Avon Plate F.C.

"play up Plate"

Match reports for Season 2000/2001

07/01/01 (Charles Finch Shield Quarter Final)
Avon Plate 4 : 2 Long Cross

Half Time 1:0
Scorers: Yos David 32, 60mins, Tony Bowles (pen)79mins, Jack Sant 87mins

Plate Into Semis After Cup Classic
by Comrade Hemmingway, Official Football or Death Reporter

What a way to start the year! After a lengthy mid winter break Avon Plate were back in action this Sunday and provided their fans with a belated Christmas gift in the shape of a 4:2 win over third division Long Cross, a result that takes the Plate into their first semi-final of a major tournament.

On a cold but sunny winters morning The Plate fans turned up in droves to see two late goals secure a fine win in a game that had it all. Long Cross, ranked a division higher than the Plate, started off the sharper of the two teams. Plate looked rusty, and had to be thankful that the under the weather Bill Brisley in goal was quickly off his line on a number of occasions. However the Plate back three of Marsh, Tommo and the dynamic James Masters were soon to find their feet and Long Cross' early pressure was to come to nothing. As the half drew on the Bowles brothers and Chris Thomas in the centre of midfield began to win good possesion but it was still against the run of play when, under pressure from White, Long Cross under hit a back pass allowing David to make it one nil.

Half Time 1:0

Half time saw Boulton making a tactical switch moving the versatile Dan Thomas into the middle whilst bringing Spears onto the left for Andy Bowles. At first this seemed to have unsettled the team when a crazy 10 minutes of action threatened to turn the tie on its head. Within minutes of the restart a hopeful long range Long Cross shot found it's way to their striker just outside the six yard box who duly equalised. Almost from the restart a mistimed tackle from Bowles resulted in a penalty against the Plate. Diving to his left Brisley pulled off a fantastic save only for the ref to order a retake for encroachment. Alas the big keeper could not repeat his heroics and Plate were two one down.

Fired up by a sense of injustice Plate stormed back, forcing a corner. At the back stick (giving it eyebrows) Spears rose brilliantly to nod down to David who tucked in his second from a yard out. 2:2 but by now the force was truly with the Plate. As the game went on pressure grew on the Long Cross back- four and with little more than 10 minutes to go a Jack Sant through ball put David through in the inside right position only to be dragged down from behind by a desperate Long Cross. Up stepped Tony Bowles to calmly make it 3:2 from the spot.

In the final minutes Sant made it four, beating the offside trap before casually drawing the keeper and slotting into the net. The under dogs had done it and a place in the semi finals beckons.

Avon Plate 4:2 Long Cross

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