Boldmere St. Michaels Res 3-2 Continental Star
The Mikes reserves progressed to the final of the Smedley Crooke Cup with a hard earned victory over their Midland Combination Premier Division visitors.
On a night where high winds dominated, both sides tried to get the ball down and play.
The Mikes were first to threaten on five minutes. Jamel Fuller was released through on goal. As he prepared to pull the trigger, he was brought down by a clumsy challenge from the recovering defender. The referee was well placed but waved away the protests from a stunned home contingent.
The game became somewhat scrappy, before being illuminated by a moment of real quality to give the Mikes the lead midway through the half. A neat passing move between Adam Swain and Andy Lewis released Fuller down the left. He checked and returned the ball to Lewis. He cut inside and drew two defenders before feeding Kirk Smith, who marked his return from suspension with a lovely finish, driving into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
The lead was short lived though, as Stars clawed their way back into the game with an equally fine strike from the edge of the box.
As play swung from end to end, the Mikes soon regained the lead. Fuller was proving a real handful and was fouled 30 yards out on the left flank. Lewis flighted in a teasing cross to find Tom Stevenson, who arrived perfectly to plant home a header from 12 yards.
Stars were still well in the game though, and were back on level terms before the break. The Mikes failed to clear and the ball was cleverly worked to the by line before the resultant cross was turned home from six yards.
The second half was equally as lively and fast paced. The Mikes had largely the better of it as they kicked with the wind, but were struggling to carve out any clear cut chances. They looked dangerous from set pieces. The visiting keeper punched a Declan Clarke corner against his own bar, before scrambling a long Stevenson free kick away from substitute Mark Mason in uncertain fashion.
As the game looked to be drifting towards extra time, the Mikes booked their final place on 82 minutes. It was no surprise that this came from a corner, when Andre Calder rose highest to power home a header from 10 yards.
The Mikes closed the game out in professional fashion, keeping the ball well and restricting the visitors to one chance, which came to nothing.
The Mikes meet Midland Combinastion Division 1 title challengers Fairfield Villa in the final, as they look to regain a trophy they last won in 2004-05. We understand that the Final will take place at Bromsgrove Rovers' Victoria Ground on Thursday 30th April (7.45pm).
Boldmere Reserves: Sean Butler; Shane ..; Adam Swain; Tom Stevenson; Andre Calder; Kirk Smith; Andy Lewis; Kevin Buxton; Danny Dubidat; Declan Clarke; Jamel Fuller
Subs: Jamie Fisher (Buxton); Mark Mason (..); Joe Davies (D Clarke); Rob Clarke
