Flailing Haddock caught hook, line and sinker (From Gazette Series)

Flailing Haddock caught hook, line and sinker

Stroud Charity Cup Semi-Final Cam Bulldogs 1 Minchinhampton RDS 0

CAM BULLDOGS reached the final of the Stroud Charity Cup after a hard-working Minch side were undone by a catastrophic own goal.

The home side had been frustrated for 75 minutes before Minch substitute Tim Haddock, more regularly the captain of Shortwood United's Hellenic League side, headed a Joe Iatalese cross past his own goalkeeper.

In fairness, it was the least the Bulldogs deserved. The balance of play was fairly even but Cam created more chances by far.

Ian Cheshire was the first and possibly the worst offender, skying a glorious chance inside the opening minute. Pete Holder looked certain to score soon afterwards but he was denied by a fantastic recovery tackle.

Just after the half hour, Minch almost produced a sucker punch with a volley from a right-wing cross but Ben Jagger made a fine save low to his right.

Cam responded and won a free-kick on the edge of the area that player-manager Stuart Grimwood curled inches over the bar.

The second half was equally tense, although the visitors' defence was certainly under more pressure. Midway through the half, Minch survived a huge scare when Grimwood's quick free-kick allowed Dorman to shoot from 35 yards and the ball flew back off the crossbar and away in an instant.

However, if Cam's luck was out on that occasion, it was most certainly in with 15 minutes remaining.

Dorman returned a short throw to Iatalese and his fine inswinging cross from the right caused Haddock to head tamely past his hesitant goalkeeper from 12 yards.

It should have been 2-0 late on but Carl Bailey lifted the ball over an open goal, the offside flag barely hiding his embarrassment.

The Bulldogs might have been punished late on but, when Jagger held Haddock's late free-kick, Minch had missed their last chance.

Cam: B Jagger, S Grimwood, Brad Price, D McIntosh, J Iatalese, D Stevenson (S Penny 65), I Cheshire, C Bailey, J Barnfield, P Holder, L Dorman. Unused subs: J Coburn, Ben Price, K Watson. Goals: Haddock og (75).