Chesterfield Sunday League Division 1
FC Britannia....3 AFC Whitecotes....2
A very well contested game by 2 teams who were eyeing each other up before the forthcoming Alma Cup Semi Fial in a couple of weeks. The sides lined up a little different as late comers to the evening kick off left a slightly distorted feel to the game.
The match itself had everything. Controversy, passion, good and slightly lucky goals, and a twist at the end with a remarkable winner in the dying minutes.
It was the visitors who made the breakthrough, Lee Walton who had to pitch in from the start although clearly injured made way for late comer Jeremy Mitchell, whose arrival saw instant success playing a marvelous defence splitting pass that saw MASON run onto the ball and calmly fire in across the diving keeper.
At the other end Wells was on hand to make 2 very good saves. The first one saw him tip over a stinging shot from just outside the box, then moments later grabbed the ball at the second attempt as Britannia began to gain momentum in the tie.
Wells was powerless to stop the equaliser on 14 minutes, an intended cross to the back post saw the player lose his footing while attempting the cross and thus the ball swung up and over the keeper into the net for 1-1.
Both sides had chances and Harcourt was kept busy with the hosts ariel onslought. Megyesi was on hand with a timley clearance and Whitehead with a cool intervention as the striker looked to be clean through on goal.
Danny Brown and Danny Mason were constant thorns in the side of the FC defence often breaking through the rearguard with bursting runs down both flanks.
As half time approached FC got their noses in front, a corner was only half cleared and a shot through the defence took a couple of deflections before finding its way into the net.
HALF TIME FC Britannia....2 AFC Whitecotes....1.
The second half promised to be a cracker at the restart with very little between the teams despite the scoreline, but was somewhat marred within 5 minutes when an unsavoury incident occured. Mitchell appeared to be caught in the face during a challenge and reacted badly, leaving the Referee with a dilemma. He ordered the striker to leave the field and BE SUBSTITUTED to try and calm the situation bringing Lee Wright into the action.
It took AFC's mind somewhat off the proceedindings and they were distracted to the point of throwing the game away which had been quite an absorbing contest up till then. Chances eventually came and went for both sides but it looked like Britannia were going to hang onto the 2-1 lead until a throw by Mason was neatly flicked on by Harcourt. The ball dropped into the box at the feet of BROWN who neatly sidestepped a challenge and fired the ball into the corner of the net through a ruck of players.
Paul Walton then weaved his way through before being crudly hacked down 25 yards out, but Bettney wasted the free kick sending it harmlessly way over the bar. As the game looked like ending all square, a rash challenge a few yards inside the Britannia half saw the the hosts keeper elect to put a LONG ONE into the mix. The direct free kick was taken and sailed over and over the AFC's defence and into the net without the visitors failing to make a meaningful attempt to keep the ball out therefore Britannia won the day with a wonder goal. This sets the forthcoming Semi Final at Clay Cross Town's Holmegate Ground as both teams tonight were missing some key players due to work and other commitments.
FULL TIME F.C. Britannia.....3 AFC Whitecotes.....2
