Saturday 19 May 2018

#GAME102 18/05/18 Rum Rooms Legacy 2-0 Swinton Athletic

Doncaster and District FA Challenge Cup Final
Rum Rooms Legacy 2-0 Swinton Athletic

Legacy Upset Holders Swinton As They Win In The Challenge Cup Final

Swinton had more of the chances in the contest however two early second half goals from Steffan Cairns and Daniel Turner shocked Swinton and allowed Run Rooms Legacy to be named as winners.
The Cup Final kicked off and both teams kept hold of the ball well without any forward play until Cairns put a ball over the top for Darren Bird to run onto but the striker was smartly ushered away from the ball by Owen Fieldsend as it rolled out of play.

The first major opportunity fell in Swinton’s favour. Enzo Guarini lost his marker to receive a throw in from Ryan Doxey. Guarini then proceeded to knock the ball past Carl Reade, cut in along the edge of the area, before unleashing a thunderous strike which flew just wide of the upright.

Legacy were a whisker away from taking the lead. An over-hit cross landed at the feet of Josh Gillies who was on the right-hand side. Gillies swung the ball towards the back stick where Bird rose highest to head it back across goal but unfortunately for the number ten, the ball clipped the bar and landed on the roof of the net.

On the fifteenth minute mark, Alex Wilkinson spotted the run of Guarini and cleverly scooped the ball over the head of the Rum Rooms left-back but as Enzo pulled the trigger, Josh Rowley rushed in to make a last ditch tackle to deny the winger.

Several minutes later, Swinton almost got their noses in front. Regan Kelly sharply turned past his marker and hit a fierce strike towards goal which landed in the side-netting.

On the half hour mark, a switch from the left flank was beautifully brought down by Jake Ford but the striker saw his goal-bound volley pushed wide by the finger-tips of Tom Jackson.

Enzo Guarini then saw a golden chance pass him by. The Athletic winger nicked the ball off Alex Reade before darting along the edge of the box and hit a tame effort towards goal which was comfortably held by Jackson.

The final chance of the half fell to the holders. Andy Whitehead drilled in a freekick, wide left of the box, towards goal however the attempt was straight down the keepers throat who caught it.

The referee sounded his whistle for halftime to bring proceedings to a halt.

The holders, who had dominated the first half chances, were left in shock as Rum Rooms Legacy netted two goals in three minutes.

Daniel Turner received the ball down the line on the right channel. Turner set himself before seeing his attempted cross catch out the keeper and nestle into the back of the net to put them ahead.

Three minutes later, Turner fizzed a ball towards the back post where Steffan Cairns sliced his effort however it worked in his favour as it looped over the dive of the keeper to double their lead.

Swinton then had two good chances to pull a goal back in the contest on the hour mark. Mark Clare won the ball in the centre of the park and played it to Tommy Needham who advanced forward before stroking the ball through to Ford. The skipper took a touch however as he went to tuck it under the keeper, Tom Jackson rushed out and saved it with his feet. Then, Ford threaded Guarini through on goal but yet again, Jackson raced off his line to make a crucial tackle and deny the winger.

The next fifteen minutes were played out with little chances. Swinton sent wave upon waves of attacks into the Legacy area however Athletic failed to find the clinical finish they desired. Legacy managed to defend in numbers and started to run the clock down by keeping the ball well.

Swinton Athletic we’re pushing for that goal to kickstart a comeback. Needham headed towards goal before poking it out wide to Justin Greenwood. He played a ‘give an go’ with Ford before hammering a shot low and hard but Jackson dropped down and pounced on the effort.

Moments later, a good passing interchange between Needham and Greenwood allowed the latter to dink the ball over the top for Darren Walker but he was stopped in his tracks as Jackson accelerated out of his goal to block the chance.

Tom Jackson made another incredible save on the stroke of full-time. Justin Greenwood weaved his way past three opposition players and into the box. Greenwood rifled a ferocious strike towards goal which was matched by the keeper who managed to somehow palm the attempt wide.

The referee blew for the last time in the game meaning Rum Rooms Legacy were crowned as The Doncaster & District Football Association Challenge Cup Champions.


Goals: Turner (49’), Cairns (52’)

RRLFC: Tom Jackson, Josh Gillies, Carl Reade, Dave Tracey, Josh Rowley, Matthew Wilson, Daniel Turner, Nick Howcroft, Steffan Cairns, Darren Bird, Alex Reade
Subs: Ryan Soar, Tom Speight, Chris Radcliffe, Josh Forbes, Quinlan Simms

SAFC: Jordan Watson, Ryan Doxey, Alex Wilkinson, Andy Whitehead, Curtis Wilkinson, Owen Fieldsend, Enzo Guarini, Tommy Needham, Jake Ford, Justin Greenwood, Regan Kelly
Subs: Hayden Barnett, Darren Walker, Mark Clare, Jamie Deakin, Dan Morton

Massive thank you to THE66POW for sorting this out for me. You can check out his blog by CLICKING HERE

No comments:

Post a Comment