The Cold End: BOROUGH HEAD THROUGH TO CHALLENGE TROPHY FINAL

Thursday, 18 March 2010

BOROUGH HEAD THROUGH TO CHALLENGE TROPHY FINAL

Broxbourne Borough 2 Aston Clinton 0
Spartan South Midlands Challenge Trophy Semi-Final

It was easy to see why Division Two side Aston Clinton had made it to the last four stage of this competition. The Buckinghamshire club had beaten Premier Division sides Dunstable Town (2-4 away), Welwyn Garden City (1-7 away), Hillingdon Borough (1-4 away) after beating fellow Divsion Two side MK Wanderers 1-0 away in the first round on their excellent cup run.

They started as underdogs again tonight and looked the better side in a first half of few chances. The Aston forward line impressively hassled and harried the Boro defenders which stifled the home side's attempts to pass the ball around and develop play from the back. The conditions at Goff's Lane tonight were windy with rain falling on and off throughout the match especially in the second half.

Aston pressurised the home side for most of the first half and were unlucky not to take the lead with a header from a corner kick which was cleared off the line by a Boro defender. The home side did have their moments in the first half forcing a good save to the keeper's left hand side from a shot outside the box.

HALF TIME 0-0

Gradually as time wore on in the second half the home side came back into the game and somewhat fortuitously took the lead when a long wind-assisted punt downfield from goalkeeper Obey Murefu bounced once on the edge of the box for the Aston keeper to collect under pressure from the two advancing Boro forwards. The ball seemed to slip from his grasp (maybe down to the wet conditions) and over his head to the grateful Boro player who slipped the ball into the net to make it 1-0.

Boro made it 2-0 from a cross into the box from the right hand side for an advancing player to slide the ball into the net past the unlucky Aston custodian.

FULL TIME 2-0
Att - 46

Broxbourne now meet either fellow Premier Division Brimsdown Rovers or First Division London Colney in the final. Their match is played on Tuesday 6th April.

Aston are only 4 points off the top of Division Town leaders Berkhamstead with 2 games in hand so are in with a real shout for the league title. They have also qualified for the final of the Division Two cup (where they play Mursley) and they play New Bradwell St Peter in the semi-final on the Berks and Bucks Intermediate Cup on the 27th March.

The cold end was particularly impressed with their centre forward Aaron Usmani who led the line very well tonight and worked extremely hard. He had scored an incredible 33 goals in 20 league and cup starts this season including four hat-tricks. A pacey skillful player who can also hold the ball up and bring other players into the game, He could easily move up to a higher level than Division Two of the SSMFL.

MATCH ACTION