Craig Lairds cup final write up

[pecker]

CHALLENGE CUP Final
INGLE FARM (2) STURT MARION (0)
INGLE Farm have capped off a fine season with a hard fought 2-0 win over Sturt Marion in the 2015 Challenge Cup Final at The Paddocks.
Farm, runners up in 2014, came into their 3rd Challenge Cup final looking for a 2nd win having won the trophy in 2009 while for Sturt Marion it was the clubs first final as they looked to become only the 2nd Saturday League team to win the cup with BOSA successful in 2005.
The heavily favoured Farm sent a warning to Marion in the 2nd minute when after a goal mouth scramble the ball fell to Evan Emmanuel but his goal bound shot was tipped wide by Sturt keeper James Barley.
Marion soaked up the early Farm pressure and then on 10 minutes a long ball picked out Keith Caine who then rounded a defender, lobbed the keeper but was denied by some desperate defending by Dave Ennis.
The underdogs were warming to the contest when on 12 minutes Kevin Dix fired just wide from distance.
Farm were awarded a free kick on 14 minutes and a Chris Ennis effort went within a whisker of the opener as his shot flew just over the bar.
On the half hour the game changed when a James Barley pass was picked up by Shalayiding Tursun and when he rounded Barley his goal bound shot was handled on the line by Marion defender Thomas Barnhurst.
As a result a penalty was awarded, Barnhurst was sent off and when Chris Ennis converted the penalty it left 10 men Marion with a mountain to climb.
Marion held firm as the sides went to the break with the one goal Farm advantage.
On the hour Farm had a glorious opportunity to seal the win when League leading goal scorer Musti Ipekdal was sent through one on one with the keeper but Barley did superbly well in parrying the ball away before Ipekdal could get a shot in.
As the game moved into the final 20 minutes Sturt were pushing for an equalizer but on 74 minutes the game was over when a miss placed defensive header played in Ipekdal who made no mistake to the delight of a large Farm support.
The win sealed Farm’s first league and cup double and they continue a run that has now seen the last six Sunday Premier division winners also claiming the Challenge Cup.
Farm coach Paul Simpson “The boys have done exceptionally well this season as we also won the preseason cup so to claim a treble is great for the club. I thought we controlled the game today and while we didn’t take all of our chances I felt we deserved the win.”
Sturt Marion president David Sedgwick “We are disappointed with the result but I thought the boys battled really with ten men for an hour. I felt like we could have pinched a goal against the run of play but credit to Ingle Farm who were a deserving winner.”

[GOMER PYLE]

maybe a better write up than your semi post!!!!