Historic B’s End the Season as League Runners-Up and All Saints Cup Winners
Our B Team yesterday made history when with skill, commitment and belief they overcame DDAS in a closely fought encounter drawing 1-1 but going onto to win on penalties, this result was the best ever by Saints B Team and the league position of runners -up.
ALL SAINTS CUP FINAL
Saints lined up 3-5-2 – Matt Oakhill, Chris Desallais, Jack Davies, Alex Fox, Rudran Ratnanandan, Ed Tye, Nick Bull Captain, Adam Neill, Nick Sanger with Mitch Jefferies and Thayyab Hussain up top. A brilliant bench of Calum Carver, Louis Bigg and Kristian Foord.
The match got underway and Saints took the initiative from the very start and DDAS were rocked by the commitment the fight and the skill of the super Saints and Hussain was frightening the DDAS back line at every opportunity. It was a fierce battle in midfield but Nick was setting the example alongside Adam and Ed who were dominating the middle of the pitch, Jack Davies, Alex Fox and Chris Desallais were head and shoulders winning the battle with the DDAS attackers. An early break through came when the ball swept across the DDAS box laned at Adam Neil who wasted no time and calmly drove the ball into the DDAS net and Saints were rampant.
A massive game changing moment saw Captain Nick Bull sustain a horrendous head injury and have to leave the pitch drenched in blood and on his way to A&E for stitches. Louis Bigg entered the fray and Saints had to crack on without their leader and Jack Davies took the armband.
The loss of Nick was a major blow and it gave DDAS encouragement and they crept back into the game but Adam Neill and Ed tye had other ideas and they were supreme in halting attacks and creating an attacking springboard. Going forward Rudran was frightening his marker and winning countless free kicks whilst Louis and Nick Sanger were adding value and winning their individual battles.
Agonisingly Saints wasted at least 3 gilt edged opportunities to add to their lead but they lacked the rub of the green to convert when the chances arrived.
10 minutes before the interval Carver replaced Sanger and Calum also started to make his make with skill and his willingness to give to the team, the interval arrived.
Half – Time 0-1
The second period started with Kristian Foord taking over from Mitch Jefferies and Saints carried on where they left off and Adam Neill was setting the pace for others to follow by winning battles all over the pitch. The story remained the same though and Saints wasted another 3 opportunities one being on the goal line but the decider would not come.
Nick Sanger returned to the action for the hard working Bigg and Jefferies returned at the expense of Calum but still the second goal was elusive but DDAS were not creating anything. Only 9 minutes to go Neill took a hit in midfield and got booked for the pleasure but the clock was ticking away and Saints had their hands almost on the trophy, then the unthinkable happened.
Foord lost possession up top but to his credit fought back and made a crunching tackle that ricocheted into the path of the DDAS midfield with seconds it split the Saints defence and the equaliser gave DDAS the life line. The game restarted and almost simultaneously the referee ended the game, sending the game into penalties
Full-Time 1-1
Penalties got under way and DDAS scored and Jefferies equalised
Matt Oakhill made a great save from the DDAS spot-kick and Kristian made it 1-2 to Saints
DDAS Scored and Nick Sanger made it 2-3
DDAS Scored and Adam Neil made it 3-4
DDAS scored and Thayyab had his shot saved 4-4
Chris Desallais strode up to make it 4-5
Matt saved again and won us the CUP!
