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The final game
of the season had both teams with a possibility of clinching the
runners-up spot and promotion. It was immediately evident that
Forest Glade had the greater desire in this contest and the
greater ability. Whilst Forest looked the physically smaller
side it was immediately evident that they could play the better
football. |
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The opening
minutes saw Forest passing the ball around the Ingatestone
players and creating countless chances for the strikers. But,
today, was not going to be a day when the chances were taken.
The Ingatestone keeper was in outstanding form and this was
helped by the Forest players missing the target, by inches it
must be said not yards. The opening minutes saw chances for both
Jack Hawthorn and Grant Cumming just missing from the edge of
the goal area, whilst longer distance efforts came from Danny
Barker and Lewis White. |
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The pressure
that Forest had did however lead to a number of corners which
after a number of close chances after 12minutes resulted in the
first goal. Jack Hawthorn crossed for Jack Eldridge to just beat
Lewis White to the ball at the corner of the six-yard box with a
glancing header which flew into the net at the far post. This
was nothing less than the Forest domination deserved. |
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Forest
continued to dominate the play and corners continued to cause
problems for the Ingatestone defence with the movement of the
Forest players. One of the corners saw an unmarked Alex Chapman
stoop low to somehow head over from just 5 -yards out. |
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The Forest
play continued to create chances with the first time passing
opening up the Ingatestone defence continually. Close to the end
of the half Forest played the ball down the right. Jack Hawthorn
laid the ball out to the right wing where Danny Barker had
drifted. Everyone expected a cross to the far post, especially
the Ingatestone keeper who drifted away from his near post.
Danny obviously noticed this because he drilled the ball between
the keeper and the goal. Everyone was surprised when after
hitting the ball Danny was already celebrating with a huge
"YES". The ball hit the far corner net for a great goal. |
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The second
half started with Ingatestone having the advantage of the slope
but within 45 seconds Forest had struck again for the killer
blow. The Ingatestone kick-off was broken up by Lewis White who
played the ball forward to Jack Hawthorn at the edge of the
centre circle. Jack deftly flicked the ball through the defence
for Grant to break on to. His first touch was excellent taking
it away from the Ingatestone defender and although under
pressure Grant's pace was always keeping him ahead of the
defenders. He then chipped the approaching keeper from the edge
of the area and the shot had just enough power to get over the
goal line ahead of the defenders running back. |
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The pressure
was off of Forest now and this led to a number of substitutions
which to there credit had little impact on the Forest
domination. Chances continued to be created and some classic
misses occurred. A break down the Forest left saw the central
defender, Tom Pearson, running into the left wing position. Tom
crossed from the bye-line to the far post which beat a desperate
stretch by the Ingatestone keeper. Unfortunately Nathan Clarke
at the back post, with an open goal, shinned the ball past the
right hand post. |
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Everyone was
trying to get in on the act. Another fast break down the right
saw Jack Hawthorn cross to the edge of the six-yard box where
Alex Chapman volleyed spectacularly wide by a foot. Another
break down the right saw Nathan send a perfect cross to the far
post where Paul Duggins was set to head the ball into the net
before the keeper made a superb intervention. |
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Ingatestone
were given a lift when after 71 minutes they broke down the left
wing. The cross looked like it was going to be easily cut out by
the Forest keeper but Elliott Thwaites fumbled the ball and the
Ingatestone No. 5 tapped the ball past the keeper into the goal. |
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The goal gave
Ingatestone a lift and for the first time in the game began to
really pressure the Forest defence. The last 10 minutes were
much more even with Ingatestone threatening from some
set-pieces. But the last minutes saw few clear cut chances and
the whistle finally went and Forest Glade had the result they
deserved and the promotion as Runners-Up. |
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Team
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Elliott
Thwaites |
Alex Chapman |
Greg Fedden |
Tom Pearson |
Stuart Thorn |
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Jack Eldridge |
Lewis White, |
Danny Barker |
Jake Meads |
Grant Cumming |
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Jack Hawthorn |
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Subs: |
Matt Huckle |
Paul Duggins |
David Keen |
Nathan Clarke |
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