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Arthur Boswell Cup 2013 |
15th September 2013 - Arthur Boswell Cup
Referee : Simon Lewis
Assistants : Martin Ainger & Paul Bannister
A bit of a windy one this morning up at Gas Rec, this time for the 'official' season opener, the Arthur Boswell Cup. A repeat of last week's match with AFC Pegasus as League Cup holders, taking on last season's league champions Botolphs.
A blast from the whistle of referee Simon Lewis and the game was underway with Botolphs in blue taking the first kick of the match and it was the league champions with the first sight of goal as Pegasus conceded an early free kick. Way out, but Lamb took the opportunity to try and test the Pegasus keeper but despite a good strike on the ball, he could only send it wide of the target.
Botolphs then won a corner, which Andrade played into the near post. Players from both sides came to meet the ball in, a ricochet sent it behind and Pegasus had another goal kick. They moved into attack, a pass moved the ball into midfield, Dale played it wide for the run of Thorne who put over a dangerous cross but Morrison was equal to it, plucking it out of the sky before Pegasus strikers could get on the end of it.
A strong wind was swirling round Gas Rec and both sides were taking advantage of it by sending long balls forward under putting the opposition back line under pressure. A run from Harrington got him into the Pegasus box but a toe from Powell cleared the immediate danger at the expense of a corner. Andrade played it in low again, Maiden knocked it back to him and as he tried to take on his marker he was felled, a free kick level with the edge of the penalty box. Andrade curled it goalwards, it somehow found its way through and Tucker made a good save pushing it away. The rebound was sent in again and Tucker saved but could do nothing about Wayne Lamb who was 'johnny on the spot' to force it over the line and put Botolphs into an early lead.
Botolphs 1 - 0 AFC Pegasus.
Pegasus pushed forward straight from the restart and were almost rewarded as a long ball over the top was headed back but there wasn't enough on it to reach Morrison, Thorne was in like a flash but his first time effort lacked the height to beat the keeper and Botolphs were able to clear.
A pass into midfield picked out Lamb who flicked it forward with the outside of his foot as he was clattered by Dale and Botolphs had a free kick. The ball was clipped into the Pegasus box, but a challenge from one of the Botolphs forwards was deemed to be unfair, free kick.
Pegasus tried to work the ball up their left again, Thorne did well under pressure to hold on to possession but as he turned he was brought tumbling to the ground - a bit of a case of handbags followed before everyone calmed down and Pegasus had a free kick. Thorne took the kick, a firm curled effort goalwards but Morrison was taking no chances and punched away. Andrade picked up the ball and sent a low diagonal pass crossfield for the run of Harrington who didn't give up the chase and put the ball out down by the corner flag, forcing Pegasus into a throw rather than a goal kick.
The ball ended up at the Botolphs end, a long hoof sent it back again, some indecision in the Pegasus back line, Botolphs' Michael Runicles kept on running and headed the bouncing ball over the stranded Tucker and into the net to double Botolphs' lead.
Botolphs 2 - 0 AFC Pegasus.
Some stern words from the bench were directed at the Pegasus players as they lined up for the restart and Turner was soon off after a long pass but Morrison was up to claim over the top of the Pegasus man. Another long ball went back towards the Pegasus goal, more indecision and another touch over the keeper but this time the ball nestled on the roof of the net.
The game was certainly end-to-end and Pegasus were soon on the attack, a cross from Turner picked out Czapla but his header was easily saved by Morrison. A loose ball was won in midfield by Pegasus' Dale, he found Turner who played a neat reverse pass into the run of Thorne but again Morrison was quickly out to make the save.
Botolphs sent another long pass forward, Pegasus got something on this one, the ball fell for Goodyear who let fly but his effort from 30+ yards fizzed over the crossbar.
