Report

This Billy Little Cup Preliminary Round match against Third Division Cafe D`art was played at Portland Street with Cavaliers making enforced changes with Smigger returning at right back,replacing Sean who suffered a broken collarbone in last week`s game against Meols Cop.Matty filled in at left back and Andy played the first half in goals before Jonny took over for the second half. Cafe D`art started the better keeping possession and having the territorial advantage with the ball being played mostly in Cavs half for the opening fifteen minutes. The Formby side came close to opening the scoring on ten minutes when a header on goal bounced clear off the crossbar with Andy watching on in goals.   Both teams then struggled to impose themselves greatly on the their opponents with a lack of creativity and guile evident to force any openings.Cavs relying too much on long balls pumped forward for Jonny,Marc and Graeme to chase down. Cavaliers best chance of the half came just five minutes before the break.A long distance header from inside his own half by Matty from the left reached Graeme who beat the offside trap,the striker chipped the ball over the keeper but the ball drifted just wide of the lefthand post from the edge of the penalty area.

Half-Time:0-0

The first fifteen minutes of the second period was played in much the same vein as the first half with opportunities at a premium at both ends. On the hour mark Cafe D`art took advantage of an indirect free-kick awarded to them in a dangerous position inside the penalty area for dissent by a Cavaliers player.This decision proved to be crucial as when the ball broke loose it was fired low and into the net past Jonny who had took over in goals for Andy who moved onto the left wing.   With fifteen minutes left Marc`s free-kick from outside the penalty area on the left was met by the head of Tom but his header was guided straight to the goalkeeper. Cavaliers pushed Matty up front in the final ten minutes in a more attacking formation having to chase the game. Cafe D`art doubled their lead when the ball was played through the middle before it was passed inside from the left for the striker to shoot past the Cavs keeper. A mad flurry of goals for both sides then came with only minutes remaining as Cafe D`art added a third when a midfielder was allowed time to run past three Cavaliers players before scoring.Smigger headed in his seventh goal of the season from inside the penalty area on the right after meeting a free-kick which was sent in from Cavs own half.A further two goals were scored by Cafe D`art in injury time as well as a well taken goal from Tom for Cavs.


Full-Time:Cafe D`art 5-2 Southport Cavaliers