31st March 2004

Two is the lucky number for Hurley

Freethorpe captain Simon Whitefoot collected the first piece of silver ware on Wednesday evening when his side came from behind to defeat Middleton Arms in an enjoyable and competitive HA Holmes League Cup final. The teams were set-up in differing styles with Mally Fox's Middleton Arms playing a traditional 4-4-2 against Marcus Smith's 3-5-2 and this was Smith's third final in three years having lost the Norfolk Primary Cup two years ago and the Wiltshire Cup final last April. The omens for Smith weren't good from the start as the influential Carl Garside was missing through injury.

The opening period of the game was largely played out in midfield with both defences keeping a firm grip on the opposing forwards and chances were at a premium. Midway through the half however, Middleton took the lead when Gareth Hughes hit a long free kick to the far post where Daniel Hurren, one of the smallest players on the pitch, headed the ball back across the goal where Lee Crosswell had a simple tap-in. Soon after Hurren's electric pace took him clear of the defence and keeper Dean Pentney sprawled at his feet and Hurren tumbled to ground but penalty appeals were immediately waved away. Middleton enjoyed their best period of the game and another Hughes free kick saw Hurren first to the ball at the near post but his header flashed wide. Slightly against the run of play Freethorpe equalised when James Read chased what seemed like a lost cause. He dispossessed John Holliman on the edge of the penalty and cut in towards goal only to see his effort saved well by Dean Chilvers, but the ball was played back into the area with interest by Michael Ward and Read was in the perfect position to easily side foot home from close range.

Read was soon on hand again bursting onto an Andrew Rix flick-on but Chilvers denied him. Shortly before half time another Hughes dead ball effort, this time an in swinging corner was met first by Crosswell but a combination of Pentney and post kept the effort out.

The tall Damien Hurley was the first to go close in the second period when his header from a long free kick was clawed away by Chilvers. Middleton hit back with Grant Johnson's trickery setting up a headed chance for substitute Johnnie Ross that flew just too high. Freethorpe slowly began to exert some authority on the game with first Mark Barber having a header pushed wide and then Hurley saw his header saved well low down by Chilvers who was the busier keeper on the night. The winning goal came from the left foot of PE teacher Hurley when he curled a free kick around the three-man wall and into the bottom right hand corner of the Middleton net. Two might be Hurley's lucky number as the second goal in his second Wellesley cup final, this being one of two finals in the space of 13 days and his wife is expecting their second baby very soon.

The game became more open as Middleton pressed for the equaliser and Freethorpe played on the break but some poor final balls failed to finish the game. Freethorpe nearly paid for their lack of a clinical finish when two second half substitutes combined when Carl Patterson played in Ross whose dipping drive was made to look comfortable by the confident Pentney. At the other end Chilvers saved bravely at the feet of Rix but Freethorpe prevailed to complete the first part of a possible treble. On Easter Monday morning they meet MK United in the final of the Wiltshire Cup and they also currently stand second in the first division on goal difference to MK with a game in hand. Middleton Arms' season is far from over as they stand third just two points behind the leaders with two games in hand on MK - and of course the two teams meet again at Freethorpe on Saturday in the league.

Freethorpe: Daniel Pentney; Kevin Twose, Graham Morris, Simon Burns; Michael Ward, Mark Barber, Simon Whitefoot, Damien Hurley, Alex Forsyth (Daniel Lawton); James Read, Andrew Rix
Middleton Arms: Dean Chilvers; Dave Bartram (Sam Bartram), Damien Foxhall, John Holliman, Adam Hodds; Grant Johnson, Shaun Fox, James Rafferty, Gareth Hughes (Carl Patterson); Daniel Hurren, Lee Crosswell (Johnnie Ross).
Referee: Nigel Evans; Assistants: David Bartram, Shaun Boggis