TRUK United 7 Stonewall 6
TRUK United FC 7 Stonewall 6
Wow what a game!
We welcomed Stonewall FC to Dorking Wanderers FC for the first ever TRUK Cup, a shiny new trophy that we will play for every year, and it will be hard for this game to be matched in terms of excitement and incident. TRUK started with 4 debutants in the starting XI including our 4th Goalkeeper in as many matches as Claire Green made her first appearance for TRUK which was also her first game in 25 years! Arthur Webber made his debut at left back with Lucy Copsey and Patrick O’Connor debuting on the wings. Both teams started brightly and had chances to take the lead and the deadlock was broken on 8 minutes when Nicky Currall charged down a clearance and slotted home to put TRUK into the lead something we have never experienced! Lucy Clark then cleared one off the line following a Stonewall corner but it was not long before Stonewall were level when their number 20 waltzed through the TRUK defence before slotting the ball past Claire Green.
Julia, who has played for TRUK previously but was donning the colours of Stonewall for this match, then saw another effort cleared off the line by Lucy Clark as both teams looked like they would score every time they attacked and it was indeed TRUK who took the lead again when Nicky Currall finished well following a swift counter attack. Yet again though Stonewall equalised within a few minutes as the goal fest continued. Dave Baldwin, who had come on for Lucy Clark, made an impact in what was his first game for 20 years as he made a tackle that was 20 years late on Julia and Stonewall were handed a stonewall penalty and the chance to take the lead! Claire Green however was having none of it and not only made a fantastic save from the penalty she somehow managed to block the shot from the rebound and push it out for a corner a terrific save…in fact his was just one of many fab saves that Claire made throughout the game. The Stonewall keeper however was just as busy and made a serious of saves to keep the score down as both teams created chance after chance.
TRUK at this point were really up for the game and were to go 3-2 up with another good finish from Nicky Currall who secured his hat trick but his good work was undone when TRUK made a complete mess of defending a Stonewall attack and allowed number 20 to roll the ball into an empty net from 25 yds to level the scores at 3-3! This is how it stood at half time
H/T TRUK United 3 Stonewall 3
The 2nd half started with both teams seemingly believing they could win the game and the action on the pitch got as hot as the weather…Patrick was rightly cautioned for a trip on the Stonewall 11 who got away scott free despite adopting and aggressive attitude by squaring up to Patrick once he got back to his feet. TRUK were getting rattled as a few decisions seemed to go against them and during this period Stonewall took the lead which they then doubled shortly after to go 5-3 up and seemingly have one hand on the TRUK Cup with number 20 both pulling the strings with some excellent football but also rattling TRUK with his constant whining and moaning….however it was working as TRUK lost their shape and took the bait.
A drinks break saw a change in personnel and formation for TRUK and this proved decisive as TRUK bagged 4 goals in a ten minute period. Skipper Natalie Washington collected the ball from a throw in and charged into the box before coolly slotting home and then some excellent work from Nicky Currall saw several Stonewall players try and kick him up in the air which they managed at the 3rd attempt and a penalty was rightly given. Patrick O’Connor took the spot kick and slammed it into the bottom corner to make it 5-5. He then made it 6-5 following up from an effort that was saved and smashing the ball home from a yard to put TRUK back in front and then Nicky Currall bagged his 4th goal of the game and TRUK’s 7th to give us a 2 goal advantage for the first time in the game. Stonewall however were not giving up and pulled a goal back to make it 7-6 to leave us with a tense last 5 minutes.
TRUK however were not going to be beaten and the game ended with Nicky Currall charging through the Stonewall defence only to be penalised for protecting the ball with some great strength which the Stonewall number 12 reacted to…he should have been sent off for his actions but the referee decided on a yellow card and then blew the full time whistle. The match which had been played with good spirits throughout ended on a sour note which was sad as Stonewall left the pitch and headed to their changing room.
TRUK however stayed out and captain Natalie Washington lifted the TRUK Cup much to the delight of those that were there to witness it.
POTM: Claire Green
TRUK UNITED FC Claire Green, Lucy Clark, Arthur Webber, Ballack, Abi Cornell, Lucy Copsey, Patrick O’Connor, Natalie Washington, Mandy Walker, Orlagh O’Driscoll, Nicky Currall Subs: Emily, Sam Kelly, Dave Baldwin, Michael Freeman, Hayley Farmer, Roxanne, Maysa, Paula Griffin, Katja Saskia
