Formby Win First Division Cup
Fri 18th April 2014 | The Edward Case Cup | By Martin Fallon
Formby got their hands on the first silverware of the 2013/14 season with a penalties win against Hanley Town bringing them the First Division Cup for a second time in their history.
In a very close yet open game, a thrilling 120 minutes of cup football failed to separate the two sides, with one missed penalty ultimately proving the difference.
The game started with both sides feeling each other out, with neither keeper really tested in the opening 15 minutes. Jacob Vernon shot over for Hanley with Marvin Molyneux doing likewise for Formby.
In the 19th minute Theo Stair found Rhys Swetnam 20 yards from goal with the forward shooting over the bar. Four minutes later at the other end, Michael White's ball into the box was not cleared with Emini Adegbenro shooting wide with a snap shot.
The opening goal came after 27 minutes. A ball from defence found Adegbenro on the left hand side and his early low cross found Mark Kirby who made no mistake from six yards out. Back came Hanley with Ben Blowers and Stair both shooting over the bar from outside the box.
Adegbenro had a chance to increase Formby's lead as he beat the offside trap in the 33rd minute, but the ball ran away as he rounded the keeper and he could only find the side netting from an acute angle. Two minutes later Hanley were level with Blowers low cross from the right hand side turned in at the near post by Stair for his 30th goal of the season.
The goal changed the complexion of the game, and four minutes later the Staffordshire side were in front. A cross from the right was cleared to Jacob Vernon some 25-yards from goal, and his shot dipped into the bottom left corner past the diving Joe O`Connell. Hanley could have increased the lead with the last action of the half, with Chris Boast heading a free kick from near the touchline over the bar.
Four minutes into the second half, Adegbenro got in behind the defence from Franny Smith's through ball, but his shot was straight at Hanley keeper Chris Fletcher. Hanley countered with a succession of dangerous corners that nobody could get a decisive touch on in the box.
Just before the hour mark, Fletcher kept Hanley in front with a superb one hand save from Smith`s 25-yard effort. The game then entered a period where both sides failed to create any clear cut chances, perhaps getting their breath back from a frenetic opening hour.
With 20 minutes remaining, Boast weaved his way to the left touchline and his low cross from inches away from Vernon who stretched at the far post but couldn`t get a decisive touch on the ball. At the other end a high ball into the box found Brislan who had space, but the ball wouldn't sit down for him and he shot over under pressure.
With five minutes remaining, Formby upped the pressure with Kurt Sherlock powering his way into the box on the counter attack but seeing his shot deflected for a corner. The pressure paid off with three minutes remaining as Formby equalised, but it came in fortuitous circumstances. Adegbenro's cross from the right hand side was punched away by the keeper, but the ball richoched off Sherlock's head straight into the net.
Both sides could have won it late on. A patient attack saw Hanley rattle the crossbar, with Formby going straight up the other end with Mark Kirkby somehow hitting straight at the keeper from a couple of yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Three minutes injury time failed to worry either keeper, with Kieron Brislen's effort deflected for a corner, with referee Michael Crusham blowing the final whistle to signal an additional 30 minutes play.
After a pulsating 90 minutes, extra time inevitably got off to a slow start. Sherlock went close with a lob over the keeper but saw his effort go just wide of the post.
Seven minutes into the additional 30, Hanley took the lead with the goal of the game from Vernon. He picked up the ball in midfield with Formby's defence backing off. 25 yards from goal, Vernon struck a superb effort into the bottom right hand corner for his second of the night to give Hanley a 3-2 lead.
With time running out, it looked as though Hanley had done enough, but Michael White once again proved their nemesis. In March he scored a 90th minute winner in the league meeting between the two sides. This time he netted the equaliser in the 115th minute. A corner from the right was headed back across goal where White found the net via the underside of the crossbar.
No real chances were created in the final few minutes with neither side inevitably wanting to concede so late on in extra time. It was left to the dreaded penalty shoot out to decide who would take the trophy home.
Captain Michael White put Formby on their way with the opening spot kick, with Rhys Sweetnam's first effort for Hanley agonisingly wide of the left hand post. Keiron Brislen made it 2-0 to Formby with Josh Thorpe making it 2-1 for Hanley.
Jonathon Swatton made it 3-1 with Jacob Vernon reducing the arrears to 3-2. Kurt Sherlock's kick made it 4-2 to Formby meaning Hanley had to score to stay in the game, with Neil Edwards' confident penalty making it 4-3. Jason Carey stepped up with a chance to win it for Formby, and he kept his composure superbly to make it five penalties from five.
The result sees Formby become only the second side to win the First Division Cup for the second time. Hanley, in their first season in the league, must take heart for the contribution they made to a tremendous final.
Many thanks to Runcorn Linnets FC for hosting the Final. Photographs courtesy of Phil Costello. Action Photos from this evenings game will be uploaded over the weekend.
