Ascension : Ascension Island Football - Jimmy Lawrence Knock-out Semi Final
Submitted by The Islander (Mario Anthony) 29.08.2013 (Article Archived on 12.09.2013)

Two Boats Rowdies 0 vs 5 VC Milan

VC Milan keeps their double hopes alive as they storm into the final following a second half thumping. Milan were without half of their first choice back line, with Bryn and Shavarn unavailable, so Sercy and Boot were called to fill their spots, Whitey was back in the heart of midfield and Cox started on the bench once more. Rowdies on the other hand who have struggled to field a full team for the several matches this season turned up with a squad of players with reports of 18 in total, but their regulars of Bluey, Melvyn, Johnny, George, Shoe, Timmy and Williams were all starting. Rowdies started the match strong, dictating the pace of the game and not allowing Milan to get a foot in, Shoe produced an early long range effort that just cleared the bar as Milan resorted to half chances on the break. Both teams continued to battle hard in the centre of the park with no clear opportunities being created. The next real chance came 20mins into match when Kingy weaved through midfield, before playing in Dutch who fired at goal on the run, Bluey made the save in a cloud of dust, Dutch tried to fire the loose ball in again as he appealed for being held back, but the ref could not see through the crowd of defenders. Kingy and Shoe were clashing time after time as the two midfield maestros battled to create their team an opening, a Gustus cross resulting from one of those clashes almost met Dutch for the header but the striker couldn’t climb high enough. Judas almost had a striking chance when he fought his way through on goal only for Michael to make a last ditch tackle to deny the forward. He created another opportunity when he turned both Boot and Picky on the edge of the 18 yard box and sent in an inch perfect cross only for a Rowdies winger to nod but he couldn’t make the contact needed as the ball went out to safety. Dutch looked the most likely to score for Milan but Stroud and George were defending well to keep the striker out. Shoe’s partner in midfield, the RAF Policman was also having a good half, cracking several shots from outside the box. The half ended with Whitey and Kingy linking up before Kingy let rip from outside the area, Bluey made the save but he could not hold on to the ball and was made to dive back on the line to stop the loose ball from trickling over the line. 2nd half Subs: VC Milan: Cody off, Cox on. TBR: Timmy off, Jordon on. New UK signing off and another on. GOAL. It was an inspired substitution from Milan, within one minute of the half kicking off Dutch played a ball through for Cox to chase, he just managed to poke the ball around Stroud to break into the box and blast pass Bluey at a narrowing angle. Penalty. Milan’s tails were now up, Myles broke into the box using his pace to reach the ball before Bluey, but the keeper had committed and brought the youngster down for a penalty and a Yellow Card. Sercy stepped up for the spot kick, and fired it straight down the middle, but the keeper made the save to keep Rowdies in the hunt. Milan now had a very slim advantage as they pushed more players forward in search of their second, but with Rowdies having Jordon on the wing and having already proved he knew how to score, his pace could be what Rowdies needed to find the equaliser. 77min, TBR sub. Judas off, BBC on. Dutch was denied once more when he picked the ball up about 20 yards out on the left wing, he flicked the ball over a defenders head before unleashing a jumping scissor volley over the diving Bluey but his effort crashed against the far post. This lead to final 10 minutes of dominance from Milan. GOAL. Dutch was now out on the right wing, quick feet allowed him to find Whitey inside the Penalty D, who slipped it out wide to Kingy, he sent a cross to the back post which the onrushing Myles headed back across goal into the far corner. GOAL. Gustus sent in a curling corner to the far post which Kingy headed into the roof of the net, Bluey got his hands to it but could not keep it out. GOAL. A free kick from Gustus on the edge of the 18 yard box, was cleared back to the winger who fired the ball back in with the outside of his boot, Dutch and Stroud both challenged for the ball inside the area but both missed and perhaps caused confusion as the ball found its way into the far post. GOAL. Dutch’s hard work was rewarded when a Rowdies short corner was broken up by Picky who released Cox, he brought the ball down field and sprayed it out wide on the right wing to who was in loads of space just pass the half way line, the attacker dribbled his way infield to the opposite edge of the 18 yard box, beating Williams and the Melvyn before firing a left foot effort back across the face of goal beating Bluey into the far post.