NATIONAL POLICE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CUP
SECOND ROUND

Leicestershire Police 1 West Midlands Police 0

West Mids paid the price for not scoring goals whilst they were on top (in the first half) and a single goal was enough to send Leicestershire into the next round.

West Mids started the game strongly and created and missed five clear cut chances in the opening 20 minutes.

Ian Millward sent Mark Bellingham clear down the left and a fierce left foot drive rattled the near post with the keeper well beaten. Steve Piearce wriggled through the home defence but saw his final shot blocked. Paul Shaw made a surging run down the right flank and crossed to Piearce who under pressure shot over the bar. Shaw was involved again with a ball over the top that found Bellingham who saw his right foot shot go wide of the post. Then, Martin Slattery and Bellingham combined to set up Piearce for a one-on-one with the keeper but his side foot shot went just wide of the post.

West Mids keeper Ross bate had his first save to make on 23 minutes when he saved a snap shot from the edge of the box. West Mids continued to create chances with Millward and Piearce combining to set up Bellingham who's shot was blocked at the expense of a corner.

On 32 minutes, Pierace ran at the home defence and slipped the ball to Bellingham who was in a perfect position to score, but Bellingham seemed to take his eye off the ball and as the ball ran away so did a good scoring chance. Two mionutes later a deep cross from Gaggy Bedi found Carl Hancox who laid the ball back to Shaw who fed Millward who chipped over the defence to Bellingham who looked suspiciously offside, but the home keeper did well to save a close range shot.

Bate was in action again for west Mids, scrambling across his line to save a 20 yard shot from a home full back.

The final chance of the first half fell to West Mids when Dayle Speed turned a defender on the edge of the box but his final shot was weakly struck straight at the keeper.

Leicestershire started the second half at break neck speed and their number 7 burst through a static West Mids defence and fired a cross shot just wide of the post. West Mids were not creating the chances in the second half and the home side scored the all important goal on 64 minutes. A right wing corner was played short to Dave O'Boyle who swung over a cross that was too near to goal and should have caused no problem to West Mids keeper Ross bate, but he fumbled the ball and it fell to centre forward Simon ward who forced the ball home from close range.

West Mids threw caution to the wind for the last 20 minutes of the game but could not score the elusive equaliser and home side held on to win.