05-May-08
The biggest game since the 2005 title
decider this week as Charscot played Callie Athletic in the Semi-Final
of the Cup. The club has had an horrendous record at this stage losing
on all three occasions. The team today seemed determined not to repeat
history and took control of this game from the first whistle.
An absorbing ninety minutes as Charscot battered their opponents who mustered just one shot on target in the game and as the referee whistled for extra time many fans could be forgiven for thinking it was not meant to be the Wolverine's day.
However, Marius Lacatus, promoted early to try and save the season was to do just that as he linked up with Garrincha before scoring from close range to give Charscot their first ever Cup Final. At the final whistle jubilant fans swept onto the pitch as they finally had something to celebrate in a season that has been marred by bad luck, bad management and bad performances.
The team had little time to savour this result as they had to quickly make a trip to Toon Bay Wasps for the league match that was expected to relegate Charscot.
However, buoyed by the cup performance the Wolverines showed their class as they tore the hosts apart and left everyone thinking if they had played like this a little more they would not be going down.
Garrincha, fresh from signing a contract extension, made his debut in attack and rewarded his manager with a simple goal following a flowing move the length of the pitch. His celebrations, which included a sojourn into the visiting dugout to celebrate with management was rewarded with a warning rather than a card.
Whilst the Wasps tried to stifle the Wanderers with some thuggish tackles (which earned no less than five cards during the game) Charscot responded to superlative football and with five minutes to go to half time Lars Larsson put the result beyond any doubt as he scored a tap in from the edge of the six yard box.
With the game in the bag the team were caught napping at the start of the second half as Toon scored following a mistake in the Charscot back four.
The hosts slim chances of gettign aything from the game were ruined with just under half an hour to go as Segi Berrera committed a deliberate handball and having been booked for dissent earlier he was shown the red card.
Charscot's superiority was ocnfirmed four minutes later as Larsson gained his second goal of the game with a drive from just inside the penatly area.
The remaining twenty plus minutes were spent camped in the Toon's final third but no more goals were to come.
The result leaves the team almost certainly down with two games to go, an inferior goal difference and five points to make up, but it does mean the team have survived longer than many pundits expected them to.
The manager Rich Grove was exceedingly happy after the game at the team's efforts. "This week we knew relegation was more than likely but we managed to put that to the back of our minds and put in two truly superb performances. Our performance in the cup was simply unbeatable and no one would have lived with us and all credit to Callie on taking us all the way to extra time. Marius' goal completely justifies his early promotion to the first team as that goal means so much to the club".
"Speaking of early promotions, Garrincha's was also greatly deserved and he rewarded us all with a goal that set us on our way. At this rate he may well find his future as a striker rather than a midfielder ! The fact that he also committed himself to the club was almost as big a result as the cup win and one that I am delighted he made".
"The team will more than likely be relegated this week but for the first time this season there is at least hope that this team can show the spirit needed to fight to return to the top flight next season. In the meantime we will prepare for the cup final against Your Mum's Athletic and hope we can make our cup final appearance a winning one and the first of many".
With Your Mum's , the division One side awaiting the club in the final a tense hard fought final is expected.
After week's of failed offers the manager finally managed to make another move in the market as Toshi Susuka and Luis Felipe Monti were allowed to leave the club with both making their way to the King Richard League. Arriving in exchange is youth attacker Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who because of the league differences will be arriving on week one where it is hoped he will progress to being another star of the future in time.
An absorbing ninety minutes as Charscot battered their opponents who mustered just one shot on target in the game and as the referee whistled for extra time many fans could be forgiven for thinking it was not meant to be the Wolverine's day.
However, Marius Lacatus, promoted early to try and save the season was to do just that as he linked up with Garrincha before scoring from close range to give Charscot their first ever Cup Final. At the final whistle jubilant fans swept onto the pitch as they finally had something to celebrate in a season that has been marred by bad luck, bad management and bad performances.
The team had little time to savour this result as they had to quickly make a trip to Toon Bay Wasps for the league match that was expected to relegate Charscot.
However, buoyed by the cup performance the Wolverines showed their class as they tore the hosts apart and left everyone thinking if they had played like this a little more they would not be going down.
Garrincha, fresh from signing a contract extension, made his debut in attack and rewarded his manager with a simple goal following a flowing move the length of the pitch. His celebrations, which included a sojourn into the visiting dugout to celebrate with management was rewarded with a warning rather than a card.
Whilst the Wasps tried to stifle the Wanderers with some thuggish tackles (which earned no less than five cards during the game) Charscot responded to superlative football and with five minutes to go to half time Lars Larsson put the result beyond any doubt as he scored a tap in from the edge of the six yard box.
With the game in the bag the team were caught napping at the start of the second half as Toon scored following a mistake in the Charscot back four.
The hosts slim chances of gettign aything from the game were ruined with just under half an hour to go as Segi Berrera committed a deliberate handball and having been booked for dissent earlier he was shown the red card.
Charscot's superiority was ocnfirmed four minutes later as Larsson gained his second goal of the game with a drive from just inside the penatly area.
The remaining twenty plus minutes were spent camped in the Toon's final third but no more goals were to come.
The result leaves the team almost certainly down with two games to go, an inferior goal difference and five points to make up, but it does mean the team have survived longer than many pundits expected them to.
The manager Rich Grove was exceedingly happy after the game at the team's efforts. "This week we knew relegation was more than likely but we managed to put that to the back of our minds and put in two truly superb performances. Our performance in the cup was simply unbeatable and no one would have lived with us and all credit to Callie on taking us all the way to extra time. Marius' goal completely justifies his early promotion to the first team as that goal means so much to the club".
"Speaking of early promotions, Garrincha's was also greatly deserved and he rewarded us all with a goal that set us on our way. At this rate he may well find his future as a striker rather than a midfielder ! The fact that he also committed himself to the club was almost as big a result as the cup win and one that I am delighted he made".
"The team will more than likely be relegated this week but for the first time this season there is at least hope that this team can show the spirit needed to fight to return to the top flight next season. In the meantime we will prepare for the cup final against Your Mum's Athletic and hope we can make our cup final appearance a winning one and the first of many".
With Your Mum's , the division One side awaiting the club in the final a tense hard fought final is expected.
After week's of failed offers the manager finally managed to make another move in the market as Toshi Susuka and Luis Felipe Monti were allowed to leave the club with both making their way to the King Richard League. Arriving in exchange is youth attacker Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who because of the league differences will be arriving on week one where it is hoped he will progress to being another star of the future in time.