Woolwich 90 FC 3 Paul Birch FC 2 (After Extra-time)

Paul Birch FC were knocked out of the London Sunday Junior Cup in a thrilling game.

It all started well in the first half where the visitors have the better of the game and Steve Birch had two chances before they made their dominance tell when Alan Selby had a shot parried by the keeper which fell to Birch who had a simple tap-in to make it 1-0.

Into the second half and Woolwich 90 changed their system and started to create opportunities. Up the other end, Birch also had chances - Flewers going close - but 90 got the leveller after fifty five minuted when one of their players was unmarked from a corner and pounced to score. 1-1.

Woolwich 90 then went ahead after seventy four minutes when their number 8 sent a fine chip past Jenkins in the PB goal.

The 1st team threw caution to the wind trying to get the leveller and 90 should have probably won it when they scored from only for the referee to dubiously dissallow it for an alleged handball by one of the Woolwich 90 players. This gave PB a chance and after some sustained pressure, the ball fell to Terry Pain who drove a fine strike into the net. 2-2

So, into extra time and it was anyone's game. However, Woolwich 90 got the goal in the first half of extra time and they managed to resist the substantial pressure from PB.

PB will be bitterly dissapointed not to get the win as they dominated for large parts of the game but they did not take their chances which Woolwich 90 did and they deserved to win.

So, all eyes are now on the league and lets hope there can be some success this season.

Mike Smith
Club Secretary

MAN OF THE MATCH:  Adam Flewers - Was an attacking option throughout and defended stoutly.

Team:

Jenkins, Alder (Smith 71), Major, May, Tarrant, Flewers, Selby, Martin, Beale, Paine, Birch (Boyles 105)

Subs not used:  None

Goalscorers:  Birch, Paine

Bookings: Selby, Smith

Referee: Tariq Abdelrahman; Assistants: Andrey Lashchikov and Turan Yesilyurt