Botolphs worked the ball wide to their right, a diagonal pass looked destined for their striker coming in at the far post but Longhurst stuck out a leg to intercept. The ball bounced down and Tucker snaffled it up but another blast of the whistle and a pointed finger from Mr Lewis looked ominous for Pegasus and the players en masse appealed that surely it couldn't be considered a deliberate back pass. Fortunately, it hadn't been deemed a back pass at all, the whistle was to stop play as the original cross had picked out a Botolphs man in an offside position and actually the free kick had gone Pegasus' way !
Turner knocked the ball into Czapla who found Thorne who got his shot away on the turn but it caught a bit of Lamb on the way through and looped kindly to the gloves of Morrison.
Despite being two goals down Pegasus certainly weren't out of this one and they were the team who were next to register on the score sheet. Another long ball was the cause of the goal, a clearance from Tucker flew beyond everyone, Thorne got on the end of it and as he tried to twist away from the two defenders closing in a foot from Botolphs captain Daniel Bugg knocked the ball away from the Pegasus man but also beyond the despairing dive of his own keeper to roll into the net.
Botolphs 2 - 1 AFC Pegasus.
From the kickoff Lamb drove the ball forward but it outran the chase of the Botolphs winger and Pegasus had a goal kick. Attention turned to the centre of the pitch though as Lamb had gone down and out went the call for the 'magic sponge'. Not enough magic in it though as Lamb had to be helped to the sideline for some extra attention.
Tucker hit another clearance long downfield, Turner hit it first time on the bounce - a goal ? But no, a dive to the left from Morrison and the faintest of touches from the Botolphs keeper kept the ball out. The ball was half cleared into midfield but was returned with interest but off the target.
From their next attack Pegasus looked to have tied it up but Thorne's lofted strike was ruled out for offside, although it did look like the offending striker was coming back and wasn't interfering with play. Not too much complaint from Pegasus though and the game restarted with Morrison sending the free kick long towards the Pegasus area.
A good move from Botolphs almost increased their lead; Michael Pash, Harrington and Andrade worked the ball back to Michael Pash but he had crept into an offside position. Pegasus went up the other end and had a chance to equalise, under pressure from a 'dodgy' backpass Morrison could only clear to the edge of his own area, Thorne brought it down and fired goalwards but a deflection off a desperate Botolphs' leg sent the effort over the bar. Czapla sent the corner to the far post, Turner got up, but not high enough and could only direct his header wide.
A pass from midfield sent Michael Runicles away up the left, a pass slipped inside was blocked back to him, he tried his luck but dragged his effort wide of the near post.
Into the final ten minutes of the first half and Pegasus were next to have their eye on goal, a pass from Turner found Longhurst coming up on the right, he cut the ball back inside to Czapla who shot for the top corner but his left-footed effort faded away for a goal kick. Morrison sent it forward, Dale went up for it, Powell came over the top to win the header but the challenge was deemed a foul and Botolphs had a great opportunity for a shot at goal from thirty-five yards. A wall of five stood between Andrade and the goal, his curler beat the wall but also the upright and Tucker was off into the trees !
The Pegasus goal was under pressure not long after though and this time Botolphs did get the ball into the net. A great run from Andrade down the left side of the penalty area created space for the cut-back and he did perfectly to meet the run of Jack Harrington to bang in Botolphs third from six yards.
Botolphs 3 - 1 AFC Pegasus.
Again Pegasus went forward, Czapla put the ball in from the right, Turner 'made space' for the header but couldn't get the direction and the ball dropped wide of the far post. Czapla was at it again from the restart, a low cross in was sent behind by the outstretched foot of Lamb at the expense of a another corner, Turner was up at the far post to meet the cross, the ball came back across the Botolphs goal but no-one was there to put it in and Botolphs were able to clear.
Half Time : Botolphs 3 - 1 AFC Pegasus.
