Match Report: Premier Division Cup Final

Date Monday 7 May 2012
Match St. Margaretsbury v Royston Town
Competition Molten Spartan South Midlands Football League: Premier Division Cup Final
Result Won 2-0
Royston Scorers K. Fehmi(2)
Man of Match Ross Collins
Attendance 275

The Crows finished off a superb season with more silverware and completed a remarkable treble in doing so at Stotfold FC on Monday. This was a deserved win for Paul Attfield's side who played the better football throughout the contest and a goal in each half from Kaan Fehmi was more than enough on the day.

Having seen off Haringey, Hillingdon, Hertford and Tring Athletic in the previous rounds it had been a tough competition for The Crows to get through but a large proportion of the 275 strong crowd went home happy with Royston achieving their second treble success in four years.

The opening ten minutes was full of controversy with the referee having to deal with important incidents. Inside four minutes Kaan Fehmi was played clean through on goal and clearly fouled by the last defender just outside the area. The award of just a yellow card was surprising but the punishment was more severe for St Mags as Fehmi picked himself up to curl a twenty yard effort into the bottom corner.

Moments later a rash challenge from Jason Beck in the centre circle caused more hysteria with The Crows centre half was also fortunate to see only yellow but his reaction to the opposition bench and supporters saw his early withdrawal by The Crows manager who brought Joe Clemo on to replace him inside ten minutes.

The game settled down and continued with Royston in firm control and looking threatening with most ventures forward. The only downside to their game on the day was a lack of clinical edge with a decent final ball in the first half and their finishing in the second. The St Mags backline looked increasingly vulnerable to pace and pressure but on the day The Crows couldn't quite make their attractive box to box play count with more goals.

Ryan Lockett had the clearest chance of the first half when he also ran through a static defence but his placed effort from 16 yards was turned wide by Harris in the St Mags goal. St Mags had their best period just before half time when they exerted some good pressure of their own. Playing a more direct game they caused The Crows defence some nervy moments and once chance just before half time was curled onto the crossbar with a last ditch tackle from Jack Bradshaw thwarting the follow up effort.

Other than that chance and two early second half chances with Lewis Endacott heading off the line and another close range free header straight at Will Norris the St Mags chances were few and far between and Royston played with superior control after their second goal on 55 minutes. Tom Malins got behind the defence from another ball into space and despite being clattered by the onrushing Harris the ball ran free for Fehmi to tuck into the empty net from 18 yards.

This visibly knocked the fight from the opposition with Royston continually looking to pick off the opposition and creating clear chances in so doing. Luke Robins raced clear of the St Mags defence again after a good run but was denied by Harris again, Ross Collins also had a clear chance but shot wide and Tom Malins struck the crossbar from six yards following a good left side cross from Fehmi. Ryan Lockett fired a clear chance over from 12 yards following another good bit of team play and a Malins cut back before Fehmi had the chance to complete a hat trick from the penalty spot after being tripped in the area. His well-placed but tame effort from the mark was saved at full length by Harris but failed to inspire his side in the final ten minutes.

Both sides had one on one chances in the final moments with Matt Standen breaking clear but losing control of the ball whilst trying to round Harris and a St Mags winger shot wide with his effort in injury time but the scoreline was a less than accurate reflection on the game itself from Royston's point of view.

Team: Norris, Endacott, Bradshaw, McGrandles, Beck (Clemo), Collins, Edwards (Martin Standen), Malins, K. Fehmi (Matt Standen), Lockett, Robins – Unused: Grinham, Young