Bradley 1 Coach Rangers 1 (aet Bradley won 5-3 on penalties)
Bill Redfern Memorial Cup Final
At: Osmaston Polo Ground
Kick-off:7-00 pm
Admission: £1-50 including free 4-page programme
Attendance: 80 (headcount)
Weather: sunshine and rain
Duration (45): first-half: 45:08; second-half: 45:05
Extra Time (10): first-period: 10:35; second-period: 9:08
Coach Rangers suffered the disappointment of a penalty shoot-out defeat for the second successive season in the Summer League’s Bill Redfern Memorial Cup Final. Twelve months ago they lost out 4-2 on penalties to Holly Bush, tonight they went down 5-3 on penalties to league leaders Bradley.For those who haven’t followed my summer travels over the past couple of years, the ‘Summer League’ commenced back in 1930 for teams based mostly in Ashbourne and within a triangle between Uttoxeter, Derby and Ashbourne. Since the first season the league has proudly maintain a rule – currently rule 2 in fact – which reads: ‘No player shall have played for a recognised winter league team in a League or Cup match during the last season unless under 17 years old on 1st April of the current [Summer League] season’. What this means is that unlike other summer leagues elsewhere in the country, the (Ashbourne) Summer League uses players who don’t play competitive football elsewhere. Personally, I think this is a tradition worth preserving.
Moving on to tonight and it is always a pleasure to do something for the Summer League. And, for the third season I produced the programme for a cup final which is fondly named after one of the league’s founding fathers. Bill Redfern, after whom tonight’s competition is named, attended the inaugural meeting of the League at Church Broughton in 1929, played on the very first evening of fixtures, and was a member of the League Council, holding the posts of Vice Chairman and Chairman and also elected President and a life member in 1971. Up to his death in 1994 at the age of 86, he continued to attended meetings and matches.
The final was again held at the Osmaston Polo Ground, once described as ‘“Wembley” to all summer footballers’ and it is easy to see why. Situated a couple of miles south of Ashbourne, the ground is a large expanse of grass with, in relation to the entrance, a cricket pitch on the left-hand side and football pitch in the middle, not to forget a lovely old pavilion at the far end. Of course the playing surface was in perfect condition. The ground was once home to former Central Midlands League side Brailsford FC.Tonight’s finalists Bradley (top of the table with 37 points from 13 games) and Coach Rangers (second with 33 points from 13 games) occupy the top-two places in the Summer League table, well clear of third-placed Rose and Crown.
Kicking-off in sunshine, Coach Rangers (in yellow shirts, black shorts and black socks) got the final underway defending the pavilion end in the first half. Straightway, James Carter got into the area and fired straight at Alex Dowling. The decent first chance fell to Bradley’s Jez Oborn who saw a well-struck volley blocked by Rangers keeper Simon Hellaby.
Coach took the lead in the 7th minute. Sean Millward was fouled in the area and James Cater despatched the resulting penalty into the bottom corner of the net.
Bradley (wearing silver shirts, black shorts and socks) thought they’d equalised seven minutes later when Karl Grocott put the ball into the net after a fine save by Hellaby. But joy quickly turned to disappointment with a raised flag for offside. However, Bradley got back on level terms in the 32nd minute. Defender James Marriott got forward and powered a free header past Hellaby.Just like the first half, Coach created an early chance after the resumption. Ian Godfrey hit a well struck shot which the bespectacled Dowling beat away. The Bradley keeper excelled to again thwart Godfrey with a diving save at the expense of a corner. Chances were created during the second half and Wayne Archer saw a shot blocked. As the end of normal time approached, Coach won two corner in quick succession and Dec Bacon headed over from Kevin Millward’s right-wing cross.
Neither side could find a winner so extra time of ten minutes each way. Bradley got the first period underway attacking the pavilion end with the earlier sunshine replaced with darkening clouds, hills to the west disappearing in the gloom and a few sports of rain which turned into a torrential downpour. The only chance of note during the first period was a snap shot fired over the bar by Sean Millward.
By the time the second period of extra time commenced most of the remaining crowd were sheltering under the overhang at the front of the pavilion with a few hardy souls left on the touchline. Both sides each had a chance to avoid a penalty shoot-out but James Carter drove over the Bradley bar and Ross Hunter pulled a low shot wide of the Coach goal.
Final score 1-1 after extra time, so the final was decided with a penalty shootout into the goal at the pavilion end; Bradley took the first spot kick.
1-0 Bradley’s Wayne Archer scored1-1 Coach’s Ian Godfrey scored
2-1 Bradley’s Chris Rowe scored
2-1 Coach’s Adrian Roberts missed
3-1 Bradley’s Jay Twenlow scored
3-2 Coach’s James Carter scored
4-2 Bradley’s Jez Oborn scored
4-3 Needing to score to keep the shoot-out alive, Martyn Taylor scored
5-3 But Bradley just needed to convert their fifth penalty to lift the cup and Mark Sellers duly fired past Simon Hellaby.
Bradley (silver/black/black): 1. Alex Dowling, 4. Mark Twenlow, 9. Mark Sellers (capt), 5. James Marriott, 6. Chris Rowe, 7. Glynn Sellers, 8. Jez Oborn, 14. Richard Gage, 3. Jay Twemlow, 15. Wayne Archer, 12. Karl Grocott. Subs: 2. Chris Burton, 10. Ross Hunter, 11. Andy Brown.
Coach Rangers (yellow/black/black): 1. Simon Hellaby, 16. Craig Richardson, 6. Paul Godfrey, 4. Martyn Taylor, 7. Kevin Millward, 11. Ian Godfrey, 14. Mark Maznenco, 8. Sam Howard, 9. Dec Bacon (capt), 10. Sean Millward, 15. James Carter. Subs: 2. Adrian Roberts, 12. Craig Frith, 17. Darren Handley.
Referee: Jason Glanville.
Assistants: Jim Conway and Chris Cope.
Goals
0-1 James Carter (7 pen)
1-1 James Marriott (32)
Cards:
Bradley: none
Coach: James Carter (YC, 56)
