-8th
August 2007
AFC
Redhouse triumphant.
Murton dismissed, but AFC hold out against
Hylton Castle.

AFC Redhouse 2 Hylton Castle
0 Final
Report by Gareth Brazier.
Hylton Castle started the game the
better, with good passing and movement with the ball. AFC were more
orthodox, relying on the ball over the top for Tommy Bell to run
on to. Not many clear cut chances early on. Mini put one in the
car park with a left foot swinger and Carl Middlemiss smothered
a shot from Keith Moon. AFC Redhouse took the lead after a stray
pass landed at Gash's feet, his first time ball sent David "Bunta"
Murton clear and he produced a cool finish to dink it past the oncoming
Pottsy. Both teams tended to cancel each other out for rest of the
half.
The second half started with Redhouse
doubling their lead. Excellent play from Bunta played in Tommy Bell
who smashed the ball in under poor Pottsy. Straight after the goal
a blatant handball was missed by the ref which infuriated Bunta.
He told the ref what he thought of him and was dismissed. Strange
decision given that minutes previously a Castle player had done
exactly the same but received only a warning. The game, as expected,
flared up as Gowey and Grant squared up to each other after a foul.
AFC Redhouse then deployed Sassco tactics, as in the recent Thursday
game and defended deep. Hylton Castle made the most of the man advantage,
but clear cut chances remained at a premium, and the shots that
found their way through didn't beat Middlemiss in goal, who was
fired up with a sense of injustice (He always is). Hylton Castle
then had a period of four quick free kicks in succession in and
around the box, after Foster decided that no one shall pass. These
all came to nothing. Bell could have made it comfortable after breaking
free, but Pottsy tipped it over the bar. In the dying minutes, Coburn
lashed a shot from distance which struck the inside of the post
with the keeper well beaten. Redhouse resorted to lumping the ball
anywhere and everywhere as they were truly exhausted. But in the
end it was worth it.
Having made their debut into the Cups,
AFC have some pedigree for the forthcoming League as a Winners of
the Super League and Runners up in the Open Cup. The Redhouse line
up for this final was Carl Middlemiss, David Murton, Tommy Bell,
Grant Foster, Chris Middlemiss and Gash Brazier. Semi Final hero,
Davy Taylor was missing due to work.
Hylton Castle can take heart from a
Cup appearance. Their League hopes faded in Season 10, but this
should boost their confidence for Season 11.
Thanks to Gash Brazier for the above
report, but he needs to get himself back to school to sort his spelling,
capitalisation, punctuation, etc.

The winning team, AFC Redhouse. Pictured standing
from left to right are Gash Brazier, Chris Middlemiss, David Murton,
Grant Foster. In front, with the trophy, are Chris Middlemiss and
Tommy Bell.
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