2008-2009 Season Reports

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2008-2009 Season of the National Christian Cup & Trophy

The National Christian Cup - 2008 / 2009

So we are into the 2nd year of a new era of Christian-based Football, the 17th Season of the National Christian Cup and the 2nd ever National Christian Trophy. We have a record 103 teams entering which is very exciting! We hoped to break the Century barrier when introducing another level of Competition but it has come sooner than hoped! Great stuff!! There are an amazing 34 brand new teams entering both competitions for the first time ever and we warmly welcome them! The current NCC holders, St Wilfrids (Newcastle), who won in their first ever season, have again entered to try and defend their title, alongside all but 2 of the teams that made the 07/08 season’s last 16! The first ever National Trophy winners, St Peters Everton are now in the NCC but Trophy runners-up, Welwyn St Marys (Herts) are again entered in the Trophy and will look to go one better! The Cup, with 56 entries, is probably as strong in depth as it has ever been and seems again to be wide open. It is difficult to predict who will go close this year with many teams very willing to oust the holders!

National Christian Cup - 1st Round Reports

National Section

The Premier League this year have been re- introduced to a weapon - the long throw! Selsdon Baptist, Croydon had their very own Rory Delap against Morley BSC, Leeds. From the off, Selsdon put Morley under pressure from long throws and got the first break, after some excellent poaching in the box. Morley pressed but the Selsdon defence stayed solid with their keeper making some breathtaking saves. With 20 minutes left, Selsdon scored again having put severe pressure on the home side. Morley then got a goal back after a barrage of chances and some more saves from the man of the match. Morley could not find a way to score an equaliser and Selsdon, on the counter attack, calmly scored a third for a well earned 3-1 victory.

Glenwood Church AFC, Cardiff hosted Trinity St Marys, Liverpool and thought they had scored an early goal, as the ball appeared to have hit the net before being cleared, only to have the goal disallowed, the ref unsure what made the net move!! Both teams tried to play football on a wet and muddy pitch and early in the 2nd half Trinity took the lead. Glenwood pushed for an equaliser only for Trinity to double their lead with a well taken header. Glenwood pulled a goal back late on but the game finished 2-1 to Trinity. Sadly, this game was marred by foul play and off the ball incidents, including opposition subs kicking out at Glenwood players taking throw-ins, with a Trinity sub being shown a red card amongst 4 yellow cards. A poor advert, with Glenwood aggrieved at the way they were treated!!

Belgrave Gateacre Chapel, Liverpool, playing in their first ever NCC match, hosted Christchurch Roxeth, Middlesex. It was pretty much one way traffic as Belgrave won 5-1. The first was tucked in after an astute cross and the second headed in from a long throw. The third was a 20 yarder and the 4th was an amazing 45 yard lob!! Belgrave got their fifth from a tap in.

FC Bootle, Liverpool travelled across the Pennines to play Bentley Baptist, Doncaster in blustery conditions in the shadow of the Keepmoat Stadium. Bootle started brightly but failed to hit the back of the net. Bentley took the lead with a fantastic strike, a curling shot from the edge of the area. Both teams played some lovely passing football put failed to add to the score. Bootle started the 2nd half at a fast pace, forcing the Bentley keeper into some good saves and soon grabbed an equaliser. Their joy was short lived as Doncaster regained the lead, after a well worked move down the left. Bootle went in search of another equaliser but a quick break by Doncaster resulted in their 3rd. Further changes were made by Bootle who did then grab a 2nd, through a looping header but it was too little too late with Doncaster working hard to hold on for a 3-2 victory.

Christ Church Ware, Herts in their match at Ossett Logos, Yorkshire, found themselves 2-0 down in 9 minutes after a speculative cross was not cleared and the ball was nodded home and then a speedy Ossett striker went clear before slotting home. Ware could have halved the deficit but dragged the ball wide but the Yorkshire men added 2 more as Christ Church all but surrendered the game before HT. Church then retained 70% of the possession, creating some good chances but goals just wouldn’t come. Inevitably, the home side struck again on the break, scoring the 5th shortly before the end, to win 5-1. Although disappointed, the Herts side had no complaints and applaud Ossett for their fantastic hospitality and sporting spirit!!

