Rams prevail in war of attrition

Churchill United made it through to the Battle of Britain Cup final for the first time since 2007 with a last man standing 2-1 win over Traralgon Olympians on Sunday afternoon.

In the first half Churchill controlled most of the play breaking the lines with strikers Jesse Kennedy and Kwaku Dade proving hard to control but both players spurned chances to score. 

Mid way through the half the Rams went ahead when wingman Dean Pyle hit the cross bar with his shot from outside the box which then fell to Captain Jamie Roobson who confidently headed the ball into the back of the net. 

Olympians began to find the feet of strikers Tony Pardo and Frank Albanese late in the half and just before the break the duo were in the action for the Blues to pull level 1-1. Pardo's headed attempt at goal was saved by Rams keeper Jason Sands but he parried the ball to Albanese who cooly finished. 

In the second half Churchill lost their drive as Anthony Collins, Kenny Higgins and Clayton Bell began to impose themselves on the match.

Albanese almost made it 2-1 for Olympians but Sands was equal to the task saving a sharp attempt at goal. 

Both sides used their full accompaniment of substitutions with Dade, Pyle and Nathan Osborne all succumbing to injury for Churchill not long after the break. 

Rams striker Luke Cheney was clearly struggling with injury soon after his introduction and was joined in the walking wounded for Churchill by Aidan Huizer, Tim Dawson and Kennedy but with all substitutions used they were forced to grind the match out.

Olympians poor discipline delivered two red cards late in regular time with Bell and Pardo both given their marching orders for second bookable offences.

As the match entered extra time the nine men Olympians attempted to defend grimly aiming for the penalty shoot out that would follow should the match remain all square.

However, two minutes into the second period of extra time Churchill had the winner 2-1 when Cheney beat his marker to meet a long ball from Robson with a magnificent diving header.

 

Falcons extra time winners over Fortuna

Falcons exacted some revenge for last seasons Battle of Britain Cup loss to Fortuna with a semi final win 3-2 after extra time was required separate the Crinigan Road rivals.

Both Fortuna and Falcons went at it hard from the kickoff whistle with the play just going end to end as each team attempted to take control of the game. Fortuna midfielders Owen Kelly, Keiran Coltman and new addition Joel Baldwin took control.

Baldwin set up forward Hayden Tanti inside the 18 yard box with a through ball that Tanti slotted past Falcons Keeper Adrian Salvatore to put Fortuna in front just twelve minutes into the match.

Falcons Robert Cusworth earned a free kick from a rough tackle on the wing and Nick D'Allesandro stepped up to take the kick. It was a pin point strike going in over the head of Fortuna keeper Leon Cook and half an hour in the match was poised for an exciting second half.

The half-time break did not dampen the the endeavour of either team the ball working from one end to the other through the midfield.

On a counter attack the Fortuna midfield again streamed forward as a group, Kelly crossing the ball to Coltman onto Tanti for his brace 2-1 seven minutes from the restart.

With three minutes of regular time to play and the game seemingly in the bag for the Orangemen but a defensive error by Shayne Cassar inside the box gave a penalty kick to the Falcons side when he fouled Isaac Abbas.

Falcons Coach Marou Deluca cooly stepped up to the spot before slotting the ball past Cook who dived the right way but was unable to stop the shot 2-2.

Both Teams were physically spent from the pace of normal time but Fortuna worked hard and was almost rewarded by Baldwin but his goal was disallowed for offside as the first period of extra time ended.

It was in form super sub Marcus Tawfik who delivered Falcons their fourth cup final in as many years when his acute angled shot beat Cook in the Fortunate goals for a memorable 3-2 win.

Falcons will face Churchill at the end of the season proper in September.