West
Mids desrved at least a draw in this end to end
game, they started well and Paul Shaw and Chris
Adams combined to set up Mark Delaney who saw his
shot deflected for a corner. Then a deep cross was
volleyed over the bar by Micky Hart from the edge
of the box. Police best chance came on 12 minutes
when a long Darren Carmell clearence was headed
on by David Blake to Mark Delaney who attempted
to chip the home keeper Ian Brookes but saw his
weak effort easily saved.
Rugby
had a good attempt on 18 minutes when Carl Laws
took a quick throw-in to Wayne Hadley who laid the
ball into Aaron Parkinson who unleashed a 25 yard
blockbuster that was well saved by Carmell. Carmell
was in action again 2 minutes later, cutting out
a searching cross from Mark Thompson.
Delaney
then went close for the Police, putting a 20 yard
free kick past the defensive wall and just past
the post. On 35 minutes, Carmell was the Police
saviour with a close range save after Thompson shot
from a Wayne Fulford cross. In the last two minutes
of the half, Rugby went close twice when Parkinson
picked up a loose ball and his dipping 30 yard drive
went just over. Then, Fulford set up Thompson but
Carmell brought off a close range save at the expense
of a corner.
The
only goal of the game came on 56 minutes when Carmell
brought off an excellent save from Peter Poole’s
header from a deep free kick, but Carmell’s
first time attempted clearance was blocked and the
ball fell to Rugby’s Fulford who was left
with the simple task to chip over the stranded Carmell
into an unguarded net.
Police
fought on to the end and went close on 70 minutes
when Chris Adams saw his shot on the turn well saved
by Brookes.
Match
Report by Tony 'Scoop' Pearson
West Midlands Police Football Club Press Officer
