WINNERS
WSC Final 2L Yeltz 2 Studley 0
19 April 2005
It's always nice to win something, so congratulations to the players and management for winning the Worcester Senior Cup! Two goals from Alex clinched the two-legged final 3-1 last night, and sets us up nicely for the final run-in in the League.
On Saturday we play the first of our crucial last two games away to Hitchin . With Merthyr winning on Monday it's even tighter at the top , but it's still in our hands and we are guaranteed a playoff spot with two wins. Hitchin are still in danger of going down, so it's going to be a battle.
I hear the "fancy dress" theme this year is to wear blue - a pretty radical idea but I think it'll work. I'm sure there'll be an excellent turnout (even a part-timer like me is going!) and let's hope for three more points and a very exciting end to what's been a great season so far.
Match Report from DJ
Halesowen Town: Taylor; Skidmore, Baker, Preston, Pope, Smith, Cowley, Moore, Haarhoff, Amos, Forsdick (Lamey 69). Unused Subs: Haywood, Bowater, Gayle
Studley FC: C. Johnson; Cross, Strain, Dyer (Whittington HT), Walsh, Blake, Ager, Savery, Jones (Rattray 40), Grubb, Neath (Fleetwood HT). Unused Subs: Styles, A. Johnson
Referee: J. Cox (Evesham) Attendance: 349 Sent Off: Rattray (85) Sponsors' Man of the Match: Alex Cowley
Halesowen lifted the Worcestershire Senior Cup for the second time in three years with two goals from man-of-the-match Alex Cowley finally ending Studley's stubborn resistance.
Voting for Player of the Season took place during the game and although Cowley seemed unlikely to win, he has appeared in more games than any other player during the season in notching his 11th goal. Dave Haywood was named in the starting line-up but injured a hamstring in the pre-match warm up and was replaced by Lewis Baker as Halesowen's remaining squad resembled the walking wounded.
Cowley's 10th minute left-wing corner was met by a Nick Amos header but Richard Strain cleared off the line near the foot of his post. COWLEY then gave the Yeltz a 14th minute lead with a superb bending and dipping shot from the edge of the penalty area to leave goalkeeper Craig Johnson standing.
Kevin Jones caused problems for Halesowen in the first leg 1-1 draw but was substituted in the 40th minute following an injury. Within a minute Studley's Anthony Savery crossed from the right and goalkeeper Chris Taylor saved the day as defender Stuart Skidmore rattled his own crossbar with a header under pressure from Andrew Grubb with Grubb only able to flick the rebound over the bar.
At the start of the second half Jimmy Haarhoff's looping shot was collected by visiting goalkeeper Craig Johnson and seven minutes later Johnson saved Cowley's shot in a crowded penalty area.
The Yeltz added the second goal of the evening in the 66th minute when Simon Forsdick made a superb run down the left wing and crossed for COWLEY to follow up from close range after Johnson made a fine save from Nick Smith's header.
Johnson then saved from substitute Nathan Lamey in the 70th minute after Steve Pope hit a direct free-kick into the Studley defensive wall. Vincent Rattray was sent off for fouling Lamey when clear on goal with five minutes remaining but Pope's resulting free-kick was deflected over the bar.