|
Southend 1
Mitch 48
Basildon 5
Coulson 2, 30
Garbould 54
Jones 58
Linham 76
A mild sunday afternoon in Southend saw PHFC lift their first piece of silverware as they defeated Southend Airport 5v1
at Priory Park. PHFC travelled into the unknown with their heads held high and strong desire to bring the cup back to Basildon.
The match was played at a frantic pace and was a very physically battle, this was highlighted 12seconds after kick-off
when Danny Garbould executed a perfextly timed but very hard, tackle to snuff out a Southend attack. PHFC craved an early
goal and they got it after 2minutes through 17 year old striker Jamie Coulson, Ashley Garbould won the ball on the half way
line before it found its way to Kris Slaven out on the left, his perfect through ball was tucked away by the unmarked Coulson
to send the travelling fans into ecstacy.
PHFC contined to apply the pressure and only some good goalkeeping kept the score at 1v0. Chances were spurned by Burnett,
Serowka and Jones before Coulson struck again on the half hour mark. Southend were in dismay, still searching their first
shot on goal, it looked an impossible task. The goal however did bring abit of edge to the game, Jones was less than impressed
by a late tackle from the Southend defence as he carved out a shooting chance.
10 minutes before half time, a dodgy clearence from Rob Harlow in goal almost got Southend back in to the game, the ball
was played through to lone-striker Mitch who was a good couple of miles offside (but offsides were allowed in this game) but
he could only steer his shot wide of Harlow's right hand post. Coulson blew his chance of a hat-trick as Basildon upped the
pressure once more and should of made it 3v0 when Slaven's pass accross the face of the goal left Robin Linham with a simple
tap in from less than a yard out, it wasn't to be however as Linham's wild swing of his left boot failed to make any contact
with the ball and the wall slipped harmlessly out of play.
PHFC started the second half with only 10 men as goalscoring hero Jamie Coulson was still changing his boots, Southend
sensed a way back into the game and Mitch managed to hit a superb lob over Harlow in the 48th minute to bring the score back
to 2v1. Heads went down from the boys in blue and within seconds, the same goalscorer managed to blast a shot high and wide
of Harlow's sticks.
The danger signs were looming but Basildon were not about to sit on a one goal lead and Slaven's touch found Burnett on
the outside wing who hit a terrific curling lob which bounced back off the crossbar, Southend cleared the danger for a corner.
The same two men combined again from the corner to make it 3v1. Burnett's shot corner found Kris who curled the ball towards
the penalty spot and Danny Garbould got a deft touch with his head to flick the ball past the Southend goalkeeper. This time
it was Southend whose heads went down as 4minutes later PHFC added another, the impressive Kris Slaven's shot was met by a
world class save, but the ball found its way to Coulson who laid the ball back to Lee Jones to hit his first ever PHFC goal
in off the far post.
Still with half an hour to play it could of turned into a cricket score, but PHFC's attacks were met time and time again
by some resolute goalkeeping, but they did crack again with 14minutes remaining when Coulson's shot bounced down off the bar
and this time Linham couldn't miss as he twisted his body enough to get the shot in and seal the match for Basildon.
As the minutes ticked down, the game saw a couple of boiling points, Kris Slaven was savagely brought down as he attempted
to lead a deadly counter attack. But the time ticked down, the crowd's left early and PHFC were left to celebrate a great
win and were able to parade the Whizz Kids Cup back down the A127 to Basildon.
|
