RA 3 HARTLEPOOL FC 1
LEAGUE CUP SEMI FINAL
At Brinkburn Road, third division R.A. juniors entertained first division Hartlepool F.C in the semi-final of the league cup, with perfect conditions both teams looked to play proper football, passing the ball well while competing hard, but fairly.
James Howell put the R.A. ahead from a training ground set-piece heading powerfully back across goal from a Tom Watson corner. The juniors took great confidence from this and were more than equal to their opposition. A hard fought first-half ended with a Hartlepool penalty in added on time, again having practiced penalties in training Matty"Teflon"Andrews, flung himself to his right to make a terrific save, at half-time the Hartlepool heads were down whereas lower league R.A. were buzzing.
Hartlepool were frustrated with the R.A.'s off-side tactic which was a main factor in a pulsating cup-tie.
The best football of the game came when the juniors extended their lead, smart inter-changing of passes in mid-field freed Tom Watson on the right wing to cross to Jack Ridley to tap home at the far post. At 2-0 the R.A. got a little complacent giving Hartlepool a lot of possession in crucial areas of the pitch, this allowed them to pull a goal back ensuring that the tie stayed alive.
Hartlepool were now in the ascendancy putting their lower league opposition under pressure, last season the same team would have folded, but this year the R.A. were different opponents, creating chances while the central defence of skipper Kiel Mellor and Craig Hancock were outstanding.
Ten minutes before time the tie was effectively over when Hartlepool conceded a penalty for hand ball which Ridley converted to put the juniors into the final.Everybody connected to the juniors should be proud of the teams achievements and look forward to the final at Middlesbrough F.C's training ground
MATCH RATINGS
ANDREWS 9 WILLIAMS 9 DITCHBURN 9 HOWELL 9 MELLOR 9 HANCOCK 9 STOKES 9 WATSON 9 RIDLEY 9 GREY 9 L.ALLEN 9 - SUB : HUTCHINSON 9 L HARRISON 9