Post by Dave on Apr 20, 2009 21:12:10 GMT
Ivor Andrews Cup Final 20th April 2009
I have had so much shit in my life, but it has never mattered to me, simply because one person has always stood by my side, but even more than that has made me feel so proud more times than I care to remember.
To night ranks up there with all the very best moments he has ever given me and a night that saw me really struggle to hold the tears back. I was there when he played his first game and scored aged only 6 years old and tonight I watched the same boy but now 28 years older, (now 34) give a display on how a centre forward should play.
He did not play for two years and only started playing just 10 games ago, mind you despite having to lose weight and get fit, he still found the net 18 times in those ten games and those goals put his team into tonight’s final of the Ivor Andrews Cup.
The game kicked off and it was all Marldon in the first half, Dittisham never mounted one serious attack, yet Marldon could not get the ball into the net. A 35 yard free kick by Ant Roach had the keeper diving across his goal line to push the ball past the post. A second free kick taken by Ant from 25 yards scraped the top of the cross bar and over for a goal kick.
Despite being on top in the midfield Marldon failed to give Ant good service up front and he had to scrape to win balls from the defenders. Then at last a good ball was played up to him, he turned his man will ease and chipped the ball over the two defenders to a Maldon player who was running into the box, his shot was saved by the keeper.
Following this a great ball was played out wide and Ant got it under control and hit a sweet volley, but it went over the bar. So the first half ended with no goals, but no one was expecting the man of the match display that Ant gave in the second half.
The second half kicked off with Marldon kicking up the slight slope, I should say that the final was held at Ipplepens new pitch, it is shared by the cricket club and is a few minutes drive from the village.
Marldon were once again fully on top and it looked only a matter of time before they scored, but it was Dittisham who took a shock lead completely against the run of play. A long hopeful clearance by a Dits defender when out wide toward the touchline in the Marldon half, Marldons no2 let the ball bounce when he should have cleared it with his head. As the ball dropped it was nicked of him by the Dits winger who raced down the line, Marldons no2 then hacked him down.
The free kick taken out by the touch line was a cross I’m sure, but it sailed high over the keeper and high into the far top corner of the goal. It was all level five minutes later a free kick given just outside the box, up steps Ant and hit a shot any Prem player would have been proud off, right into the top corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance at all.
Five minutes later it was two one to Marldon, Ant had been pulling the Dits defenders all over the pitch and Marldon had started to play the balls into the space where Ant always makes such good runs. The ball was picked up in midfield and Ant was outside the box to the left of it, a ball was placed to the right of the box and Ant had run across his marker to get to the ball, took a great first touch and fired it across the keeper into the far corner.
It was all Marldon again and a few good volleys by Ant got blocked by defenders, then five minutes after Ants second goal a Marldon player was brought down in the box. Ant steped up to take it and the keeper went the right way but the ball had too much power on it. So it was three one and the lead fully deserved.
Just ten minutes later Ant made it four one, a clever run by the Marldon winger saw him run into the box and square the ball for Ant, it was off the ground and had to be hit on the volley, as he went to strike it due to the speed and height of the ball I expected him to miss it, but no he smashed it into the net.
Now only 15 minutes to go Dittisham stepped up their game and started to have a bit of pressure and a corner was given that I thought was a goal kick. The ball came in and a Dits forward could not get high enough to head the ball into the net, instead it came of the top of his head and fell to a Dits player just past the far post, who hit a good clean shot into the net.
So it finished four goals to two to Marldon and I just had to run onto the pitch to congratulate the man of the match, well done Ant you made me so proud yet again tonight.
Programme
The star player
Team Photo
Team Hug
Ant gets ready to take a free kick first half
Getting Stuck In
First Half Volley Over The Bar.
The Great Free kick(sorry Ant the guy moved in front as I took the shot ;D
Keeper lays Beaten
The Penelty
Getting The Cup
I have had so much shit in my life, but it has never mattered to me, simply because one person has always stood by my side, but even more than that has made me feel so proud more times than I care to remember.
To night ranks up there with all the very best moments he has ever given me and a night that saw me really struggle to hold the tears back. I was there when he played his first game and scored aged only 6 years old and tonight I watched the same boy but now 28 years older, (now 34) give a display on how a centre forward should play.
He did not play for two years and only started playing just 10 games ago, mind you despite having to lose weight and get fit, he still found the net 18 times in those ten games and those goals put his team into tonight’s final of the Ivor Andrews Cup.
The game kicked off and it was all Marldon in the first half, Dittisham never mounted one serious attack, yet Marldon could not get the ball into the net. A 35 yard free kick by Ant Roach had the keeper diving across his goal line to push the ball past the post. A second free kick taken by Ant from 25 yards scraped the top of the cross bar and over for a goal kick.
Despite being on top in the midfield Marldon failed to give Ant good service up front and he had to scrape to win balls from the defenders. Then at last a good ball was played up to him, he turned his man will ease and chipped the ball over the two defenders to a Maldon player who was running into the box, his shot was saved by the keeper.
Following this a great ball was played out wide and Ant got it under control and hit a sweet volley, but it went over the bar. So the first half ended with no goals, but no one was expecting the man of the match display that Ant gave in the second half.
The second half kicked off with Marldon kicking up the slight slope, I should say that the final was held at Ipplepens new pitch, it is shared by the cricket club and is a few minutes drive from the village.
Marldon were once again fully on top and it looked only a matter of time before they scored, but it was Dittisham who took a shock lead completely against the run of play. A long hopeful clearance by a Dits defender when out wide toward the touchline in the Marldon half, Marldons no2 let the ball bounce when he should have cleared it with his head. As the ball dropped it was nicked of him by the Dits winger who raced down the line, Marldons no2 then hacked him down.
The free kick taken out by the touch line was a cross I’m sure, but it sailed high over the keeper and high into the far top corner of the goal. It was all level five minutes later a free kick given just outside the box, up steps Ant and hit a shot any Prem player would have been proud off, right into the top corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance at all.
Five minutes later it was two one to Marldon, Ant had been pulling the Dits defenders all over the pitch and Marldon had started to play the balls into the space where Ant always makes such good runs. The ball was picked up in midfield and Ant was outside the box to the left of it, a ball was placed to the right of the box and Ant had run across his marker to get to the ball, took a great first touch and fired it across the keeper into the far corner.
It was all Marldon again and a few good volleys by Ant got blocked by defenders, then five minutes after Ants second goal a Marldon player was brought down in the box. Ant steped up to take it and the keeper went the right way but the ball had too much power on it. So it was three one and the lead fully deserved.
Just ten minutes later Ant made it four one, a clever run by the Marldon winger saw him run into the box and square the ball for Ant, it was off the ground and had to be hit on the volley, as he went to strike it due to the speed and height of the ball I expected him to miss it, but no he smashed it into the net.
Now only 15 minutes to go Dittisham stepped up their game and started to have a bit of pressure and a corner was given that I thought was a goal kick. The ball came in and a Dits forward could not get high enough to head the ball into the net, instead it came of the top of his head and fell to a Dits player just past the far post, who hit a good clean shot into the net.
So it finished four goals to two to Marldon and I just had to run onto the pitch to congratulate the man of the match, well done Ant you made me so proud yet again tonight.
Programme
The star player
Team Photo
Team Hug
Ant gets ready to take a free kick first half
Getting Stuck In
First Half Volley Over The Bar.
The Great Free kick(sorry Ant the guy moved in front as I took the shot ;D
Keeper lays Beaten
The Penelty
Getting The Cup
