EASTCOTE BRITISH LEGION IN JUNIOR CUP SEMI FINALS
The quarter finals of the Middlesex Junior Cup were contested last Saturday, 19th January and your Roving Reporting team chose to visit the match between Eastcote British Legion and Hounslow Lions. This was played on the vast expanses of the Brunel University Sports Complex at Kingston Park in Hillingdon.
The Middlesex Junior Cup was first competed for in the 1891-92 season, when it was won by Millwall Athletic Reserves. It is the second oldest of our existing cup competitions, starting just three years after the Senior Challenge Cup.
The current holders are SL Benfica, who recorded a comfortable 5-1 win over Norsemen AFC, in last season’s final at Bedfont Sports FC.
34 teams entered this season’s competition.
Both clubs received a bye in round 1. They were then both drawn at home in both rounds 2 and 3.
Eastcote British Legion beat Parkfield Seconds (4-1) and Cuckoo Hill (4-2) to reach the quarter finals. Hounslow Lions’ victories were against FC Sunbury Saturday (6-1) and Feltham Town (3-0).
Both clubs are in the Middlesex County League. Eastcote British Legion currently play in Division 2 and Hounslow Lions are a step below, in the Combination.
Eastcote British Legion won the Geoff Harrison Middlesex Junior Trophy last season. They beat Townmead 1-0 in the final at Hanworth Villa FC.
This was a really enjoyable match – one that I would describe as a “proper cup-tie”. Both teams were evenly matched and gave their all throughout the game. It was impossible to pick the winners until about minute before the expiration of added time, when the only goal of the match was scored by Eastcote British Legion.
Billy Twomey, in the Eastcote British Legion goal, was in action in the 2nd minute, saving with his feet from Ashley Leacock.
At the other end, Billy Adcock fired just past the post from outside the penalty box.
Then Ashley Leacock had 2 attempts on the home goal. Goalkeeper, Billy Twomey received a cut head, diving at the forward’s feet to save the second attempt and had to receive attention.
Eastcote’s Jack Blackman’s freekick into the Lions’ box, from halfway was headed over the crossbar by Ryan King.
Marco Antire worked through the Lions’ defence to set up Joe Hanson, whose shot was saved by Bradley O’Donnell.
The tricky and direct Mason Greenfield was causing Eastcote problems wide on the right.
In the 37th minute, late arrival Liam Curran replaced Bradley O’Donnell in goal for Hounslow Lions.
Billy Twomey, now with a bandaged head, saved low down from Lions’ Jack Vincent. Mason Greenfield burst through but he scuffed his shot, allowing the keeper to save.
Mason Greenfield’s high cross was dropped by a pressurised Billy Twomey but Lions failed to capitalise.
Marco Antire shot narrowly wide for Eastcote. Liam Curran saved at Tom Hunt’s feet. Liam then palmed Jack Blackman’s freekick away.
The first half was extended to 57 minutes, mainly because of the injury to the home teams’ keeper.
Half time score: Eastcote British Legion 0 Hounslow Lions 0
Billy Twomey parried Raheem Rodrigo-Payne’s low shot and then managed to get to the loose ball ahead of the striker.
Eastcote had a spell of pressure. Jack Blackman tested the goalkeeper after being released by Joe Hanson. Billy Adcock shot just past the post. Tom Hunt was just too high with his shot.
Ashley Leacock burst through the Eastcote defence but the keeper’s challenge forced him to shoot wide.
Eastcote British Legion pressed hard for a winner in the time added on. Joe Hanson diverted Billy Adcock’s low cross over the Lions’ crossbar.
Billy Adcock’s shot hit the post and then rolled along the goal-line between the uprights.
Liam Curran saved from Alex Hole with his feet.
Harry Baulch was brought down just outside the visitors’ penalty area. Billy Adcock hit the resulting freekick over the defensive wall and just under the crossbar, to put Eastcote British Legion into the semi-final.
Final score: Eastcote British Legion 1 Hounslow Lions.
Referee Marshall Nyamuchiwa had to work hard to control this fiercely fought encounter, during which the players were fully committed and very vociferous but he coped admirably.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Eastcote British Legion: Billy Twomey, Jack Adcock, Ryan King (capt), Ben Dawson, Harry Baulch, Joe Hanson, Billy Adcock, Jack Blackman, Marco Antire, Josh Worley and Tom Hunt.
Rolling substitutes: Kallum Quinn, Alex Hole, Ben McCormack, Charlie Mossum and Craig Francis.
Hounslow Lions: Bradley O’Donnell (Liam Curran 37 mins), Christian Barreto, Nicolas Joachim, Matthew Wiltshire (capt), William Mubiru, Ben Dinan, Regan Cordell-Edwards, Mason Greenfield, Rackeem Walker, Ashley Leacock, Jack Vincent.
Rolling Substitutes: Raheem Rodrigo-Payne, Marley Gordon Moore, Shakiib Gurale and Sidney Thompson.
Referee: Marshall Nyamuchiwa.
Report: Jim Taylor
Photography: Chris Benn