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West Kent Sunday League Report – Sunday 7th May 2017

WEST KENT SUNDAY LEAGUE SENIOR CUP FINAL

SIMLA 2 TONBRIDGE ORIGIN 0 played Friday 5th May.

Simla were always on top from the time that Steve Smith gave them a seventh minute lead. Origin had their moments, but were unable to penetrate a well organised Simla defensive unit led by Jon Lord, with Clayton Cooper in front of the back four being industrious in dealing with the Origin attacks before they really had a chance to develop.

Origin had Sam Jenner in goal to thank for keeping the score down. He pulled off a series of good saves, capped with an excellent one handed effort late in the game from a close range shot by Smith.

It was a cold and windy Friday night at Longmead Stadium, the lights were on from the start. The pitch was dry and quite bumpy in parts, having been well used as is normal in this busy time for end of season matches.

Simla started quickly. Seven minutes in, Origin´s defence was caught out and conceded a corner. It was well taken, low into the area. Smith was quickly onto the ball and scored with a first time shot from ten yards, low into the corner of the goal.

Origin took a while to respond. Seventeen minutes in, a deep cross was met on the far post by Myles Lowden. Simla's keeper Joe Cullip arrived a moment later to parry the effort. The ball fell to Chris Stoate, umarked on the edge of the penalty area, but he sliced his shot wide.

Simla then enjoyed a few minutes of possession, creating several chances. A speculative hit from distance by Ian Parsons almost deceived Jenner, but he got down to the shot just in time. Joe Fuller had a great run on goal, which he finished by tripping over. Another run, this time by Smith, was dealt with capably by the Origin defence after an unusual moment of panic in Simla's defence was sorted by a huge boot upfield that fell nicely for the foward.

Smith was a constant threat to Origin, his speedy runs down the right wing testing defenders to the limit. One such run ended with a superb low cross behnd the defenders, but he had out-run his team-mates and nobody was there to meet it. Smith, Fuller and Parsons all had a number of half chances, Jenner pulled off his second best save to keep out a header by Smith. Origin managed to gain their first corner just after the half hour, but nothing came of it. Their best scoring opportunity came just before the interval, a superb ball out of midfield set Holder off on a run at goal, but he wasted it by tamely hitting the side netting.

The teams went off at half time with Simla still only leading by the one goal. Most observers thought it should have been more.

Simla began the second half as they had the first, with a wave of attacks. They were rewarded after just four minutes. Smith had a shot well blocked by Jenner, but unfortunately for Origin the loose ball fell to Ian Parsons who slammed it home through a mass of players. Going further behind seemed to spur Orgin into life. Another corner was won, again with no result. Despite the urgings of their support among a crowd of around 200, Origin couldn't muster a serious threat. Simla returned to the attack, more chances came but neither Carey nor Parsons could convert.

Jenner then pulled off an almost miraculous one handed save when Smith seemed certain to score, winning great applause from the crowd but injuring himself in the process. He was ok after a couple of minutes. At the other end, Origin were trying new tactics, with massive long throw-ins from Mike Jessop and Alan Page designed to test Simla´s defenders. They passed the test!

Simla continued to dominate and should have scored more. David Blundell had three very good chances, once shooting tamely at Jenner, once slicing wide after good work by Fuller had set him up and the third ccme after a terrible mistake on half way by Origin defender Saxby, which left him with a clear run. He was a bit too slow in making up his mind what to do and was robbed at the edge of the area by defenders who had run back.

Origin had a couple of last gasp attacks, one of which culminated in Alan Page treading on the ball and the other with a shot hit high over the bar by Mike Williamson.

Five minutes of additional time ended with Simla victorious and lifting the Senior Cup for the fifth time in the past six seasons.

Pictures from Tony Vanns - click or tap to see larger size

The West Kent Sunday League Senior Cup	Simla FC	Tonbridge Origin FC	Senior Cup Match Officials from left to right Dave Hogan 4th official, Mark Perrin Assistant Referee, Rob Baker Referee, Josh Smith Assistant Referee
Simla FC Senior Cup Winners after the presentation >>

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