Smudge smashes 'Bridge into Final

Boroughbridge AFC Reserves 4, Ripon City Reserves 1

Hulme Cup Semi Final - 19.04.08

"Victory belongs to the most persevering" - Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821).

Dave Ekin probably wouldn't take to kindly to being compared to Napoleon, but he certainly has all the qualities of a top general. The three previous meetings between these two this season had seen Ripon take three victories. At the start of the second half, with his troops 2-1 ahead and with a man advantage thanks to an ill advised tirade from the Ripon captain, he paced the full length of the touchline spurring on his men to avoid the ignominy of four successive defeats to his closest rivals as they threatened to make an improbable comeback. Perseverance shone through though, and 'Bridge and their General have another local showdown with Knaresborough to look forward too. After a flying start to the season, anything seemed possible for this side; a mystifying mid season slump seemed to rob Ekin of any chance of silverware (including a 2-1 League Trophy loss to Ripon), but this General would not lie down, and drove his side on. Now only one game stands between them and Cup glory.

'Bridge were off and running quicker than Oliver Reed at opening time. With barely 3 minutes on the clock, Phil Wix ran magnificently through the centre of the Ripon midfield, with Jamie "Smudge" Smith on his right for support. On his left was Paul Smith, and Wix picked him out on the edge of the area, the resulting shot across the face of the goal giving Mark Rimmer no chance and the hosts a 1-0 lead. But General Ekin would know that a single goal lead could never be enough against this side, and 'Bridge continued to press forward. The real chances didn't come though, Pete Freeman coming closest at the other end from a Sean Easey cross, but his shot was well wide. So with pressure but no results, there was always the possibility that fate could again take the initiative away from the home side, and so it proved in the 24th minute. Referee Payne had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when Craig Tetley ran into the back of Scott McKay in the area, and Danny Edmunds was up to the task, placing his kick low and right beyond the dive of Richie Renton. He has faced a few penalties in the last few weeks and guessed correctly, but Renton could not prevent the equaliser. Football is a strange game at times though, and 'Bridge had a spot kick themselves in the very next move. Mr Payne spotted a handball in the area, and Jamie Smith was able to keep the surnames on the score sheet to a minimum. So the slender lead was restored, and the game went back to its' previous pattern. Kyle Baldwin went close for the visitors after beating off a challenge from Renton, Smudge headed just wide from a Paul Smith corner, and Phil Wix showed off his ball skills, controlling, lifting then volleying just wide. But the moment that almost brought the visitors back into the game was strangley enough the injury time dismissal of their captain. Easey reacted verbally to being penalised for a minor incident, and Mr Payne judged that the words were aimed at him rather than just in general. After a prolonged attempt to talk to Easey, the red card was shown and Ripon were down to ten.

Half Time - Boroughbridge Reserves 2, Ripon City Reserves 1

Anyone who spends their hours of relaxation watching football will know that red cards change the patterns of games, and in many different ways. Ripon obviously felt aggrieved at the loss of their captain, and emerged fired up and ready to take the game to their hosts. Which they did very well, but crucially without finding the break through. It was at this point that General Ekin was at his most agitated; prowling the touchline he barked orders to his team and urged them to get back the impetus. In contrast, his assistant Mick Tompkins stood solemnly on the spot, but no doubt the same thoughts must have been in both their minds - could Ripon do it again? Carron Ross shot straight to Renton from 25 yards and Baldwin shot high and wide, prompting more comments from the General. Dave Coffey might have given some stress relief but he scuffed his shot when handily placed. McKay continued the assault for Ripon, shooting over from the narrowest of angles but the defence was holding. The relief came on 67 minutes, when Paul Smith surged forward for 'Bridge being brought down just outside the area in a very close call for Ripon. The matter of where the foul was committed was soon irrelevant, as Coffey met Simon Metcalf's free kick with a header that Rimmer could only parry; Smudge was on hand to fire home from close range and give a bit of breathing space to the home team. The momentum had turned yet again, and blue gained ascendency over red. McKay might have done better in the 81st minute, Renton alert and doing just enough to put him off his shot, but otherwise Ripon were spent. The hat trick was completed following another foul on Paul Smith in the 87th minute, and just a minute later, Smudge could have taken his personal tally to four, blasting wide when it seemed easier to score. It was to be his last touch, as the General gave him a few minutes rest and introduced Ross Mardon to see out time. At full time the General was still unhappy with the manner of his side's victory, but perseverance had paid off, and the beer would have tasted just that little bit better on Saturday evening than after the three previous meetings of these two teams. I don't suppose Napoleon drank Fosters though.

Full Time - Boroughbridge Reserves 4, Ripon City Reserves 1

Man of the Match – Jamie Smith

Boroughbridge AFC Reserves – R Renton, C Tetley, A O'Hare, M Waddington, S Metcalf, S Henry, J Hunt, D Coffey, J Smith, P Smith, P Wix. Subs – R Mardon, T Ekin, P Scaife. Goal Scorers – P Smith 3, J Smith 26 pen, 67, 87 pen

Ripon City Reserves - M Rimmer, S Long, S Easey, Rick Senior, G O'Connor, C Ross, S McKay, S Fletcher, K Baldwin, D Edmunds, P Freeman. Subs - S Cavan, J Doe, R Wiezo. Goal Scorer - D Edmunds 26 pen