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17/04/2019
Rowsley 86 1-4 WBAFC
World Class strike knocks the stuffing out of plucky Rowsley
All credit must go to Whaley’s highly respected and experienced management duo Darryl Hall and John Brogden who, after a tenuous start to the season, have pulled a squad together that has ultimately created history not only with a fourth consecutive CFL Challenge Cup win but by also today completing a quadruple of Derbyshire Divisional Cup wins; a competition that WBAFC last won in 2011/12 but since then has competed in the Derbyshire Senior Cup; a marvellous achievement.
It is always the Manager’s intention to reward squad loyalty and accordingly he started several lads who had sat on the bench for the CFL Cup final… and they didn’t let us down. So starting with a basic 4-4-2 Sutton dropped in alongside Toseland with Gemmell left back and Gregory and Drayson coming in to midfield.
Whaley pressed from the start and didn’t give any space to the local team renowned in their own Midland Alliance League for ‘out footballing’ opponents. On a big pitch the speedy Leabetter alongside the tricky Dwyer up front were always going to be too much for Rowsley to handle and so it turned out. It wasn’t long before Sam latched on to a Drayson cross to swivel and volley only for the Rowsley keeper to make a good save low to his left. Minutes later the CFL side went ahead through a Sutton penalty converted with his usual aplomb after Leadbetter had been pulled down as he broke free 0-1. Breaking through again after a Broome through ball Leadbetter volleyed over the keeper to make it 0-2. Dwyer, always a threat out wide brought the ball down instantaneously before rounding five defenders but unfortunately failed to do the easy bit and smashed the ball over the bar however, soon after Leadbetter volleyed a Dwyer corner past the advancing keeper to make it a comfortable 0-3 at half time.
Rowsley applied some pressure shortly after the start and began to string some decent football together, Whaley dealt with it comfortably and really didn’t allow Rowsley any space in the final third where Sutton and Toseland dominated enough to play out from the back to footballers Gregory and Gilbride who instigated some good Whaley possession play.
So all looking good until an off-the-ball incident resulted in a straight red for the Broome; this changed everything. The Whaley management up until this point had fully intended to use the under 18s on the bench but now, having been reduced to 10 men, that was no longer a realistic option and they had to look to their senior experienced players. Introducing the left sided Kay and Dodds in a bid to contain the game Whaley played a bit deeper and narrower and the plan seemed to be working defending resiliently without too much trouble until a Rowsley corner unexpectedly curled into the far top corner to make it 1-3 and put some confidence back in to a beaten side. Rowsley now enjoyed the majority of possession and continued to press but Leadbetter and Dwyer were still causing havoc on the break and both could have done better with ‘one on ones’ with the keeper who saved well to keep Rowsley in with a shout; another goal could have changed the game dramatically and with Rowsley on the up that was definitely looking like a possibility.
However, still with some minutes remaining the Rowsley keeper cleared the ball up field; a ball that fell to Dan Gilbride lurking left of centre on the halfway line. With the keeper off his line Gilbride fired a left foot curler straight back over the back-pedalling keeper; a world class Beckham style goal of any season that completely knocked the stuffing out of a resurgent Rowsley.
The DCFA & Matlock Town FC deserve credit for making this a memorable occasion for everyone on a balmy Matlock spring evening during which Whaley’s great travelling support saw their side produce another solid professional cup performance and, after having scored 27 goals against 5 conceded in the 5 rounds, are once again worthy winners.
Man of the match is a difficult choice with the likes of Gilbride and Gregory definitely in the frame but for his terrific work rate and two first half goals Sam Leadbetter just pips them to be MoM.
Tattersall; Bailey; Sutton (c) (1); Toseland; Gemmell; Dwyer; Gilbride (1); Broome; Gregory; Drayson; Leadbetter (1)
Dodds; Kay; O’Donnell; Peatfield; Baldwin
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