Wednesday 27th April 2022 Cults S3 vs Lochside S3 Match Report

Report on Cults Academy Third Year v Lochside Academy Third Year, CNR International League - Wednesday 27th April 2022, by Walter Craig

Cults Win the League Title After a Barnstorming Encounter With Lochside

Cults Academy Third Year

Brodie Skinner, Matthew Jack, Jack Craigie, Alexander Ramseyer, Mitchell Smith, Alex Tough, Olisa Anyaegbunam, Chibudom S’Onu, Martin Thomson, Nathan Ross, Daniel Salanibakhsh, Lachlan Sutherland, Evan Reid, Finlay Shand and David Otete.

Lochside Academy Third Year

Bryan Zukowski, Gregor Binns, Fraser Adams, Corey McDonald, Lewis Bell, Andrew Cutler, Jack Wood, Harvey Greig, Aiden Robertson, David Hale, Nicky Valentine, Layton Gabriel, Oskar Hacia and Antonia Adams.

Referee B. Eden

Lochside Third Year travelled to Cults to complete the fixtures in the CNR International League. This game had been a victim of the weather earlier and it was crucial to the destination of the title as both teams were sitting on thirteen points from five games. The earlier encounter at Lochside finished a goal apiece and as little separates the two sides, a close match was envisaged and that certainly turned out to be the case.

Lochside kicked off in glorious sunshine on a very bumpy pitch and, although the opening exchanges were keenly fought, neither keeper had too much to do.

A free kick on the right taken by Matthew Smith did not trouble the visiting defence and when it was cleared, a speedy break by Jack Wood came to nothing.

A close call for Cults in fifteen minutes. A quick throw in on the left caught out the home defence and when it reached Harvey Greig, he lobbed the ball over Brodie Skinner but also over the bar.

Lochside had a hold of the game at this point and when Nicky Valentine collected the ball wide and turned inside his curling attempt went beyond Skinner before scraping the far post as it went past.

It was Greig’s turn again sixty seconds later when he was able to take the ball into the box before shooting for goal and bringing out a fine stop from Skinner.

Cults raced to the other end and Daniel Salanibakhsh, sent clear by Chibudom S’Onu, was fouled on the edge of the box. Smith took the kick, but it was deflected off a Lochside head for an unproductive corner.

It was end to end stuff and a long ball saw Lochside win a corner on the right which went over everyone’s head.

The home team broke downfield and won a penalty kick in twenty-six minutes. A cross from the left struck a defender’s arm in the box and the referee had no alternative but to award a spot kick.

Martin Thompson took the kick and found the net in fine style.

Cults went looking for a second and a fine run down the right by Salanibakhsh saw his fine cross land on the head of Olisa Anyaegbunam but the Lochside keeper was able to bring off a fine stop.

The goal was only delayed till the thirty fourth minute, however, when good work down the centre from Anyaegbunam and Salnibakhsh saw the later through on goal. He appeared to have lost control of the ball but regained possession and was able to send it wide to S’Onu on the left-hand side of the box. He moved in and sent a shot from sixteen yards wide of Zukowski and into the corner of the net.

Back came Lochside and Valentine found himself inside the box once more, this time on the right, but his shot was blocked by the home keeper. There was just time for a corner to each team before the referee blew his whistle to end a very competitive half.

Cults had probably just shaded it, but it remained to be seen if Lochside were to rue the chances they missed. It had been a very good half played with tremendous enthusiasm from all.

Half Time: Cults Academy Third Year 2 - 0 Lochside Academy Third Year

Cults kicked off the second period with Lochside knowing they would need to score early if they were to get back into the game.

They did just that in the tenth minute. Valentine made progress down the left and sent in an early cross which was met on the run by Greig who went in front of the defenders and slotted it beyond Skinner.

Cults twice claimed for a penalty within ten seconds of each other, but the referee adjudged that no infringement had taken place on either occasion.

Lochside were beginning to call the shots now with Cults lacking a little concentration. Midway through the half a Lochside player was clean through. Skinner left his line to block the shot and managed to do so, but only just, as the ball went narrowly past the post on its way for a corner.

The flag kick found a Lochside head when it fell just beyond the post.

The next goal looked like it would fall to the visitors as they were up for it. A snapshot from Andrew Cutler almost took the paint off the post.

Smith brought some respite to the home defence with a mazy run deep into the Lochside half which was only stopped by a foul on the edge of the penalty box. Anyaegbunam took the free but he, too, missed the target by very little.

Then came a great chance for a clinching third goal for Cults. Thompson sent S’Onu clear just left of centre field and he ran towards the box before sending in a stunning shot which came crashing back off the crossbar and over the head of the onrushing Salanibakhsh.

Nine minutes from time came another penalty appeal from Cults. Salanibakhsh was sent clear and shot. Zukowski got a hand to it to bring off a great save but collided with the striker who was still on the move.

Things became heated at this point to the extent that Cults found themselves reduced to ten men in the aftermath due to something spotted by the referee.

It was backs to the wall now for the homesters, and they did extremely well to keep Lochside at bay.

A third goal arrived for Cults in the final seconds. Smith noticed slight hesitation in the Lochside defence and nipped in to win the ball and set off for goal. He sent the ball wide of Zukowski’s left hand and into the net to spark off wild celebrations in the home ranks.

The final whistle went soon after and Cults were the league champions and will be able to celebrate their success with the trophy and winners’ medals at a later stage.

It had been a tremendous game and no praise is too high for Lochside who gave their all. Who knows what the outcome may have been if they had been able to capitalise on the opportunities they were able to create, particularly in the first half?

Cults were worthy winners and it was good to see the disappointed visitors congratulating them at the end. A real game of football played on a very bumpy pitch, with no quarter asked nor given. Well done to both.

Final Score: Cults Academy Third Year 3 - 1 Lochside Academy Third Year