LFA Amateur Shield – Round 2
Coppull United FC hosted Pennington in the 2nd round of the LFA Amateur Shield following their first-round victory over Euxton Villa.
Coppull started with Joe Leather in goal, a back 4 of Cam Culshaw, Dave Parker, Jack Wright and Jimmy Hamer. It was Martin Kershaw, Jordan Bentham and Nathan Bibby in central midfield and they were flanked by Alessio Degrassi on the right and Scoot Hendy on the left. Up top was Nat Lindley. The substitutes bench contained Dylan Bennett, Cam Murphy and Callum Sheehan. Unavailable for selection, for one reason or another were Jimmy McIver, Jay Briody, Jordan Wilson, Adam Pickstock, Ben Morris, Jack Ramshaw, Jonty Mattock and Conor Whitaker.
The game started quite evenly with both teams trying to weigh up the opposition. Pennington had a big physical number 9 who occupied both Parker and Wright. Supporting him they had a couple of pacey and tricky wingers who posed an obvious threat. In saying that, neither keeper really had a save to make in the first half with both teams failing to hit the target. Hendy went close on one occasion when well placed on the left of the box. Degrassi was just a half yard away from connecting with the ball on a couple of occasions and Pennington had a couple of meaningful attacks but failed to hit the target. That all changed however 30 seconds before half time when the ball was switched from the Pennington right and the midfielder cut inside before finishing past Leather who was blindsided by his own defender. Killer blow just before the half time whistle, 1-0 Pennington.
History repeated itself just after the half time whistle when some slack Coppull defending led to Pennington doubling their lead and this took the wind out of Coppull’s sails. Chances came and went for Coppull with Degrassi missing a glorious chance from 3 yards out with only the keeper to beat and all the time in the world, only to hit the ball at him. A corner was met at the back post by Jack Wright who couldn’t direct his header on target. Another corner was headed back across goal by Wright and onto Hendy however he mistimed his shot and the ball was cleared to safety.
Coppull huffed and puffed but simply ran out of ideas and Pennington were worthy winners and all the best to them in the next round.