West
Mids gave their all and went down fighting against
a strong Fife team who also beat them in last season’s
final. Fife went ahead on five minutes when a long
ball down the right flank found Graham Dursley who
hit a fierce pin-point centre across the face of
the goal to Steve Hutcheon who side footed home
from close range giving Richard Knott no chance.
West Mids could have equalised on 12 minutes when
a through ball put David Blake clear, but after
rounding the keeper he lost control of the ball
and the Fife defence recovered well to scramble
the ball away for a corner. West Mids drew level
on 24 minutes when Mike Mason and Blake combined
well to set up Mark Bellingham who brushed aside
his marker and slotted the ball home from close
range.
The
turning point of the game came two minutes into
first half stoppage time (although neither trainer
had been on the pitch) when the West Mids defence
was split by a through ball and Graham Watson was
left with the simple task to fire home from close
range.
In
the second half, West Mids bounced back and missed
a good chance to equalise on 54 minutes when Bellingham
sent Blake away down the left flank, Blake cut inside
but with Mason in front of an open goal shouting
for a pass inside, he chose to shoot for goal but
unfortunately straight at Fife keeper Andy Buchanan.
Fife now started to get well on top and score their
third goal on 82 minutes when the West Mids defence
failed to clear a deep cross from the right and
Dursley bundled the ball home on the far post. In
the last minute a neat passing move saw Watson fire
home Fife’s fourth goal with a shot from just
inside the box.
Match
Report by Tony 'Scoop' Pearson
West Midlands Police Football Club Press Officer
