Atholl 1965 Football Club News

ATHOLL IN CUP FINAL

After some car pooling from both north and south London, Atholl arrived at the world famous Hackney Marshes for a cup semi-final against a West End team which were much of an unknown quantity after managing to avoid each other for the whole of the season so far. A strong Atholl squad, including 2 subs, were made well aware of the opportunity for us to reach Atholl’s second cup final in its history and the need to be ‘up for it ‘from the first whistle to make sure another chance didn’t pass us by.

The pre-match team talk was acted upon in the first few seconds as 3 Atholl midfielders got around the West End striker from the kick off and Phil Wheeler was the one to put him on the deck. Phil soon followed it up with another equally robust challenge which showed the intent not to be over powered as in some previous encounters and the whole team reacted to this.

West End had much of the early possession but didn’t create a great deal against an Atholl back line well marshalled by Damon and Pete. As the game settled it was the Atholl that managed to take the lead. After an earlier long throw that was adjudged to be a foul throw, the second such set piece launched in to the box from Stu found a West End back line that didn’t really look like contesting balls in to the box. This allowed Spiers to get above his man and divert the ball in to the West End net, 1-nil Atholl.

As the half went on Atholl had further chances to increase their lead especially from some excellent corners delivered in to the box from Dave Broderick, but West End managed to keep them out somehow. Spiers did have the ball in the next again however as the ball bounced up and hit him the referee adjudged it to be hand ball. Hardie also had a couple of chances, a header well saved and an effort that went over when he had more time than first realised.

It was not all one way traffic though as West End produced attacks of their own, usually from some good wide play but the defending was resolute from the back line and on a few occasions not only one block was made, but two or three bodies being put in the way to protect our goal. Late in the first half West End did manage to hit the post but again the ball was cleared and deservedly Atholl ended the half 1-nil up.

Half time came and went and Atholl new they had to maintain the desire and intensity and willingness to run and work for each other if they were to see this game out. The half started quite brightly for Atholl as West End started to panic and commit more numbers forward. This allowed Atholl to break and at times outnumber the West End defence. Spiers was unfortunate to have an off side decision go against him when he started the run in our own half and would have been through one on one.

Atholl did manage to get an all important second goal, again from a well worked set piece. An in swinging corner was put into the danger area and Spiers did well to get a head to the ball and send it back across goal where Hardie was on hand to apply the finish. 2-nil to the Atholl and the team could sense an important win.

As the half continued West End had plenty of possession and territorial advantage however the Atholl defence were performing brilliantly to repel the attacks. As is natural the defence began to sit a little deeper and it was a real team effort to keep West End at bay.

With about 15minutes to go Monk made a good save and was unfortunate to have the centre forward land on his arm. Monk decided to carry on even though in clear discomfort, and following another West End attack a cross was not cleared and the West End left winger managed to squeeze the ball in from the tightest of angles. 2-1 and the decision was made to replace Monk in goal with Stu and see if we could see the game out.

West End continued to press with a new found hope that the goal gave them but the resilience shown by the whole Atholl team not to give the lead away was tremendous. From the front two hassling the West End defenders to the back four putting in tackles to the last minute, this was surely Atholl’s best performance of the season.

West End had a couple more shots from range but the referee’s final whistle was greeted with some well deserved cheers and pats on the back for every member of the squad. Everyone put a shift in on Saturday and we managed to get the rewards we deserved. The final on May 15th is now a game to really look forward to and whoever we play with the commitment and endeavour shown against West End we can approach the match we real confidence.

Well done to all involved, let’s be ready for May 15th, Hanwell Town will be welcoming back the Atholl for what is hopefully going to be another great day!