Watson Shield
Final
Kings AFC 1 Riseley Sports Reserves 2
Saturday, 03 May 2008
With Kings AFC having already claimed the league Division Three title ten days earlier they came into this Watson Shield Final before a Harvey Close Caldecote crowd of 120 firm favourites to claim a league and cup double but despite going ahead in the opening half they were to be out-fought by a spirited Riseley Sports second half comeback which saw them claim the Shield with the winning goal arriving just six minutes from time.the scorer of which was still under debate in the clubhouse some considerable time after the final whistle.
It was the underdogs Riseley who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with Paul Kirby in the Kings goal twice in the opening five minutes called upon to make saves from Tommy Dove and Russell Beddall before The Sportsmen just twelve minutes into the game lost the services of Ian Whitmore with a suspected broken ankle following a rash tackle by Kings Adam Haywood which earned him a yellow entry into referee Kevin Hallett notebook.
Whitmore departure seemed to have a unsetting effect on Riseley and they allowed Kings to take over control of the game with the league champions first chance of breaking the deadlock coming when Sportmen goalkeeper John Gray needed two grabs to gather in a free kick from Mike Milner before he was seen in a much better light in tipping a Lee Morgan header over his crossbar after the Kings number eigh had rose the highest in a crowded penalty box to meet a long throw-in planted into the danger zone by Jeff Dyer, then just a minute later Marcus Tomlin bustled his way into the penalty box to send a pinpointed cross to the feet of the inrushing Michael Whealan whose first touch was to let him down but neverless still required a goalline clearance from Jonathon Gloss to keep the scoreline blank.
Tomlin was again tormenting the Riseley defence five minutes later and this time his movement into the penalty box saw Beddall send him into the turf and the man in black pointing to the penalty spot from where Nathan Clements notched his thirty-eighth goal of the season to place his side 1-0 ahead, Kings were now going in for the kill and only a fine tackle by the evergreen Kevin Harris prevented Tomlin causing more mayhem in their very next attack.
It now seemed only a matter of time before Kings would double the lead, Steve Wilson pushing a effort just wide of Gray's uprights before the Riseley custodian kepted his side in the contest leading up to the break with fine saves from Clements and Haywood.whilst their only adventure onto Kings territory saw Kirby hold well a Harris effort sent in from range.
The second half however was just six minutes old before Riseley levelled the scoreline, Beddall pumping a high free kick right into the heart of the penalty box which found Craig Ford whose knock on had both teammate Jayme Harris and goalkeeper Kirby jumping at the ball beneath the Kings crossbar which somehow resulted in Kirby pushing the ball into the back of the Riseley number eight which then returned passed him into the net, with referee Hallett perfectly placed to see no foul had occur and a glance across to his assistant John Barnes getting the thumbs up regarding a possible offside it was now game on at 1-1.
Suddendly Riseley had their self-belief back, Kirby making a fine save to prevent Harris doubling his goal tally then another free kick from Beddall delivered into the same direction which brought about the goal seeing Dove this time heading over the crossbar until at the other end Gray was saving at point blank range from Tomlin who once again was onto the end of a long throw-in from Dyer.
With the tie so now evenly balanced, a certain amount of niggling fouls started creeping into the game and resulted in yellow cards for Gray for a spot of handbags outside his penalty area to be quickly followed by Riseley's Ford as the game entered its closing ten minutes, Clements so nearly coming up with the winner with a long range effort which just flashed by Gray's uprights before the winner arrived for Riseley six minutes from time, substitute Barry Pirie long throw ending up in the back of the net with Harris claiming his second strike of the afternoon yet the majority of neutrals in the sun kissed crowd certain Kings defender Mike Milner had help the ball into his own net.
Kings were now in the last chance salon if the double was to be acheived but the nearest they came to taking the contest into extra time was when Gray having spilled a shot back into play from Clements then just managed to retrieve the situtation before anyone could take advantage.of his error.
Kings AFC, Paul Kirby, Danny Cain, Nathan Clements, Jeff Dyer, Adam Haywood, Mark Loosemore, Mike Milner, Lee Morgan, Marcus Tomlin, Stephen Wilson, Michael Whealan, Subs, Scott Barber, Stuart Minty, Dave Sansom
Riseley Sports, John Gray, Russell Beddall, Tommy Dove, Craig Ford, Sami Gingell, Jonathon Gloss, Jayme Harris, Kevin Harris, Oliver Surridge, Philip Taylor, Ian Whitmore, Subs, Andrew Groom, Daniel Kelly, Barry Pirrie, Charlie Spurgeon,