Sapphire United v GPCA
Sapphire United Team: M. Ponter, J. Zanone, Sam Zanone, N. Fussell, L. Eke, C. Charles, L. Williamson, S. Poole, R. Dobson, Stuart Zanone, R. Remi, Subs used: A. Bullock, K. Walton, A. Newman
GPCA Team: N. Fitzpatrick, Gavin Goodyer, S. Witty, S. Martin, R. Williams, J. Sollioux, J. Gordon, S. Rogerson, C. Grove, R. Campbell, X. Doku, Subs used: J. Horn, Garry Goodyer
H&DFL’s first ever Senior Champions League Cup Final was played at BSFC on Monday night (10th May) in front of a crowd of 200 and contesting it was Sapphire United and GPCA, this was Sapphire second cup final of the season and unfortunately was overshadowed by a serious injury in the 75th minute to Sapphire substitute Kerry Walton, the game had to be stopped for 25 mins whilst an ambulance could get onto the pitch and assess the injury to Walton, the game did re-start and Sapphire went on to win it. Sapphire Captain Neil Fussell said after the game, “This Victory is for Kerry and we all wish him well”.
Sapphire started well and in the 2nd min Ricardo Remi robs the GPCA defence and crosses the ball for Stuart Zanone who could only head straight into the arms of GPCA stand in keeper Fitzpatrick, in the 9th min a Craig Charles free kick was fumbled by Fitzpatrick but luckily cleared by his defence, GPCA’s first effort on goal came in the 16th min when Chris Grove showed great work with the ball and pulled a pass back across the edge of the box for Scott Rogerson to strike a shot from the edge of the box but Matt Ponter, in the Sapphire goal, was equal to it, 3 mins later and Lee Williamson’s power drive was palmed away by Fitzpatrick, great save, on 21 minutes Doku shows great skill on the ball and with his back to goal lays the ball off for Scott Rogerson to hit a shot from 30yds that grazes the top of the bar, GPCA are awarded a free kick in the 24th minute and Scott Rogerson floats a great ball over and Ryan Williams nods home for 1-0 GPCA. The first controversial decision by referee Stock came in the 26 min when a Reece Dobson corner was fired goal bound by Craig Charles and appeared to strike the hands of a GPCA defender but the referee points for a corner, Sapphire are furious, Ricardo Remi finds himself one on one in the 30th min but Fitzpatrick bravely dives at his feet to stop the move, in the 38th min Scott Rogerson fires a cross low and hard but Chris Grove could not quite reach it, Half time 1-0 GPCA.
Sapphire Manager Alvyn Charles’s half time team talk obviously done the trick as Sapphire came out for the second half and took the game to GPCA, 4 mins into the second half saw the second controversial decision by referee Stock when Ricardo Remi crosses inside the box for Stuart Zanone and again appears to strike the hand of a GPCA defender but the referee waves away the penalty claims, in the 50th min a long Jack Zanone throw in is flicked on by Remi for Stuart Zanone to head straight at Fitzpatrick, Sapphire’s efforts were rewarded on 58 mins when a Craig Charles corner was headed home by Stuart Zanone to make it 1-1. Scott Rogerson’s 25yd free kick struck the post in the 62nd min and in the 73rd min Sapphire took the lead, a great low cross from sub Adam Bullock finds Remi inside the box who smashes past the helpless Fitzpatrick, 2-1 Sapphire. In the 79th minute sub Kerry Walton challenges for the ball and stays down, the game was stopped by referee Andy Stock and an Ambulance was called, the game had to be delayed for approx 25 mins as the ambulance crew treated Kerry Walton for a suspected broken leg. When the game re-started, Sapphire carried on from where they left off and only 4 mins later Ricardo Remi turns his defender inside the box and smashes home for his second and Sapphire’s third, 3-1 Sapphire, the last effort of the game saw GPCA’s S. Witty beat two Sapphire players and put a great cross in for Ryan Williams who’s shot was blocked by Sam Zanone. Final Score Sapphire United 3 GPCA 1.
Officials: Referee – A. Stock
Asst Referees – R. Carter & J. Latham
4th Official – L. Mallyon
Presentation made by – H&DFL Life Member Norman LeSurf & Division 3 Rep Jim Ashman
Report by H&DFL Discipline Officer Matt Bacon |
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