Swallownest Bethesda, Sheffield played host to River Church, Berks in a game played in a good spirit. Swallownest were strong throughout with River Church having some good spells. Swallownest began to take control and eventually took a 3 goal half time lead. Despite River Church working hard to get back in touch, the Sheffield side increased their lead and finished convincing 5-1 winners. MoM, Ricki Watson scored 4 goals going straight to the top of the NCC Sharpshooters!!

St Cuthberts, Durham, made their NCC debut with a home game against Grassendale St Marys, Liverpool. Both teams looked very even from the start, with an equal amount of chances, until the Grassendale captain scored a fantastic goal on the volley into the top corner, following a long throw. In a tough second-half, where play got a little scrappy, chances were at a premium but Cuthberts rued some missed opportunities. They pushed hard for an equaliser but Grassendale held out fairly comfortably to win 1-0. A very entertaining game, with both sides getting on very well. It was a joy to watch!

Bridge Street United, Leeds entertained Norris Green, Liverpool and took a lead after dominating the early stages. However Norris Green equalised with a well taken goal on the break. Bridge Street again took the lead only for Green to level just before the break. The second half was close with no more goals so into extra time and again it was still very tight. However, in the 2nd period of ET, suddenly Bridge Street made the breakthrough and, as the Green heads dropped romped home with 3 goals for a hard-earned 5-2 victory!

Picture House Celtic, Liverpool, in their first ever season took on Hazlemere Rangers, Wycombe. The Bucks visitors battled admirably against what felt like hurricane conditions and opponents who were clearly stronger in every department!! Picture House opened the scoring after 30 minutes but Hazlemere had 2 good chances, one which hit the post but then Celtic scored 2 “killer” goals, just before the break, one the goal of the game, a clinical shot into the far corner. Rangers battled hard but the Celtic class was evident in a 4-0 victory.

FC Cornerstone, Stevenage travelled to Breckfield Crusaders, Liverpool and played into the strong wind but some fine saves by their keeper kept the score sheet clean. The ref disallowed a fabulous Cornerstone free-kick for offside, lifted over the wall and direct into the net!? (I thought we had a better offside rule these days!?!) Cornerstone then used the wind to better attacking advantage and lashed in a shot from just outside the box, which left the Crusaders keeper with no chance. The match opened up and with 15 mins to go Crusaders equalised. In ET Cornerstone had the wind but couldn’t get the much needed goal. In the second half of ET, Crusaders used the wind to continually attack and after several clear chances, finally finished the game off to win 2-1. The game could have gone either way!

Regional Section (South & Wales)

New Life, Croydon visited Potter Street Baptist, Harlow and started the brighter but Potter Street took the lead through a quick counter attack. The lead was short lived however, as New Life took advantage of a sleeping defence and a goalkeeping error. HT1-1. Both teams limited their opponents to midfield possession throughout the second half but New Life made 3 changes and eventually got their 2nd with just over 15 minutes left and the 3rd came shortly afterwards, to win 3-1, as Potter Street pushed for an equaliser.

Laos Athletic, SE London made the long journey into South Wales to play Emmanuel, Cardiff but were caught cold when Emmanuel scored 2 early goals. Laos were chasing the game after that and found themselves 4 down by the break. The 2nd half was very different and much more even, with both sides playing some good football but Emmanuel eventually ran out comfortable 5-1 winners.

Westside, Wandsworth hosted 2006 NCC winners St Albans Romans. The first 20 minutes were very even but Westside began to take control and were able to score twice before half-time. After the break, Westside were still very much in control and the Romans cause was somewhat hindered when their Captain was shown red after a couple of bad tackles. Westside won 2-0 in a game played in a good spirit.

St Thomas More ARYPT, Coventry, new to the NCC, travelled south to Penge Family Church, SE London. St Thomas opened the scoring early with a very well worked goal and for the first 20 minutes were in control. Penge started to win more balls in midfield and equalised with a deflected shot and took the lead by HT. Penge scored very early after the break but STM changed a striker and the course of the game, scoring twice to take the game into ET! It was now all STM and 3 more saw them win 6-3 in a match played in a good spirit.