Formby Win First Division Cup
Fri 18th April 2014 | The Edward Case Cup
By Martin Fallon
Formby got their hands on the first silverware of the 2013/14 season with a penalties win against Hanley Town bringing them the First Division Cup for a second time in their history.
In a very close yet open game, a thrilling 120 minutes of cup football failed to separate the two sides, with one missed penalty ultimately proving the difference.
The game started with both sides feeling each other out, with neither keeper really tested in the opening 15 minutes. Jacob Vernon shot over for Hanley with Marvin Molyneux doing likewise for Formby.
In the 19th minute Theo Stair found Rhys Swetnam 20 yards from goal with the forward shooting over the bar. Four minutes later at the other end, Michael White's ball into the box was not cleared with Emini Adegbenro shooting wide with a snap shot.
The opening goal came after 27 minutes. A ball from defence found Adegbenro on the left hand side and his early low cross found Mark Kirby who made no mistake from six yards out. Back came Hanley with Ben Blowers and Stair both shooting over the bar from outside the box.
Adegbenro had a chance to increase Formby's lead as he beat the offside trap in the 33rd minute, but the ball ran away as he rounded the keeper and he could only find the side netting from an acute angle. Two minutes later Hanley were level with Blowers low cross from the right hand side turned in at the near post by Stair for his 30th goal of the season.
The goal changed the complexion of the game, and four minutes later the Staffordshire side were in front. A cross from the right was cleared to Jacob Vernon some 25-yards from goal, and his shot dipped into the bottom left corner past the diving Joe O`Connell. Hanley could have increased the lead with the last action of the half, with Chris Boast heading a free kick from near the touchline over the bar.
Four minutes into the second half, Adegbenro got in behind the defence from Franny Smith's through ball, but his shot was straight at Hanley keeper Chris Fletcher. Hanley countered with a succession of dangerous corners that nobody could get a decisive touch on in the box.
Just before the hour mark, Fletcher kept Hanley in front with a superb one hand save from Smith`s 25-yard effort. The game then entered a period where both sides failed to create any clear cut chances, perhaps getting their breath back from a frenetic opening hour.
With 20 minutes remaining, Boast weaved his way to the left touchline and his low cross from inches away from Vernon who stretched at the far post but couldn`t get a decisive touch on the ball. At the other end a high ball into the box found Brislan who had space, but the ball wouldn't sit down for him and he shot over under pressure.
With five minutes remaining, Formby upped the pressure with Kurt Sherlock powering his way into the box on the counter attack but seeing his shot deflected for a corner. The pressure paid off with three minutes remaining as Formby equalised, but it came in fortuitous circumstances. Adegbenro's cross from the right hand side was punched away by the keeper, but the ball richoched off Sherlock's head straight into the net.
Both sides could have won it late on. A patient attack saw Hanley rattle the crossbar, with Formby going straight up the other end with Mark Kirkby somehow hitting straight at the keeper from a couple of yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Three minutes injury time failed to worry either keeper, with Kieron Brislen's effort deflected for a corner, with referee Michael Crusham blowing the final whistle to signal an additional 30 minutes play.
After a pulsating 90 minutes, extra time inevitably got off to a slow start. Sherlock went close with a lob over the keeper but saw his effort go just wide of the post.
Seven minutes into the additional 30, Hanley took the lead with the goal of the game from Vernon. He picked up the ball in midfield with Formby's defence backing off. 25 yards from goal, Vernon struck a superb effort into the bottom right hand corner for his second of the night to give Hanley a 3-2 lead.
With time running out, it looked as though Hanley had done enough, but Michael White once again proved their nemesis. In March he scored a 90th minute winner in the league meeting between the two sides. This time he netted the equaliser in the 115th minute. A corner from the right was headed back across goal where White found the net via the underside of the crossbar.
No real chances were created in the final few minutes with neither side inevitably wanting to concede so late on in extra time. It was left to the dreaded penalty shoot out to decide who would take the trophy home.
Captain Michael White put Formby on their way with the opening spot kick, with Rhys Sweetnam's first effort for Hanley agonisingly wide of the left hand post. Keiron Brislen made it 2-0 to Formby with Josh Thorpe making it 2-1 for Hanley.
Jonathon Swatton made it 3-1 with Jacob Vernon reducing the arrears to 3-2. Kurt Sherlock's kick made it 4-2 to Formby meaning Hanley had to score to stay in the game, with Neil Edwards' confident penalty making it 4-3. Jason Carey stepped up with a chance to win it for Formby, and he kept his composure superbly to make it five penalties from five.
The result sees Formby become only the second side to win the First Division Cup for the second time. Hanley, in their first season in the league, must take heart for the contribution they made to a tremendous final.
Many thanks to Runcorn Linnets FC for hosting the Final. Photographs courtesy of Phil Costello. Action Photos from this evenings game will be uploaded over the weekend.