Alternative to the FA Cup Final
Given the slight anti-climax that was Saturday’s FA Cup final it seemed like a good idea to write a report of the other big match I saw this weekend. Away from the glamour of Wembley I went to experience the highs and lows of Warwick University KPMG League football for a feature to be broadcast on RaW Sport next month.
RaW Sport regulars Peter Lefort and Pete ‘Timmo’ Timothy had found that their sides drawn against one another in the second group stage of this years KPMG league end-of-season trophy and as such it seemed like the perfect game to feature on the show. I went down, minidisc recorder in hand, to document proceedings.
In terms of the sides, Peter Lefort’s Pro Evo Ruined Our Talent had already been ejected from the tournament before being allowed back in on a technicality, whilst Timmo’s Akabusi FC were looking to end their final season together with a trophy. Also featuring in the Akabusi side were my housemates Dave, Olly and Jimmy, former house mate Dan, and Alex Shapland-Howes whose blog you can find on my blogroll.
Akabusi FC started the stronger of the two sides and dominated possession in the early exchanges. Within the first few minutes they had won a series of corners, however in what was a warning of things to come, created relatively little. Shapland-Howes, Dan Rogers and Timothy looked very bright for Akabusi, linking up well on the left-hand side.
Pro Evo didn’t have a chance until the fourteenth minute, but with their first real attack came the first goal of the afternoon. Peter Lefort, looking his side’s most lively player, out-muscled Akabusi left back Alex Shapland-Howes before running into the box and teeing up his strike partner Matt Rawsthorne for a first time hit.
The goal was hardly deserved given the balance of play, however Rawsthorne’s shot left Gadsby in the Akabusi goal with little chance. Although taking the lead did seem to finally stir Pro Evo into life with Rawsthorne making another decent break into the box only moments later.
Despite this, however, Akabusi were soon back level when a scrappy bit of play in midfield following a Pro Evo goal kick left Jimmy Clarke able to rifle the ball home unmarked. It was the least that Akabusi deserved, and despite complaints from Pro Evo that the ball had been handled in the build up the goal stood.
For a time it looked as though either team might be the next to score, however the turning point of the game was to come ten minutes before half time when a mistake by Johnson let in Peter Lefort. Taking time to steady himself, the Pro Evo forward unleashed an unstoppable effort that arrowed over Gadsby in the Akabusi goal.
Whilst a speedier player may have attempted to run in on goal, Lefort had no option other than to trust his powerful right boot. Pro Evo had scarcely played better than Akabusi, however clinical finish was proving the difference.
Following the goal the game remained very tight, although it was probably Akabusi who had the better of the chances. Timothy just struggled to get his head on a decent corner by Jimmy Clarke, whilst Clarke himself was unable to control the ball after finding himself unmarked at the back post moments later.
Whilst the Pro Evo defence had been kept busy throughout the half, Akabusi succeeded in creating relatively few clear shots on goal and it was almost half time before a first major defensive lapse almost let Moss in to score. Disaster though was quickly averted and the score remained 2-1 at the break.
In the second half the game was again very close to call, however as the game wore on Pro Evo gradually began to dominate proceedings. Lefort had a good chance to virtually seal the tie just on the hour mark, however his low shot was saved by the legs of Gadsby. At the other end Peter Timothy miscued whilst unmarked in the box, whilst Shapland-Howes – now playing up front – forced a good save from Corrie in the Pro Evo goal with a strong left footed effort.
However it was Pro Evo who were eventually able to kill the game off with about five minutes remaining. On 86 a mistake by Bugg allowed Chris Smith time to poke the ball towards the unrushing Gadsby. Unfortunately for Akabusi the ball squirted off the keeper straight into the path of Peter Lefort who had the relatively easy task of slamming the ball into the empty net.
Moments later the game really was all over when Pro Evo broke following an Akabusi corner, the influential Rawsthorne collecting the ball up in midfield before picking out Jake Boehm who chipped Gadsby to finish the game off in real style.
The win was well deserved for Pro Evo who pretty much controlled the game after half time. Lefort and Rawsthorne led the side from the front, whilst Mike Smith and Chip Uchea were always in control at the back.
Nevertheless this was a very close tie and Akabusi will feel that had they made their early dominance pay this could have been a very different game. Certainly it wasn’t until Peter Lefort’s second strike went in with barely five minutes to go that victory seemed by any means certain for Pro Evo.
……and it was definitely more exciting than the FA Cup final.
Akabusi FC
Gadsby, Whitehead (Docrat, 45), Johnson, Bugg, Shapland-Howes, Galley (Stennett, 45, Galley 79), Coyle, Timothy, Rogers (Clarke, 79), Clarke (Whitehead, 59), Moss
Goals: Clarke (19)
Pro Evo Ruined Our Talent
Corrie, Baker, Uchea, Smith M, Hay, Smith C, Campbell, Boehm, Haigh, Lefort, Rawsthorne
Goals: Rawsthorne (13), Lefort (36, 84), Boehm (87)
Click here for my commentary on Peter Lefort’s first half stunner – 1:18 (mp3)
The full match feature will be broadcast on RaW sometime in June
Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Tags: football, warwick university
Hey Peter, great report!
Thought you might like to know that Rausthorn and Boern should actually be Rawsthorne and Boehm. That piece of paper you got them off was pretty illegible, but the rest are right.
Edited it. Should now all be in perfect order.