United Churches Fellowship, Kent could hardly have made a worse start to the game against new boys Gold Hill Baptist, Bucks. Their keeper mishit a goal-kick straight to a Gold Hill player and he gratefully put it into the net within 90 seconds. Another defensive mistake after 27 minutes, allowed Gold Hill to double their lead. HT 0-2. Gold Hill strength paid off as they doubled their lead within 10 minutes to kill off the game, winning 4-1. UCF, disappointed with a lacklustre and mediocre performance, did score a consolation penalty.

New boys, Heathervale Baptist, Surrey entertained NewGen Sidcup, Kent and both teams battled well, playing some really neat football in the right spirit throughout. Newgen were always a bit stronger, seeing a lot of chances and converted 2 of them to win 2-0.

Regional Section (North & Midlands)

This was a real roller coaster of a game between Mill Lane Churches West Derby, Liverpool and St Johns Eagles, Bradford, both who would hope to do well in this competition. Mill Lane started better but went one down through a mix up with their keeper only to level when they were awarded a free kick 20 yards out that was struck home superbly. HT 1-1. St John’s came out of the blocks quickly, scoring 2 quick goals but Mill Lane just piled on the pressure and with a lot of the pace in the team managed to take a 4-3 lead after St Johns hit the self destruct button! The game had another twist with only 5 mins to go, another keeping blunder helped St John’s take the game to extra time. In ET, St Johns took the lead but the home side hit back with the game ending 5-5 aet! The lottery of penalties prevailed with the Mill Lane keeper going from being the villain to hero with 3 three good saves, to win 4-2 on pens! Breathless!!

Toft Tornados, Cheshire began brightly against Leeds Uni CU putting the students under a lot of pressure, playing some swift, decisive football. They raced into a 3 goal lead but the Uni side fought back with 2 goals just before HT. However, Toft were too strong and four 2nd half goals gave the score line a 7-2 ‘big’ look. All in all, it was a very good game played in a great spirit.

Mosaic, Leeds entertained Liverpool’s AC Mitchell with both teams matching each other across the park. Mosaic took the upper hand however, 20 minutes in, when AC Mitchell’s keeper came out for a loose ball only to beaten by a Mosaic striker, who took it past him to slot home. Mosaic’s lead was increased 10 minutes later from a penalty. The Liver lads came out strong in the 2nd half but all in vain however, as Mosaic held strong, the game finishing 2-0.

FC Gateway, Leeds and South Parade, Liverpool, both depleted with injuries, started brightly. Gateway opened the scoring with a free header following poor marking. SP then dominated possession but were finding it difficult to create clear chances, whilst Gateway continued to pose a threat. Eventually SP equalised with a shot drilled home from 40 yards out. HT 1-1. SP then took complete control of the game with a series of goals and although Gateway battled, Parade’s quality shone through to win 6-1, followed by some great food!!

St Aidans Liverpool and Stockton Churches, both new teams to the NCC, played out a game in exactly the right spirit. Aidans took the lead after 15 mins, following a neat through ball and then increased the lead to 3-0 at HT. Stockton were struggling to get going all game and Aidans were far superior on a very wet and windy day. Eventually the Merseysiders ran out convincing 6-0 winners.

Airport Church Newcastle, also making their NCC debut, made the journey across the Pennines to play Kirkby CF, Liverpool. The game was a true cup tie with every tackle fiercely contended. KCF took the early advantage with a free kick hit with venom to take the lead and capitalised on this to take a 2-0 lead before the break. The 2nd half saw a spirited come back from Airport taking advantage of a goal keeping error and in the final 10 mins forcing the ball over the line from a corner to draw level. The game stayed 2-2 through extra time taking it to the lottery of penalties with KCF’s goalkeeper saving two spot kicks to take KCF through to the next round 4-2.

