BOLTON BRACE BEWILDERS BRIDGE BY BOOKING FINAL

Fixtures for Saturday 5th of APRIL 2014 ▼
CONGRATULATIONS TO ABERFFRAW ON REACHING THEIR FIRST FINAL OF THE NWCFA JUNIOR CUP SINCE THEIR RETURN TO SATURDAY FOOTBALL.

The ALL Anglesey NWCFA Junior Cup semi-final clash between Aberffraw & Menai Bridge Tigers proved to be an entertaining and exciting encounter, but disappointingly played in front of a handful of supporters.
The Tigers would probably have started favourites in most people’s eyes, but then Aberffraw have a very solid defence and goals win games and in Gary Bolton they have a proven goal scorer.
Tigers began well pushing the ball about and taking advantage of their wings. Danny Brookwell broke down the right lank, jinked his way inside and as the keeper came out, let fly with a low ground shot that skimmed the far upright. Then Lance Williams produced an excellent save from Gerallt Roberts, and the keeper then denied Richie Owen.
The beffro’ defensive unit once again showed its strength and though little had been seen of the attack, their rear guard were always looking to get the ball through to their speed merchants Bolton and Roberts as quickly as possible. But Tigers, with Craig Tlpton controlling everything at the back, without even breaking sweat; it was not surprising the opposition attack had gone unnoticed............... that is until Richard Roberts broke down the right. Ignoring cries of `offside’, he pulled the ball across towards the near post where Gary Bolton [ who else] nipped-in and tucked it away to give Aber’ the lead. Minutes later Tigers were awarded a free-kick outside the box and Tipton curled a shot round the wall, heading inside the far post until Gerallt Roberts at full stretch turned it past the upright. The game was opening up a little more and Bolton broke clear to try and slip the ball wide of Keeper Moore who somehow managed to get his finger tips to it and save the day. Tipton then receiving a short throw out from his keeper set off on a `mazy Run’ that took him to the edge of the box but just as he `let fly’ defender, Williams, threw himself in to block the shot. Then back in defence Tipton was straining his neck to head clear but the ball dropped over him and in behind him was Bolton who seized on the chance only for keeper Moore to block his shot. The break came as the chances were beginning to present themselves at both ends.
The second half saw Tigers draw level with a fine solo goal, Danny Brookwell jinking his way past four or five players before shooting home. This lifted the team and they set about adding a second, but Beffro’ had a game plan and stuck to it. They surrendered quite a bit of possession, but more importantly they restricted Tigers to shooting from long range all of which came to nothing. It looked like yet another case of extra-time being required as the assistants signalled time up. But two minutes into added-time a neat interchanged of passes that started from the back, ended with the ball being fed through to Bolton who ran on and slipped the ball pas keeper Moore to rapturous delight of the Beffro bench and supporters.

Picture courtesy of Paul Harper.
Bridge full back looks in vain for offide flag, whilst Gary BOLTON bangs in the opener and later the winner in NWCFA Jun/Cup semi-finai victory