FA Inter-League Cup Semi-Final
Match report by David Lederman
Dreams of becoming the first ever side to successfully defend the FA Inter League Cup were shattered for the Arthurian League on Good Friday afternoon when the side produced one of their most disappointing performances in recent memory in losing 4-1 to a very respectable Cheshire League outfit. The side from the northwest led 1-0 at the break but the tie was settled in the first twenty minutes of the second half when some shoddy defending saw the visitors score three avoidable goals. A late rally from the As saw Charlie Kelly pull one back, but it was far too little, too late and Cheshire will now go on to face the Herts Senior County League in the final at the King Power Stadium in May for the chance to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup this summer. Despite several absentees given the slightly strange timing of the game, chosen at the behest of the Cheshire League, confidence was high in the Arthurian ranks with a fine display in the quarter-final when dispatching the Essex and Suffolk Border League 4-0 and an intense training session in the build-up to the tie. Manager Billy Jenkins was forced to make several changes, with centre-back Henry Langley and influential midfielder Callum Holland both away. Carthusian Louis Ward had more than earnt the right to take the former’s place in defence given his excellent commitment to the cause and Jak Alcock dropped into the attacking midfield role with striker Jake Raine hoping his hamstring had healed sufficiently to allow him to get through ninety minutes. Conditions were once more perfect in southwest London, with some cloud cover, only a slight breeze and the immaculate artificial playing surface at Hanworth Villa FC surely one of the best in non-League football. And it was abundantly clear from their arrival at the ground that the Cheshire League were an altogether more serious proposition than the Essex and Suffolk League in the previous round. Dressed in matching tracksuits, filmed by a videographer as they descended from the team coach, and having defeated last season’s finalists the West Yorkshire League in the quarter-finals, this would surely prove a stiffer test for the Cup holders. The As started brightly enough, carving out an early opening when a lovely ball down the right wing from Harry Darnell freed Hector Platt and he in turn clipped the ball into the box for Jake Raine to run onto, the striker’s toe-poked effort beating the keeper only to be cleared off the line by a covering defender for a corner. The hosts continued to improve in the early stages, Josh Riley finding space down the left a couple of times, a couple of long throws from Connor Mitchell hinting at danger inside the Cheshire box. But midway through the half, and having barely threatened the As’ goal, the visitors took the lead. A throw-in on the Cheshire right wasn’t dealt with, the ball bouncing around inside the penalty area. A poked effort from close range rebounded off the near post and fell to another forward, who took his time to dummy a couple of players on the line before smashing in from close range. This sudden setback undoubtedly knocked the confidence of the Arthurian side and the remainder of the half proved a real battle. The men in white became too anxious to move the ball forwards quickly and far too often surrendered possession to their opponents unnecessarily. It was a sharp contrast to the confident, flowing football seen in the previous round. Fortunately, however, the side remained disciplined at the back and further chances for Cheshire were kept to a minimum: a solitary, speculative overhead effort from a cross from the right the closest the visitors came to a second. There was work to be done at half-time and manager Billy Jenkins and coach Nicky Samra set about reviving a rather flustered set of players, clearly frustrated at their performance levels in the previous forty-five minutes. Patience was preached, with absolute faith in the superior technical ability of the squad to override the aggressive press of the opposition. One change was necessary, however, with Platt’s groin causing him discomfort, Ardinian Charlie Kelly the natural replacement on the wing. But everything that was said at half-time became almost irrelevant in a disastrous first twenty minutes of the second half that saw the As concede three times, the defence of the Inter League Cup left in tatters. Three minutes after play had restarted a cross from the Cheshire left winger found a teammate unmarked at the far post and his header back across goal landed just inside the far post. Tayo Felstead was replaced two minutes later, Finn Harvey the replacement. But almost immediately the visitors scored a third, a comedy of errors as possession was lost on the left ending with a shot on goal that was surprisingly fumbled by the normally reliable Bowers, a Cheshire playing scrambling the ball over the line under pressure. With half an hour remaining the As took their final roll of the dice, throwing on Alex Nanni and Jak Alcock in place of Harry Larke and Ash Beddows. But any hopes of a comeback were extinguished completely midway through the half when a corner from the right found another Cheshire player unmarked, the header arrowing unerringly into the top corner. Heads bowed but the men in white continued to push right to the end and the changes clearly had a positive impact on the team’s play, with Charlie Kelly on the left looking particularly threatening. It was little surprise that he was at the heart of the hosts’ best move of the match which resulted in their only goal. Fellow Ardinian Jak Alcock fed Kelly on the right, he played it inside to Jake Raine who turned inside before playing a return pass, Kelly firing in first time from eight yards out. Fifteen minutes remained and hope of a miraculous comeback flickered briefly before a long ball over the top saw Jake Raine push his hamstring once too often, the player pulling up sharply before falling to the ground in obvious pain. After lengthy discussion with the physio, and given the state of the game, the player limped off and the side would play out the last ten minutes a man down. Unsurprisingly, Cheshire saw out the remaining time with minimal difficulty. It was a sad way to end one of the most disappointing performances from the Arthurian League in recent seasons. The team have provided so many wonderful memories, not least last time out when dismissing the Essex & Suffolk League, that to lose a game so convincingly with such a sloppy performance almost defied belief. Nevertheless, Cheshire fully deserved their victory and the chance to step out at the King Power Stadium in May for the final. The As must regroup and look forwards, with the small matter of the summer tour to the USA and another incredible opportunity for the group to forge closer bonds, as well as testing themselves against some Stateside opposition in the midst of the World Cup. Line-up
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