The National Christian Trophy - 2008 / 2009

National Christian Trophy - 1st Round Reports

National Section

Two new teams, West Derby Warriors and Swallownest Bethesda Reserves enjoyed the wet and windy Liverpool weather in a competitive game for both sides. An even first half saw West Derby score the first goal from a penalty but Swallownest came out the second half determined to make a difference and were soon rewarded with a goal but then suffered a couple of injury problems, thus going down to 10 men due to not having any more substitutes. West Derby saw their opportunity and piled on the pressure and were rewarded with further goals to wrap up the game with a final score line of 4-1, a scoreline that did not truly reflect the game. Great day by all involved, with excellent hospitality and a game played in a good spirit.

In a great game played in the right spirit, Cheltenham Trinity took the lead against the run of play after Atlantic Electrical, Liverpool had dominated the first 20 minutes. However, this just kick-started Atlantic into action and an onslaught then began resulting in a flood of goals. Electrical led 4-1 at the break but Trinity shocked everyone by pulling a goal back before the young Liverpool side ran riot making it a 9-2 scoreline in the end.

Ecclesiastical, Cheltenham in their first ever season in the NCT, travelled north to play Elim Bootle, Liverpool, who were also making their debut in the Competition! This was a very hard fought and end to end game. It was played in a great spirit but the play was scrappy at times. Ecclesiastical took the lead, a sweetly struck shot from the edge of the area following a corner but Elim bounced back with two goals to win 2-1, in a game that could gave gone either way!

AFC Mansfield travelled to Stanley Park, Liverpool and after an even first 20 minutes took the lead through an own goal. The Mansfield ‘keeper made a great double save to keep them ahead and then soon extended their lead. AFC kept the ball well in the 2nd half, restricting Stanley Park to only half chances. They themselves then managed to score 2 more before the end for a convincing 4-0 victory.

Regional Section (South)

Romford Community Church in their first ever NCT game went behind fairly early on to Park Road Baptist, Kent. It was very even but Romford eventually managed to equalise. However, just before the break, a Park Road player was fouled as he hit a screamer into the top corner. Unfortunately the Referee had already blown for a foul so the goal was disallowed! (Thought we had a better advantage rule these days!!!!). HT 1-1. Romford then took control with 5 second half goals to win convincingly 6-1 but it did not look that in the first half!

In a game between two new teams, Peniel, Essex and United Churches Fellowship Reserves, Kent, UCF took an early lead when a long range header looped in off the head of a Peniel player! The score remained 1-0 until HT but the lead was soon doubled after some typical bustling centre-forward play allowed the ball to fall loose for a UCF player to calmly slot home. 9 minutes later, UCF made it 3-0 from 30 yards. Game over? No, the Peniel team kept going and had a good chances. The UCF keeper had to parry a shot away for a corner and having previously sent a long range effort sailing over the crossbar, the Peniel No 5, smacked a 30 yard free-kick onto the crossbar. A good game played in a good spirit!

Wymondly Christians, Stevenage another new team, raced into a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes as a somewhat threadbare Bluntisham Baptist, Cambs side struggled to get going. However they reduced arrears only for Wymondley to make it 3-1 at HT. The 2nd half was even but Wymondley scored 4 late goals as Bluntisham pushed men forward, chasing the game and became vulnerable to the counter attack. The Herts side won with a somewhat flattering 7-2 scoreline.

Billericay Baptist made their debut in the NCT by playing one of last year’s Trophy Quarter Finalists, Windsor Saints. In a busy opening, Windsor managed to have more of the possession but were unable to capitalise. Billericay started to regain possesion and play some nice football, utilising both the wings. A Billericay forward then used his pace to get past two defenders and to calmly slotted the ball past the stranded keeper. Billericay kept on the pressure and had much possesion but were perhaps a bit over confident and mistakes started to occur. A defensive fumble left a space open for Windsor Saints to pounce and level. Minutes later a mistake down Billericay’s right put through the winger and a pin point cross needed just a tap in from the Windsor striker leaving the stranded Billericay defence stunned after seeing their lead wiped out. HT 1-2. The 2nd half was extremely tight but Billericay started to press hard and came close on few occasions. However, Windsor exploited a gap at the back and went further ahead after a relatively tame shot was deflected, the ball trickling in the opposite side of the goal. Billericay kept pressing and did pull one back but Windsor hung on to win 3-2, in a very tense game!

