Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 1 (4) Landsdowne Bhoys 1 (3)
BRFC reached its first ever League Final exorcising their penalty demons on the way !
Alan Alcalde non-chalantly slotted the 5th and last penalty (video attached) past the frozen Irish keeper to start the celebrations !
Andy had give the Rovers the lead with a brilliant solo effort in the 60 minute only for the Rovers to lose their 10th clean sheet in the final 90 secs. They recovered and booked their deserved spot in the final on penalties.
Ben saved the first 2 Bhoys' attempts giving the Rovers an insurmountable lead and the confidence to win their first shoot-out in memory.
The Rovers last and only other playoff appearance ended on a missed 5th penalty, after leading vs G/A for over 80 minutes, missing several clear chances to clinch the game before a freak goal tied it.
The large Irish fan contingent, full with national flags, were not that lucky this time. Sunday was for the Rovers.
In a blistering 1st half, BRFC showcased its superior technical abilities and could have put the score beyond dispute.
Scotty steered a powerful headed from inside the six at the crossbar, from a corner, and the Rovers failed to capitalize on the long rebound.
Pugli controlled a flick pass at the edge of the six, and slotted it past the keeper only for a Bhoy to clear off the line at the last minute, while the crowd cheered.
Then, Jordi broke on the right, gathered a ball deep inside the box, beat a defender but fired at the keeper, who parried it onto the post before recollecting the ball.
On the other side, Ben saved well from a dangerous free kick and then parried a long shot with a diving save to his left at the goal line.
The Irish were showing signs of wear and the Rovers, with few adjustments, took it to them at the start of the 2nd half.
Andy provided the spark and finish that finally broke the deadlock. He closed down the slow goon playing in the back, blocked his attempted clearance, collected the loose ball, turn him, put on the afterburners, raced into the box and finished with aplomb between the keeper's legs ! Rovers 1-0.
Landsdowne tried to respond immediately, but could not really threaten and when the Rovers regained control of the tempo, it was hard to see how the scoreline and the 10th Rover clean sheet could change in the final 20 minutes.
It did. The Bhoys started to throw everything forward, and forced repeated Rover turnovers in their half of the pitch. All of a sudden the Rovers seemed unable to exchange passes, looked tired and desperate to hang on.
One dangerous cross followed another, each corner became a series of corners and the Landsdowne pressure intensified. The back 4 superb all season, coped with the taller opponents as they swarmed the box.
Ben made several punch saves and 2 grabs from very close range flick-ons to keep the Rovers on top. When, with 4 minutes to play, an Irish free kick from a very dangerous spot just outside the D went wastefully high and wide, many felt again that the Rovers were home. Unfortunately they were not. With 90 sec to go another clearance to the middle of the pitch was played deep to the Rovers left catching them out of position. The winger come in and put a perfect cross to the far post where an unmarked Smythe headed (faced) it down before it bounce to the roof of the net. Rovers 1-1
Penalties followed almost without a further kick of the ball:
Landsdowne - Miss
Jordi - ripped the net
Landsdowne - Ben saved
Vidi - saved
Landsdowne - scored
Colin - send the goalkeeper the wrong side
Landsdowne - Ben got a very large hand on it but it squirmed in.
Ajene - upper 90
Landsdowne - scored
Alan - see the video ! that sent the Rovers to the FINAL !
With the Rover Ladies also playing their championship final on June 6th, THE WHOLE CLUB SHOULD COME, ENJOY, WITNESS THE UPCOMING BRFC TROPHY CELEBRATIONS !
Team: (the starting 11 have played a combined 625 matches for the Rovers) Ben Kartzman, Mark Kushemba, John Salvucci, Vidar Ekehaug, Colin Marshall, Jordan Chirico, Scott Waddell, Alan Alcalde, Andy Abramovits, Stephen Pugliese Subs (all played) Ajene Green, Pat Brown, Randi Lee
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