Royals Match Report 2003-04

Super Magpies Reach Cup Final.

 Church Stretton 3-2 Coreley
(Hearle 2, Smith) (League Cup Semi Final - 25-04-04)

Magpies booked their ticket to their first ever cup final, after a well deserved, but nail biting victory over Coreley. Extremely hot conditions made a tough game even tougher and the players were understandably exhausted at the end.

Magpies found their stride immediately on kick off and straight away began passing the ball around with skill and confidence. Some fine distribution from Smith and Hearle saw Magpies come close to scoring twice in the first five minutes, with shots being well saved by the Coreley keeper.

At the other end Riley was able to cope with support from Hearle with everything that Coreley could throw at them, until 8 minutes into the first half, when a sweetly struck shot from just inside the Magpies half bounced over goalkeeper Groom's head and into the goal. This gave Coreley the advantage completely against the run of play.

All credit to the Magpies though, as they kept their heads up and started off again, getting back their shape and once again gaining control of the game. On 10 minutes they broke from their own half and Carless-Turland received the ball from Smith, and set off down the left wing. He was able to pick out Hearle with a neat pass who was able to fire home from 10 yards to make the score 1-1. The large crowd were overjoyed and let the players know how pleased they were.

Just 3 minutes later Magpies could have taken the lead when Carless-Turland sent over a floating corner that neither Hearle nor Smith could quite reach before the Coreley keeper smothered the ball.

Against the run of play Coreley again took the lead. On 14 minutes a cross came into the Magpies penalty area, and the clearance unfortunately hit a Coreley player. With the ball landed at his feet, he was able to fire home from close range, to make the score 2-1.

Again Magpies kept battling, determined not to fold under the pressure. They had been told before the game to keep on playing their passing game, whatever happened and the goals would come. On 16 minutes Riley sent Smith away up through the middle. Hearle overlapped and went wide on the right, to receive Smith's pass. After beating the final defender and with only the keeper to beat, he shot low and hard from a tight angle to make it 2-2.

With the players now needing their half time drinks, it was important to keep it going for the last few minutes. Once again Coreley came close but a fine defensive tackle from Riley ensured that the score remained at 2-2.

On 19 minutes a corner was cleared by the Coreley defence out to Riley just inside the Coreley half. Riley sent a long high pass back into the penalty area, and a spectacular volley by Smith gave Magpies a 3-2 lead, with barely time for the re-start, before the half time whistle blew.

The half time instructions were "More of the same, please". It was important that Magpies kept on playing in the same way, as they had seen g times already this season, that Coreley are not a side that stops battling. No changes were made at half time and Magpies were to kick down the slope for the second half.

Coreley came out even more determined in the second half and Magpies found themselves on the back foot for much of the opening 5 minutes. Magpies lost the flow of their game for the first time in the match and had to defend solidly to prevent Coreley from getting back into the game. Riley was having an outstanding game at the back and Smith was equal to him in his midfield role.

Ten minutes into the second half Coreley had their best chance when they broke away from their own half. With Riley and the Coreley attacker neck and neck, heading for Magpies' goal, Riley was just able to get a toe to the ball and pass it towards Groom who bravely dived at the attackers feet to prevent an almost certain goal.

With 8 minutes to go Brayne replaced the exhausted Carless-Turland in a midfield role, and quickly made a couple of threatening runs down the left wing putting additional pressure on the Coreley defence. Neither side could take advantage though, and although Magpies had more of the possession, it was all hands to the pumps, on more than one occasion, as Coreley pressed for an equaliser.

With just 2 minutes to go, the players began to sense that the end was approaching and they were determined not to slip up at this late stage.

The final whistle could not have come soon enough and a truly outstanding performance by the lads earns them their place in the final against Onny. The large crowd applauded both sets of players for providing such great entertainment and an exciting game.

Team: Ed Groom, Simon Riley, Joe Hearle, Rory Smith , Harvey Carless-Turland. Subs: Michael Brayne, Dominic Robinson.