New team Magnificent Ministries, SE London were late for their game at Milton Keynes Churches. Both teams started very well, using the wings to the full. MK Churches took the lead until HT and then continued to push hard to seal the game, being unlucky on a number of occasions. However, in the 75th minute, Magnificent found a gap in the MK defence to make it 1-1. 4 minutes later MKC took the lead again and were hanging on until Magnificent were given a penalty with just 2 minutes left, with which they levelled! As ET loomed Magnificent Ministries scored again to put the game beyond MK, who had fought so hard all match. What a finish!!

St Georges, Hemel travelled to play New Life Reserves, Croydon and started with a game plan, playing up a steep slope in the 1st half! They sat tight for the first half and despite New Life pressing hard, they could not beat the well organised St Georges offside trap. Then after 30 minutes St Georges scored from the edge of the box following a corner. St Georges pressed hard down the slope and in truth New Life, a little understrength on the day, never really looked like scoring, although the St Georges keeper did have to make one good save. St Georges scored 2 more in the last 20 minutes for a comprehensive win against a New Life side that were a bit disappointed by their own display!!

Christ Church Bromley hosted Hazlemere Saints, Wycombe in what turned out to be an amazing topsy turvy game. Saints were up after only a few minutes and Bromley suffered further with two first half injuries in the first 25 minutes. By the time of the second injury, Saints were 3-0 up and this second injury needed a change of keeper. However, Bromley were quickly back into it with keeper turned midfielder coming out of goal and scoring with almost his first touch after a neat turn. Bromley then pulled another goal back shortly before half time from the edge of the area. HT: 2-3. Two goals in the first minute of the second half saw Bromley take a 4-3 lead and with 25 minutes remaining they went 5-3 up! However, Bromley could not hold on and despite some desperate defending, they conceded 3 goals in the last 15 minutes to throw the match away, losing 5-6!! A decent game, with good sportsmanship all round and very enjoyable!

Sporting 87 ‘A’, Suffolk played host to new team Cornerstone United, Gloucestershire and took an early lead after a mistake by the Cornerstone keeper. The West Country side came back into the game and equalised before the break but went behind soon after when Sporting’s pressure told, only for Cornerstone to again equalise just before the end, after another ‘keeping mistake, this time the Sporting custodian did the honours!! In ET, Sporting bounced back, taking the initiative, scoring twice and although United got one back, Sporting scored a fifth to win an exciting encounter, 5-3!

Regional Section (North)

Kirkby Christian Fellowship Reserves entertained Real Riverside , Birmingham, with both teams working hard to get a foothold on the game. The game was a bit fiesty early on with a couple of very poor tackles from Kirkby that should have deserved cards. The first goal did not arrive until after 30 minutes when Kirkby whipped in a corner to the backpost and a header was saved, only for a Riverside player to clear the ball into his own net! However, 3 minutes later, Real got back in the game, scoring from a free-kick but Kirkby regained the lead just on half-time. It was very even from then on but Kirkby managed to score a couple more late on, for a slightly flattering scoreline.

Sunderland Methodist Circuit visited Arbourthorne Community Church, Sheffield and made the brighter start, having the better of the possession but could not find any way through the ACC defence. SMC would have scored but for some excellent stops from the home keeper and then ACC took the lead against the run of play, when SMC lost possession. In the second half ACC took the game to Sunderland, scoring twice on the break. SMC showed good spirit throughout and had some very good ball players but it just didn’t click for them on the day. All much appreciated some good food afterwards.

Two new teams saw St Thomas More ARYPT Reserves travel across the Midlands to play AOG Derby. Early mistakes by the STM keeper allowed AOG to go 2 up but then made amends by making some decent stops to keep AOG at bay. However, he couldn’t stop AOG scoring 2 penalties, late on in the half. After the break, AOG made an effort to get back in the game but it was a bit too much for their depleted squad and in the end 3 more AOG goals made it a comfortable 7-1 home victory!

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