Cole up for cup challenge (From Gazette Series)

Cole up for cup challenge

GFA Challenge Trophy - Final Cadbury Heath 0 Slimbridge 1 (after extra time)

CRAIG Cole became the toast of Slimbridge at Oaklands Park on Tuesday evening, with the only goal in the second period of extra time that decided the GFA Challenge Trophy Final against Screwfix Western League side Cadbury Heath.

Slimbridge, without a number of regulars through injury and being cup-tied, fought valiantly to shade an absorbing contest against a well-organised Heath side.

Both sides ended up with ten men on the pitch, Dave Scott impeding a run from Cole on 52 minutes and perhaps harshly being adjudged to have been the last defensive outfield player, saw red. Things were evened up though on 72 minutes, when Wayne Hill departed courtesy of accumulating two cautions.

Having said that though this was not a rough and tumble game at all, but a fast-moving encounter with good skill showing from both sides.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium, but several near misses at both ends kept the healthy crowd entertained on a wet and windy evening.

Slimbridge opened with Cole making progress down the right and cutting back for Julian Freeman to lift a shot over the bar.

At the other end, Nick Dyer was a handful for the Slimbridge defence all night, a young player with pace and skill who could go far.

Steve Jones went close for the Bristol side on the ten minute mark from a Gary Donner corner, and shortly after Luke James cut in from the right to hit a firm shot past Ryan Chandler but only found the side-netting.

Hill then rescued Slimbridge by blocking on the goal-line after a scramble developed following a corner.

Slimbridge seemed to be absorbing a lot of pressure, as Dyer and Grant George again tested Chandler.

As the half progressed, Ross Casey and Rich Moore in particular led a resurgence in cutting off the Heath midfield supply for a while, and Cole narrowly missed with a shot across the face of the goal from a Steve Badham free-kick.

On the resumption, Moore put a header just wide from another Badham free-kick before Scott departed. Skipper Andy Pritchett's resultant free-kick on the edge of the area in front of goal just missed the far post.

Chris Fox in the Heath goal then saved a Freeman header following a good run and cross from the left by Badham.

Hill left the fray just before Chandler made a good effort to flick a dipping shot from Dyer over the bar.

Slimbridge then had an extremely good spell, when, in quick succession, Moore headed wide from a Jon Embling corner when looking well-placed, Freeman saw a shot deflected wide with Fox beaten and Casey had a low drive blocked and turned away.

In the final minute of normal time, Chandler made another good diving save and at the other end Casey shaved a post.

Extra time saw no let-up in the pace of the game, and the game swung from end to end without any glaring chance appearing, until the pacy James Firth was introduced by Slimbridge manager Doug Gray.

Several darting runs at the Heath defence appeared to unsettle a previously confident opposition.

With eight minutes to go before a looming penalty shoot-out, Cole was put in on the right and his low shot across Fox ended up in the far corner of the net, this after some well-worked possession had finally opened up the Heath back four.

In the final few minutes, Heath went for broke and several attacking moves foundered on some determined defending from Pritchett, Sterling and Embling, in particular looking very solid.

Credit must go to both sides and although Slimbridge won, Cadbury Heath played their part in a memorable game of football.

Slimbridge: R Chandler, L Sterling, J Embling, A Pritchett, A Thomas, R Moore, W Hill, R Casey, J Freeman (J Firth 99), C Cole, S Badham (G Marshall 108). Subs not used: D Phillips, N Rieger, A Knott.