Studham into cup final in inaugural season
Studham – 1
J Hubbock 36’
J&R Academy – 1
A Oliver 55’
(Studham win 4-2 on penalties)
24th March 2024
Studham reached the final of the Leighton & District Sunday League Division Four Cup on Sunday as they overcame J&R Academy on penalties, scoring all of theirs they took whilst the visitors saw one blasted over the top and another saved.
Having led thanks to a first half penalty the home side were pegged back early after the break, then reduced in numbers as Tommee Seaton was sent off for dissent; they defended doggedly for the remaining twenty-five minutes and even had a chance to nick it at the death.
Academy should have ahead before Studham were awarded their spot kick, several good opportunities were spurned until Jacob Hubbock scored from twelve yards out; after levelling from a free kick and then the dismissal, destiny seemed to swing in J&R’s favour, but the hosts held on.
The first real chance of the game fell to the visitors on the quarter hour mark, Rhys Calvano escaping down the flank and driving into the box, drilling low towards the far corner saw home custodian Josh Thompson get down well to his left to push away.
At the opposite end Seaton found acres of space twenty-five yards out but could only fire high over the top, Calvano again then forced Thompson into another good save from close range, a defender on hand to hook the rebound to safety.
J&R saw a further two efforts threaten, a chip from the right over the outstretched arm of Thompson ahead of another drive from outside the box, both safely over the frame of the goal, then with ten minutes to the break the hosts won a penalty.
A free kick lofted into the Academy area saw two players apiece challenge with Finn Roch ending up on the floor, a header wide saw the inevitable claim for both sides for the decision however the referee took a second to reflect before blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot.
After the furore died down, Hubbock stepped up from twelve yards only to see keeper Chris Coombs dive to his right and make the block, however the spin on the ball saw it bounce across goal and inside the opposite post.
The away side levelled just ten minutes into the second half as a long throw was flicked into the far corner by the head of Adam Oliver, back came Studham with Lee Kearney who explored space down the left but from the edge of the box could only fire straight at Coombs.
The hosts were reduced to ten men with twenty-five minutes remaining when Seaton was spoken to for kicking the ball away, eager to express his opinion then saw an initial sin bin, but as he exited the field of play still berating the decision, the official brandished a straight red.
The expected onslaught never really materialised from there, it took until the final five minutes for Calvano to exploit the orange & black defence but Thompson was off his line in a flash to dive at his feet and smoother, and from there it was Studham who could’ve nicked it at the end.
First Kearney tried to lob the advancing Coombs from midfield however there was never enough conviction on the ball to endanger the scoreline, the last action of the game saw Roch get on the end of a right wing cross but he could only head straight at the keeper.
Hubbock, Roch, Anthony Woof & Kierney all netted their penalties, Academy saw their second skied over the crossbar, and for their fourth Thompson got down to his right to push away to send his side into the final. F/T: 1-1 (4-2 pens)
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