Joe Holborn Memorial Cup : Final Tie
Sunday 19th May 2013
RCA Grangetown Florists won the Joe Holborn Memorial Cup, after a very close match against Farringdon SC, by 4-3 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 after extra time.
RCA Florists started kicking up the slope with Farringdon hoping to gain the advantage and the first 15 to 20 minutes were spent testing each other out with very few chances being created. The deadlock was however broken when a hopeful cross from the right was misjudged by Farringdon keeper Donaldson allowing Martin Metcalfe a simple header into the unguarded net to put RCA Florists into the lead after 25 minutes. Farringdon pressed for the equaliser and were rewarded with a dubious penalty award when a cross was just missed by RCA Florists defender Hall and the ball was headed back towards goal from virtually point blank range and struck his hand with him facing the other way. However this did not concern Farringdon and Pattison struck home to give a half time score of 1-1.
The second half started brightly for Farringdon and RCA Florists keeper Harkess had to be on his toes to make three good blocks from close range efforts. RCA Florists were then presented with a penalty of their own after a rash tackle on Jordan gave Arkley the spot kick chance, but he drove wide of the left hand post. Both sides tried to find a winner, but it was not forthcoming, even after another 30 minutes extra time, so penalties it was.
Farringdon were first up and Redman's poor effort was easily saved, and then RCA Florists scored their next four through Jordan, Clark, Petch and Rush, with Farringdon converting through Pattison, Mather and Place. This left Jordan Thompson needing to score to make RCA Florists win it with their last penalty, but his strongly hit shot to the bottom left corner was well saved by Harkess to give RCA Florists the Cup by 4-3 on penalties.
Credit to both sides for a sporting contest, which will resume again on Thursday night in the final of the Total Sport Challenge Trophy, again at Meadow Park, 7:00pm kick off.