last ditch save prevented Tony Wilson scoring and minutes later, Ryan Mackey was denied by another fine save. They finally found a way through the Old Boy’s defence ten minutes into the second half when a patient build up ended with Wilson laying the ball off for Ben Cotts who powered the ball into the top corner from twenty yards out. Cotts might well have put the result beyond doubt a minute later firing just over when through on goal, but it was the Old Boys who began to battle back and they reduced the arrears with twenty minutes to go when Thompson turned his defender on the edge of the area before firing just inside the upright. Seven minutes from time, College Old Boy’s pressure paid off when Anthony Fiske headed home a corner from Glenn Bennett The final minutes saw both sides going all out for a winner in an all action finale that ended with honors shared between the two sides. . Group 2 The Miners FC 6 NS Bulls Head FC 0 The Miners got their league cup campaign off to a flying start against the Bulls Head with Lee McQuilling opening the scoring on ten minutes. Liam Martin broke down the right wing before crossing into the area where a poor clearance fell to McQuilling who stabbed the ball home at the far post. Bulls held defence held firm for much of the remainder of the first half but two late goals changed the whole complexion of the game. Five minutes before the break, McQuilling picked up his second of the game when he capitalised on another defensive error and with virtually the last kick of the half, Ash Birch found Alex Davies who slotted the ball home from ten yards out. The Miners increased their lead still further on the hour mark when Craig Fisher headed Paul Sisson’s corner back across the six yard box for Birch to head home and Birch was on the mark minutes later when his corner curled straight into the net. Davies made it six with twenty minutes remaining but despite some great chances, that was the final score with the Miners squandering some good opportunities in front of goal and the Bull’s defence putting in some stubborn defending. Group 3 Stokesley v Coulby Newham - match postponed