CLAVERDON FC 1-1 NORTHFIELD TOWN (5-4 IN A PENALTY SHOOTOUT...) THE MOWDOG'S HONEST, INDEPENDENT REPORT, PLUS SCREENSHOTS OF THE GOALS & PENALTIES......

 Goal-frame Helps Then Hinders Northfield, As Claverdon Take The Intermediate Cup…

Claverdon FC 1-1 Northfield Town 

(5-4 in a penalty shootout…) 

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Well presented by the officials from Boldmere St Michaels, this Intermediate Cup Final was absorbing over ninety minutes, became more tetchy in overtime, then produced some decent spot-kicks in the shootout. Even the unfortunate Mikah Knight’s penalty failure which allowed Tommy Williams to win the tie for Clav, wasn’t a bad shot, for it cannoned away from half-way up the right post.

Ironically, earlier in the match, the crossbar had saved Town twice, when Dan Sill and Williams had threatened but Northfield goalie Sam Kirby had produced some smart work to deny Claverdon too, as the power shooting of Owen Bennett found its opening period range.

Driven by the neat creativity and industry of George Curry and anchored by the robust defending of Drew Hill, Shane Nicholson and skipper Jamie Farr, Claverdon deserved their victory, despite a stronger showing by their opponents later in the encounter. 

Indeed, Clav gloveman Ben Newey wasn’t called upon too much, despite having to fist away two or three deliveries from wide but his two similar diving saves down to his right to touch behind a pair of low 15 yard drives by speedy Town forward Stanford Stewart were well executed.

The shootout had seen eight successes before Knight’s left-footer struck an upright and that left Williams’ low spot-kick to claim the trophy for Clav, their third prize in a couple of weeks, for they had already won the Senior Cup courtesy of a Williams strike, also at Boldmere’s ground then had claimed a  league title with a 1-10 away victory at Benson Cresconians, thus overtaking Glades FC on goal difference.

The opening period, edged by Claverdon but not capitalised upon…

Despite some physical play, Town were unable to produce more than two rushes by Stewart at inside-left before the break, the first of which led to a shot into the side-netting and the second was thwarted by the outrushing Newey.

However, Claverdon began the tie with three explosive shots by Bennett from way downtown at inside-left. The first cleared the crossbar and the second was beaten out by the gloves of Kirby, who then caught a Farr header under his crossbar from the ensuing right-flank centre. Bennett’s third attempted pile-driver was expertly caught beneath his crossbeam by Kirby.

Henry Eddy saw a clipped shot apparently deflected over the Town crossbar, before striker Dan Sill latched onto careless defending, moved inside from the left and poked a shot past Kirby but the ball bounced off the near post and into the grateful gloves of the fallen ‘keeper.

A better showing by Northfield after the interval…

There was certainly an improvement by Town, who were urged on by their increasingly loud chanters in the grandstand, although in truth, Claverdon fashioned the better chances in an increasingly frenetic 45.

Yes, Stewart’s first low drive was saved but that shot was sandwiched between two Clav chances. First a low pass across the goalmouth only just eluded the sliding Eddy then he scored the opening goal.

A delivery from the left by Sill was jumped high for by the unchallenged Kirby at his near post but somehow he lost possession of the ball which fell at Eddy’s feet and he shot into goal from close range.

ABOVE & BELOW: EDDY SCORES FOR CLAVERDON...

Hill forced a smart save at the right near post from Kirby with his legs as Clav battled to extend their lead but it was Northfield who gradually began to exert some authority. Newey patted away an awkward centre by Town replacement Shane Kelly and after a really good 27 yarder by grafting midfielder Ben Dugmore had flashed just past the right stick, another Northfield substitute, Darnell Humes regained parity for his team. 

A smart pass through inside-left by Adam Holland freed Humes and as Shane Nicholson moved into a challenge, Humes shot low and left-booted between the legs of the advancing Newey from 15 yards.

ABOVE & BELOW: THE NORTHFIELD EQUALISER...

However, it was Claverdon who created a couple of late chances as time waned. First Williams nodded onto the crossbar, after which Kirby managed to grab the ball on the goal-line, before the same Clav player saw a low delivery from the right byeline turned across the 6 yard box by the goalminder. A goalmouth melee saw Williams nudge the ball goalwards but Town defender Shea Boulter cleared the ball from his goal-line.

Extra-time saw a Sill header for Clav disallowed for offside, the other decent Stewart drive for Town was well saved down to his right as already mentioned and a miscued Stewart volley was saved, if nearly spilled by Newey. 

And so to penalties…  

Kelly scored right of centre for Town, Eddy netted for Clav into the left corner of the net, although Kirby dived the correct way.

0-1...

1-1...

Both Stewart for Town then Rory Nicholson for Clav shot low into the right corner of the net, although Newey did dive the correct way.

1-2...

2-2...

Northfield’s Umayr Barnaby lifted his shot into the left corner of goal, just over Newey’s dive, whilst Sill shot high into the net for a 3-3 shootout total.

2-3...

3-3...

Next for Town was replacement Roy McCreedy, who shot comfortably into the middle of the goal, before Rich Heath slotted his kick into the bottom right corner of the net, as Kirby dived the other way.

3-4...

4-4...

And then, drama…

Knight’s shot for Town struck head-high against the right post and it was left to Williams to try to win the match. He shot low and with care into the left side of the net, which rendered Kirby helpless to save…   

THE NORTHFIELD MISS...

THE CUP WINNING PENALTY...

The final words…

There was some unpleasantness at times both on and off the pitch and the constant berating of Claverdon players by a group of spectators was embarrassing for a showcase final.

Eddy was regularly described as being “…a shit David Beckham…”  or “…a shit Andy Carroll…”  because of his choice of hairstyle. So, when Eddy scored his spot-kick, he shushed them and when Williams won the game, there was silence… 

One Claverdon player moving along the touchline appeared to be knocked off balance by someone close to the Northfield dugout and in truth, there were times when the contest, like the sun, crept under a dark cloud.

Kirby was good in the Town goal, skipper Adam Heath was a rock at the back, alongside Myles Brooks and Leon Midgley was industrious, whilst the experienced David Dainty, Klarke Bird and Adam Holland showed decent touches at times.

Stewart’s pace was underused to be fair but he did waste a couple of other shooting opportunities by firing well off target.

Barnaby, Knight and Humes all contributed to Northfield’s improved latter stages but subsequently, it was the width of a upright which wrecked Town’s day.

Claverdon were served well by their defenders and the work ethic of Heath in midfield, alongside the busy Ben Roddy and the neat Curry. They also boasted the often smart play by forwards Williams, Eddy and Sill who complemented each others’ play well enough and in the end, the pink shirted Claverdoners felt they had been rewarded by their victory.