SHEPHERDS BUSH REACH INTERMEDIATE CUP FINAL
The semi-finals of the Middlesex Intermediate Cup took place on Saturday last, 22nd February and your Roving Reporting team chose to visit the match between Shepherds Bush and Townmead at Harefield United FC’s Preston Park, which is Shepherds Bush’s home venue.
The Middlesex Intermediate Cup was first competed for in the 1930-31 season, when it was won by Enfield Reserves, who retained it the following season. It is the 4th oldest of our current competitions.
The current holders are Bush Hill Rangers, who beat Larkspur Rovers by a solitary goal in last season’s final at Silver Jubilee Park.
38 teams entered this season’s competition.
Both clubs received a bye in round 1 and were then drawn at home in rounds 2 and 3 and the quarter-finals.
Shepherds Bush reached the semi-final with victories over Celtic (1-0) in round 2, Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) Development (4-3) in round 3 and Ruislip Town (3-1) in the quarter-final.
Townmead beat AFC Spelthorne Sports Club (3-1), CB Hounslow & Abbots ‘A’ 3-2 and Brentham 4-0.
Both clubs are members of the Middlesex County League. Shepherds Bush play in the Premier Division and Townmead in the Russell Grant Division 2.
Two evenly matched sides clashed in a hard and increasingly bitterly contested encounter. Townmead had the better of a scoreless first half. However, Shepherds Bush went ahead immediately after the break.There was no further scoring, until the hosts converted a penalty to make the score 2-0, with the last kick of the match.
The Townmead goalkeeper, Sandro Da Silva was in action in the first minute, saving high up from Aiden Swaby.
Townmead’s Reece Woolmure hit a good long cross-field ball to release striker Cody Howes, who was foiled by keeper, Oskar Walczak.
Shepherds Bush’s Ryan Buckland’s awkward bouncing shot was safely handled by Sandro Da Silva.
Townmead were awarded a freekick, in a dangerous central position, around 28 yards out but Reece Woolmure’s shot was too high.
Michael Enubuie shot low across the home goalmouth and narrowly beyond the far post.
Oskar Walczak dived to save Reece’s drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Sandro Da Silva turned Aiden Swaby’s drive over his crossbar for a corner.
Felix Amoah fired narrowly wide for Shepherds Bush.
The Shepherds Bush keeper beat Michael Enubuie to a through ball.
The visitors were taking control as the interval approached. Michael Enubuie went clear through the middle but Oskar Walczak saved the situation for Shepherds Bush.
Oskar saved advanced defender Matthew Taylor’s header from a long diagonal freekick.
Matthew Taylor advanced up-field again and volleyed over the bar.
Half-time score: Shepherds Bush 0 Townmead 0
Shepherds Bush went ahead in the 47th minute with an astonishing goal. Shawnikki Clement Peter, who had been introduced to the game for the second half, received the ball wide on the right, just inside his opponent’s half, cut in at pace and shot into the far corner of the net.
Shawnikki’s high cross-shot was saved by Sandro Da Silva.
Asah Freeman’s cross from wide on the right for Townmead was punched away by Oskar Walczak. The ever-dangerous Cody Howes burst through the middle but he was thwarted by the advancing Oskar.
Townmead’s Asah Freeman was dismissed for a sin-bin offence, following a previous yellow card.
Shawnikki just cleared the Townmead crossbar from the edge of the penalty box.
At the other end, Aiden Swaby hit Aaron Morgan’s cross over the bar from close range. Sandro Da Silva saved well from Aiden.
Michael Enubuie’s header from a corner was safely taken by the home custodian.
Shawnikki crossed to Aiden Swaby, who was foiled by the keeper’s legs.
The visitors piled on the pressure for an equaliser as time ran out but resolute defending frustrated them.
In the 8th minute of added time Aiden Swaby broke away down the left wing and cut into the Townmead penalty area. He was tripped by Faizan Mir, who received a 2nd caution and was removed from the action. Aiden took the spot kick to make the score 2-0, whereupon the referee blew for time.
Townmead goalkeeper, Sandro Da Silva was shown a red card, following his verbal reaction to the closing events.
Referee Mohammed Shahib Shohel handled a difficult match very well, in a calm and composed manner. He was well supported by his Assistant Referees.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Shepherds Bush: Oskar Walczak, Orin Frederichs, Kian Upfold, Aaron Morgan, Olly Lewis, Kenrinck Harriot (capt), Felix Amoah, Ryan Buckland, Joe Ringer, Alfie Blaskett and Aiden Swaby.
Rolling substitutes: Onajite Edumijeke, Shammar Swaby, George Crack, Remi Onabanjo and Shawnikki Clement Peter.
Townmead: Sandro Da Silva, Faizan Mir, Asah Freeman, Matthew Taylor, Shah Raheman, Alfie Martin, Jack O’Neil, Tanvir Badyal, Reece Woolmure, Michael Enubuie and Cody Howes (capt).
Rolling substitutes: Alfie Allen, Joe Gordon, Gordon Halligan, Jak Winter and Stanley Geraghty.
Referee: Mohammed Shahib Shohel
Assistant Referees: Lewis Rescorla and Rafael Suhani.
Intermediate Cup Final:
Shepherds Bush will contest the final against Hayes & Hillingdon, who beat Indian Gymkhana 3-0 at home in the other Intermediate Cup semi-final. This game will be playe4 at Northwood FC on the evening of Wednesday, 23rd April.
Report: Jim Taylor
Photography: Chris Benn