Report

Church Farm booked their place in the Final of the Lichfield Shield with a well deserved victory over Lichfield Leopards. It was a game that they dominated from start to finish, yet needed extra time to see off a dogged Lichfield, after a superb display from the Lichfield goalkeeper.

The game started with The Whites playing some neat football and carving out numerous opportunities in the opening minutes. Gardner hit the bar from a free kick, Smith was denied by some good goalkeeping, and McHale went close with a long range effort.

Then midway through the half, came a moment of controversy. Smith turned and hit an effort that rattled the underside of the bar and bounced out for Lichfield to clear. The Church Farm players, management and fans all were certain the ball crossed the line, yet the referee waved play on.

The Lichfield goalkeeper then proceeded to have the game of his life, saving chance after chance. This only added to the frustration of the visiting team, and the game began to heat up as a result. Bedworth and Cox put in a number of strong challenges, which stopped any hope of a Lichfield break, while Haddrell was dominant in the air from the few set pieces the Leopards enjoyed.  And while the Lichfield keeper pulled off save after save, Finch hardly had a touch of the ball, in goal for The Whites, as the gulf between the 2 sides began to grow.

The 2^nd half carried on much like the first, with some lovely exchanges between Wardle, McHale and Gardner in midfield. And the visitors also continued the pressure on the Lichfield goal, with chance after chance going begging.

Then in the final few minutes, the best chance of the game came as the ball fell to Gardner in the box. He danced into some space and struck a fierce shot which was saved by the Lichfield keeper, and just as the ball fell to Gardner to put away the rebound, the keeper got back up to make a double save, to the astonishment of the Farm supporters.

Despite the dominance, the game finished level and so extra time was required. But here, Farm’s class really shone through as they raised their game to see off Lichfield.

McHale, with time and space in the middle of the park, picked out the run of Smith, who calmly slotted home to put the visitors in front, and to the relief of the Farm crowd.

Smith almost had a 2^nd, after a beautiful ball over the top by McHale saw Smith through one on one. But he was to be denied by the crossbar once again and saw the ball bounce clear.

But the crucial 2^nd was not far away, and it came from a great move. Some neat football from the back saw a quick release from Mander in goal, played to Bedworth. He picked out McHale, who again found time and space in the middle to pick out the run of Gardner this time. He skipped into the box and cooly rounded the keeper and slotted home, to give The Whites some breathing space and put them fully in control of the game.

Then in the last few minutes of the 2^nd half of extra time Farm got a third. Wardle played a neat ball to McHale who then proceeded to drive forward. He beat 3 players as he drove into the box and then caught the keeper by surprise by rifling a left foot drive high into the roof of the net at the near post, to put the tie to bed.

It was a wonderful victory, and fully deserved, to give Farm their first cup final. After the heartbreak of losing in the semis last year, they were determined not to have a repeat and instead go one step further this time around. They will now play Rushall United, who they have already tasted victory against this season, so they should have no fear and go into the final with the belief they can come away with the silverware they richly deserve.