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Devils win Monday Sixes Cup
FINAL: Devils 1 AFC G 0;
SEMI-FINAL: Devils 0 Pound Hill United 0
(Devils win 1-0 on pens)
Devils won the Monday Sixes Cup with a 1-0 win against AFC G in
the Final on Monday (19th).
This
was a great effort to win a
tight and tense Final that finished after 10pm with Devils
defending superbly under sustained pressure after taking the
lead through Phil Williamson's strike early in the second-half.
The cup success caps a memorable season for Devils in which the
team has won the league and cup double in the Monday Sixes.
With
the evening's matches delayed due to a long injury stoppage in
the first semi, the Final kicked off half an hour later than
scheduled, approaching 9.45pm. Devils had progressed by beating
Pound Hill United on penalties while AFC G knocked out league
runners-up Redi Rovers 3-1.
Devils start was a bright one and Phil Williamson almost gave
the team the perfect start with a searing shot from distance
that grazed the bar on its way over.
It
was a very competitive match with plenty of good tackles and
ball winning in the midfield area but chances were hard to come
by as neither team was giving much away defensively. AFC G
created the best opportunity shortly before the break when a
move down the right was played into a central attacker who
nipped in goal side but shot over the bar.
Devils made a fast start to the second-half and almost scored
from the first attack as Phil and Framps combined and the latter
was just wide with a low shot across goal. However two minutes
later Devils did make the vital breakthrough as Ash nudged the
ball into Phil's path and he advanced to strike a great low shot
that zipped across the surface into the right corner of the net.
AFC
G stepped up the pressure as they searched for an equaliser and
initially this presented Devils a couple of good opportunities
on the break. First Framps was denied by a brilliant last ditch
block and then Sam got forward and hit a good shot that was
again well blocked.
The
final third of the match was concerted AFC G pressure but Devils
defending as a team was top drawer. Devils had hardly any
possession in the closing minutes but never once gave the
opposition a clear chance to score with men behind the ball and
runners closed down at every opportunity. Sam and Ash as they
have been throughout the season run-in were outstanding as a
defensive pair and led the way with Ash running around the pitch
like a man possessed in winning a succession of tackles in the
final two minutes. This was supported by the players in front
with the all-round effort typified in the final minute when Phil
Williamson stole the ball off the striker's toe with a great
tackle as he lined up to shoot.
Earlier on Devils progressed to the Final with a sudden-death
penalty shoot-out win against Pound Hill United following a 0-0
draw in the semi-final.
Devils survived a big test from Pound Hill United to reach the
Final. The semi presented a completely different test to
previous games as it pitted Devils against new team Pound Hill
who have replaced All Star Whites in recent weeks. It made for
an intriguing match of styles as a youthful Pound Hill side
approached the game with absolutely nothing to lose and played
with lots of energy and enthusiasm supported by vocal
encouragement from a number of fans. Devils in contrast started
slowly and didn't adjust to the challenge presented by playing
an unknown quantity, only finding some rhythm in possession in
the last third of the match. However, crucially Devils stayed in
the game at 0-0 and this led to the shoot-out, in which Devils
won 1-0 on the sudden-death rule.
Devils had the first shot of the game as the keeper turned
behind Phil Williamson's effort within seconds of the kick-off
however after this the balance of goal-scoring opportunities
fell in Pound Hill's favour. Phil turned a low shot behind with
a good low save early on then Pound Hill struck the post with a
shot that grazed the keeper's fingertips midway through the
half.
Devils were improved in the second-half but Pound Hill closed
the ball down very quickly and closed out anything that wasn't a
first time shot with some impressive defending. The opposition
had further good positions at the other end and more composure
in front of goal might have brought them the lead.
Chris Laker came on for Sam in the final ten minutes and Chris
seemed to benefit from seeing a fraught first-half from the
sidelines as he helped settle it down in the closing third of
the game and sparked a spell of more positive play with a couple
of well won tackles. Devils best spell of the game was late on
with Chris King finishing a bright move with a shot saved and
Phil Williamson lashing over after reacting well to Framps knock
down.
No
goals ensued for either team and both looked happy to have
reached a shoot-out. Football Mundial's sudden-death rule has
the effect of usually ensuring shoot-outs are over very quickly
and this one stayed true to that. Pound Hill asked Devils to go
first and Chris King maintained his record as never having
missed a shoot-out penalty for Devils as he drilled an excellent
penalty to left corner and then Phil saved with the legs from
the first Pound Hill kick to put Devils through to a meeting
with AFC G. |
Sporting Devils Football
Club
