20.04.10 - HARD GRAFT IN THE SUN TO TAKE FORESTERS TO FINALS
This Divisional Cup semi final was always going to be a tough match. With the sun blazing down from a cloudless (but apparently volcano ash filled sky), the match started at a relatively slow pace which suited the commitment shown by the Foresters in closing down the home side.
It therefore came as no surprise when the Foresters took the lead on 12 minutes when Jamie Monteith was on hand to slip home a rebound from the Hampstead keeper’s pads following a good save from a Forester’s strike (0 – 1).
A minute later, a slack pass from the Hampstead defence was intercepted and Max Kempe did well to ride the desperate defensive challenges and slip the ball home (0 – 2). Hampstead replied with an unconverted short corner on 18 minutes and then narrowed the gap through a converted penalty flick on 27 minutes (1 – 2). The Foresters then increased the pressure on the home goal, winning two more penalty corners, the latter of which crashed against a home goal post.
Within minutes of the re-start, Hampstead were level following a short
corner conversion (2 – 2). This seemed to spur the Foresters into
finding a higher gear and Monteith was unlucky to see a great effort
again find a home goal post and rebound back into play. This was only a fore taste of what was to come as Stuart Jones broke through to strike a crisp drive into the home goal to give the Foresters the lead again (2 – 3).
Hampstead were by now reduced to striking on the break and their best chance was deflected for long corner. Monteith then converted a penalty flick to effectively kill off the game with minutes to go (2 – 4) and set up a Divisional Cup Final against League Champions Southgate next Sunday at Trent Park.
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