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2006-2007 Season of the National Christian Cup
Reports from Round Four (Full National Knock-Out)
A look ahead to the Quarter Finals
There are 3 Teams from the North, 3 from the South, 1 from Wales and 1
Midlands team through to the Quarters giving an almost even Southern /
Northern split!! Interestingly, for the first time in years, (maybe ever!?)
all 8 teams are representing Christian Leagues: Derby, East Herts & West
Essex, Herts & Beds, Merseyside, South Wales and Yorkshire. None of the
teams have ever got to the NCC Final, with 3 in their first season in the
NCC and only 1 having ever reached the Quarter Finals before, St Johns
Bowling Eagles, Bradford, who beat reigning champions Kings Sports, Herts.
They now play St Albans Romans away, with the other Herts & Beds Churches
League side, Croxley Baptist, Watford playing host to the lone Merseyside
representatives, MEOLS. The other Yorkshire team is Doncaster Evangelical at
home to Mansfield AFC and two new teams, Rhondda Royals, South Wales and
Potter Street Baptist, Harlow play in the fourth tie.
In a closely fought and highly competitive cup game, Doncaster Evangelical
Church beat Mill Lane Churches, West Derby, Liverpool 2-1. Mill Lane
dominated the early stages without creating too many chances and it was
against the run of play when DEC broke away and a low cross into the box was
turned in. Mill Lane thought they had equalised when a shot that had
appeared to cross the line was not given. Maybe we should introduce goal
line technology to the National Christian Cup - Any technical help much
appreciated!! In the second half Mill Lane continued to dominate as they
searched for an equaliser which duly arrived on 75 minutes but it was DEC
who nicked the game on 87 minutes with a far post header.
There was little to separate Potter Street Baptist, Harlow and Bridge Street
United, Leeds and indeed it needed penalties to see Potter Street through
after the game finished 1-1 after extra time. Potter Street started the
stronger but a resolute Bridge defence held them to a single goal half time
lead. Bridge Street edged the second half and equalised on 70 minutes when a
partial clearance sat up nicely and was headed firmly home. Extra time
followed a similar pattern without any more scoring but in the penalty
shoot-out, Potter Street were more clinical and clinched it 3-1.
In a good, well contested Cup-tie, played in an excellent spirit, St Albans
Romans edged out Trinity FC, Liverpool 3-2. A good start by Trinity saw them
take a first half lead but an uncharacteristic error in the Trinity defence
saw Romans equalise early in the second half. The game was turned on its
head when an opportunist strike from the halfway line saw Romans edge in
front, only for Trinity to pull level with 10 minutes remaining. With the
game heading towards extra-time, it was Romans who snatched a dramatic
winner in the very last minute of the match with a stunning strike and they
now have a home tie with St Johns Bowling Eagles, Bradford.
Kings Sports, Herts surprisingly went out against St Johns Bowling Eagles,
Bradford in a game they should have won. A few players were missing but
still a strong Kings team took the field. St Johns had beaten much fancied
Genesis, Loughborough in the previous round and when St Johns took an early
lead from a penalty, Kings faced an up-hill struggle. However, Kings then
took the game to St Johns and, at times, peppered the visitors goal,
eventually scoring from a slick passing move. Kings were now on top and
should have taken the lead but the St Johns defence worked hard, soaking up
lots of pressure. St Johns had just 2 shots on target in open play, from
which they scored the decisive winner and so progressed 2-1.
If its goals you wanted, then the game to be at was between River Church
Rangers, Maidenhead and Rhondda Royals, South Wales, with no less than 10 of
them, which saw Rhondda winning 6-4 after extra time! Rhondda were made to
pay for missing early chances as River Church struck 2 long range shots to
take a half-time lead. Both teams scored early in the second half and
although River Church tried to protect their 2 goal advantage, it was
Rhondda who were on top and scored twice in the last 8 minutes to level the
score at 3-3 and take the game into extra time. River Church again took the
lead but again were unable to hold on, allowing Rhondda to score a further 3
times and snatch a dramatic victory. What a game!
Croxley Baptist, Watford entertained one of the favourites, the students
Revive FC, Loughborough and came out of it with a very hard earned victory,
3-1. Croxley started the better side and took a deserved lead with a
mid-field break away goal. However, the rest of the game saw Revive mount
attack after attack and having the lion share of possession. Croxley
defended well, although somewhat desperately at times and eventually Revive
equalised in 85th minute. As the game was heading into extra-time, Croxley
suddenly scored twice, silencing a stunned Revive team.
Mansfield AFC were rewarded for their long trip south to Wales by securing a
2-1 win at Woodville Baptist, Cardiff. With 9 players not available,
Woodville struggled to get their passing game going on a sticky, bobbly
surface. Chances were few and far between in the first half until Mansfield
took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to take the lead. Woodville dominated
the second half and spent long periods camped in the Mansfield half.
However, Mansfield defended superbly and eventually, to rub salt in the
wound, broke away to add a second. A great free kick from Woodville proved
no more than a consolation strike, as was too little, too late.
MEOLS FC, Liverpool overcame local rivals Grassendale FC, Liverpool 5-0 in a
game that was perhaps closer than the scoreline suggests. Meols scored the
first halfs only goal, when a goalkeeping error saw them score direct from
a corner. Grassendale hit the woodwork and had a shot cleared off the line
and it wasnt until the last half hour that MEOLS finally got on top with a
moment of individual brilliance from long range. Two more quality goals and
a disputed penalty eventually saw MEOLS safely through.