Pegasus kicked off the second half but it was Botolphs having the majority of early possession. Neither side could create much in the first ten minutes or so but the Pegasus got a shot on target courtesy of Thorne whose low drive took a touch off a Botolphs defender to go wide for a corner. The ball in was hoofed clear, a foul as it dropped and Pegasus had a free kick and a chance to get the ball back into the danger area.
Thorne curled it in under the crossbar but a firm fist from Morrison cleared. Botolphs went up the other end and won a corner kick. Andrade picked out Bugg at the far stick but his header, much to his own disgust, went wide.
A Dale flick found Czapla but his long range shot flew wide, and this was followed by a shot at the other end from Dillon deflecting off his own player for a Pegasus goal kick. Botolphs were in again, a pass from Lamb put in Michael Runicles but Tucker was quickly out and did enough to force the Botolphs man into putting his toe poke wide of the target.
That was then end of the action Lamb though as he was replaced by Skingley.
AFC Pegasus subs: Alsop & Dale off, Isom & Farthing on.
Botolphs sub: Michael Pash off, Andrew Runicles on.
A great substitution from Botolphs manager Adam Hampson as within minutes the ball broke to Andrew Runicles who carried the ball forward before firing a superb shot beyond Tucker to find the bottom corner and surely put Botolphs out of sight.
Botolphs 4 - 1 AFC Pegasus.
Pegasus were pushing forward and Botolphs were taking advantage of the extra space.
Botolphs sub: Harrington off, Hampson on.
A pass forward for Pegasus found Thorne inside the box, a challenge sent him to the ground, the ball broke free and was put into the net but the whistle had gone - had Pegasus been awarded a penalty for the first tackle ? They certainly thought one was deserved but that wasn't the decision of the referee and Thorne wasn't happy about it. Words were exchanged between the Pegasus striker and the man in black - the result ? A straight red and Thorne was on his way back to the changing rooms.
AFC Pegasus sub: Powell off, North on.
So, down to ten men and 4-1 down ... and then Pegasus scored another! A pass from Turner found Rob Czapla who drove a low shot beyond Morrison to make for an interesting last fifteen minutes.
Botolphs 4 - 2 AFC Pegasus.
Pegasus created another chance, a run down the left, the ball came into the box where North collected it but couldn't get a shot in, Botolphs were off on the break, Hampson found Andrade but his shot flew harmlessly over the bar.
A long range effort from Goodyear was straight down the throat of Tucker, Pegasus went up their left, a cross from Turner was deep into the area but Morrison was equal to that one.
Another pass through found Czapla in much the same position as where he scored his goal but this time a saving tackle from Michael Runicles dispossessed him, Botolphs cleared but the game was brought to a halt as Welling had gone over in midfield. Unfortunately he was unable to continue and with the help of a couple of teammates he was helped to the sideline.
A Pegasus free kick was drilled straight into the wall by Czapla, the clearance went into midfield but Pegasus picked it up again and fed Czapla who burst forward before shooting low to the near post but unfortunately for Pegasus it nestled into the net the wrong side of the upright.
A pass from North put in P4 but under pressure from Andrew Runicles he sent his shot over.
Two chances for Botolphs in the final moments as Pegasus pushed forward but shots from Andrade & Michael Pash both missed the target.
A final three blasts from Mr Lewis, the match was at an end and Botolphs were winners of the Arthur Boswell Cup for 2013.
Full Time : Botolphs 4 - 2 AFC Pegasus.
Many thanks to Mick, Jason & Barrie at Gas Rec for the use of their facilities once again, Mr & Mrs Arthur Boswell for presenting the trophies and Clare & Rebecca Lewis for doing the teas.
Referee Mr Simon Lewis and his two assistants Martin Ainger and Paul Bannister
with their commemorative trophies.
Man of the Match Karl Andrade receives his trophy from Mr Boswell.
AFC Pegasus Captain Grant Higgins receives the runners-up trophy from Mr Boswell.
Botolphs Captain Daniel Bugg receives the Arthur Boswell Cup from Mr Boswell.
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