Pumas were missing Tyler who is out for three weeks and the starting line up saw Eddie and Elliot on the subs bench. It was a bright dry Spring morning with a very hard surface to the pitch which would prove to be a significant factor as both sides struggled to get the ball under control. The first half was a scrappy affair with the ball bouncing all over the place and suiting the Warriors' long ball tactics. Much of the play took place in mid-field with no good chances falling to either team. H.T. 0 - 0.
Elliot and Eddie came on for Robert and Tom and Pumas immediately looked sharper than they had in the first half. A lovely move down the left involving several Pumas players making good passes and keeping the ball on the ground led to a shot from Ben which went wide. Then down the right wing a 50/50 ball was tenaciously won by Elliot but his shot also just missed the target.
A good long clearance from Conor set up another attack which resulted in a corner for Pumas on the left which was well defended by Warriors. Then, in end to end exchanges, Warriors won a corner on their left which was beautifully delivered into the heart of Pumas 6 yd box but it was safely scrambled clear. Warriors were awarded a free kick 25 yds out on the right and their dead ball specialist hit it beautifully after the ref had moved Pumas wall back. Conor flung himself high and wide to his right to make a fingertip save and turn the ball past the post for a corner.
After 45mins Dion made a strong run down the left and his shot/cross went across the face of the goal from where Elliot, backing up and unmarked , was inches short of making contact with the goal wide open. Warriors broke immediately and a long clearance upfield found their centre forward with space and time to control the ball which he did very skilfully and placed an accurate shot wide of Conor's dive to his left. 0-1.
This shock seemed to galvanise Pumas into the kind of team performance that we know is in them. First there was a quick break down the left culminating in a mis-hit shot wide of the mark by Eddie then after 50mins a bit of head tennis in the Warriors penalty area gave Jack a shooting chance which frustratingly also went wide. Just as we were beginning to fear that Pumas would never score, a good move down the left gave Dion a rare bit of space and he powerfully beat the keeper from a narrowish angle. 1-1
A lovely run down the right wing by Elliot saw him play an accurate through ball to Dion who was closed down quickly by two defenders. Then after 56mins another combination of passes down the left gave Jack an opportunity which he didn't waste. His thunderball left foot shot nearly broke the net as well as breaking the hearts of the valiant Warriors. 2-1
As the clock ticked down Pumas kept most of the possession and were never seriously threatened again.
Full Time Ladybridge Pumas 2 Gillibrand Warriors 1
Some of the lads in the Pumas team had played a lot of football recently and one or two key players looked a bit tired. The hard pitch made controlling the ball difficult and negated what should have been our greater footballing skills. Having said that the Warriors came and fought tooth and nail for what would and could have been a remarkable victory. Pumas showed great character and resolve to recover from the shock of going behind and in the end this was a very creditable victory. Roll on the Cup Final!!
