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The J. W. Hunt Cup Final finished 4-3 as it did 12 months ago and tonight, at Molineux, holders Black Country Rangers retained the trophy thanks to a 90th minute winner from substitute Jozef Jakob. Following a quiet first half in which Paul Oakley gave Rangers a slender lead, the game certainly came to life after the break with no fewer than six goals. Jordan Nadat doubled Rangers’ lead before Casuals roared back to edge in front with goals from Sean Williams and two from Carlo Franco. Cassies looked like prevailing on their first appearance in the final until Jakob first levelled the scores and then netted the dramatic late winner. Off the field, a healthy crowd in the Billy Wright Stand boosted the funds of the Beacon Centre for the Blind and we won the raffle!
Black Country Rangers 4 Wolverhampton Casuals 3
J. W. Hunt Cup Final
At: Molineux
Kick-off: 7-15 pm
Admission: £3/£1; Programme: £1 (20 pages)
Weather: cloudy, rain during the second half
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2013/13 competition
First Round
Wyrley Juniors 3 Penkridge Town1
Black Country Rangers 1 Wednesfield RBL 1
Chasetown 2 Wolverhampton Sporting 0
Trysull 2 Wednesfield 3
Wolverhampton Casuals 3 Stone Old Alleynians 2
Wellington Amateurs 3 Ettingshall Park Farm 0
AFC Smethwick 2 Tividale 1
Brocton 6 Penncroft 0
Warstones Wanderers 3 Stafford Town 4
Sporting Khalsa 4 Continental Star 0
Darlaston Town 0 Wolverhampton United 1
West Midlands Police 1 AFC Wombourne United 4
Heath Hayes 6 AFC Wulfrunians 0
Willenhall Town 3 Pendeford Santos 1
Wrens Nest 2 Pelsall Villa 3
Bilston Town 3 Red Star Alma 0
Second Round
AFC Wombourne 0 Sporting Khalsa 1
AFC Smethwick 1 Bilston Town 2
Black Country Rangers 3 Stafford Town 2
Pelsall 0 Chasetown 2
Brocton 1 Wolverhampton Casuals 5
Wyrley Juniors 1 Willenhall Town 8
Wednesfield 1 Wellington Amateurs 0
Heath Hayes 1 Wolverhampton United 0
Quarter Finals
Chasetown 4 Willenhall Town 3
Wolverhampton Casuals 2 Heath Hayes 1
Black Country Rangers 5 Wednesfield 0
Sporting Khalsa 1 Bilston Town 0
Semi Finals (Monday 13th May)
Black Country Rangers 4 Sporting Khalsa 3 (at AFC Wulfrunians)
Wolverhampton Casuals 1 Chasetown 1 (aet, pens 4-3, at Sporting Khalsa)
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Both Rangers (5th with 88 points from 40 games) and Cassies (3rd with 97 points from 42 games) had a decent league season in the West Midlands (Regional) League with top-five finishing positions. Cassies soundly won both league meetings and I saw the 5-0 victory at Brinsford Lane back in February which followed a 5-1 win at Tividale earlier in the season.
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We didn’t have to wait long for a goal as Black Country Rangers took the lead in the 7th minute. Paul Oakley ran into the area down the left and slotted a right-foot shot through Todd Henderson’s legs from 8 yards out.
Casuals went close in the 21st minute. Tom Maydew got forward down the right into the Black County area and hit a low shot on target which a defender got back to clear.
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Just before the break, Mark Bellingham couldn’t quite get on the end of a deep cross from Craig Love. The Casuals captain them drove a well-struck 30-yard shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Good news at the interval as our blue ticket 206–210 was announced as the winner of the raffle!
The second half immediately came to life when Sam Wilkinson flew at a right-wing cross from Nadat and sent a diving header just wide of the far post.
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Casuals immediately bounced back with a goal a minute later. Sean Williams, on the left curled a looping shot which hit the far right-hand post and went in off defender Craig Gregg.
Henderson produced a decent save to top over a rising shot from Adam Swain before Casuals scored a 69th-minute equaliser. Angelo Franco delivered a left-wing corner to the near post which was forced over the line by Carlo Franco.
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Black Country replaced Russell Garner with striker Jozef Jakob who certainly made a dramatic impact on the Final.
Jakob, who I remember playing for Stratford Town a few years ago, got Rangers back on level terms in the 82nd minute. A long throw from the left was flicked on and Jakob sidefooted home at close range.
With rain falling at its heaviest, Henderson produced another decent save with his boot to keep out a shot from Nadat but couldn’t do anything to prevent Black Country scored what proved to be the winner.
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There was still time for Casuals to mount a late attack. Sean Williams crossed deep from the right but Bellingham’s header was saved by Richard Kennerdy.
At full-time, Black Country’s Jordan Nadat was named Man of the Match.
Black Country Rangers (red/red/red): 1. Richard Kennerdy, 2. Adam Fincher, 3. Alex Hammond, 4. Russell Garner, 5. Aaron Lloyds, 6. Sam Wilkinson (capt), 7. Craig Gregg, 8. Jamie Hurdman, 9. Jordan Nadat, 10. Paul Oakley, 11. Adam Swain. Subs: 12. Lee Knight (not used), 14. Liam Hughes (not used), 15. Adam Harris (for Fincher, 63), 16. Douglas Gould (not used), 17. Jozef Jakob (for Garner, 79). Manager: Paul Garner.
Wolverhampton Casuals (sky blue and white stripes / navy blue / sky blue): 1. Todd Henderson, 2. Tom Maydew, 3. Luke Tudor, 4. Carlo Franco, 5. Daniel Lloyd, 6. George Williams, 7. Angelo Franco, 8. Craig Love (capt), 9. Mark Bellingham, 10. Matt Bailey, 11. Sean Williams. Subs: 12. Adrian Jones (not used), 14. Barry Evans (not used), 15. Ray Facey (not used), 16. Dan Pilgrim (for Love, 78), 17. Matt Dodd (for George Williams, 45). Manager: Carl Abbott.
Referee: Phil Magness.
Assistants: Neil Faunch and Adrian Hall
Fourth Official: Paddy Keane.
Attendance: 400 (estimate)
Duration: first-half: 45:36; second-half: 48:49
Man of the Match: Jordan Nadat (Black Country Rangers)
Goals:
1-0 Paul Oakley (7)
2-0 Jordan Nadat (56)
2-1 Sean Williams (57)
2-2 Carlo Franco (69)
2-3 Carlo Franco (74)
3-3 Jozef Jakob (82)
4-3 Jozef Jakob (90)
Cards: none.