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MG Star 3 ; Birmingham Citadel 2 (Craig Mack, Simon Black)

Citadel entered this game with a lot of regular first team players missing and others playing out of position. However this was still a good performance by Citadel considering the circumstances. It was Citadel who started the brightest with Scott Richardson (yes, we were that short I had to start myself) and Shane Hopkins combining to send Scott through. Unfortunately I was in so much shock at the fact I actually outpaced the defender that my left foot lob was pretty poor and sailed wide. The goal deservedly came though when good work between Ramoth Gudza and Simon Black down the left hand side enabled Simon to cut the ball back across the front of goal. The ball cut out Shane at the near post but Craig Mack was at the back post to side foot the ball in. Citadel then however took their foot off the gas and the rest of the half belonged to MG Star. They equalised when a long ball over the top was chased onto by their striker whose lob over Gareth from a difficult angle was well executed. MG Star then took the lead when some sloppy defending off a corner led to the ball being rifled in by a MG Star midfielder. MG Star continued to create chances but each time Gareth Murphy in goal was equal to them. HT 2-1.

The second half began with a change of formation with Chris Black coming into midfield as a holding midfielder, and the defence going to three at the back. Then to make things worse for Citadel Scott injured his leg (which he should have gone to the doctors about in april when he first injured it!!!! Lazy fool). This meant a change and Goalie Stu made his first outfield appearance for the club in the first minutes of the half. Once the defence had settled into their new formation Citadel started to get on top. Ramoth was causing all sorts of problems on the left and the Blacks, Chris and Simon were beginning to get the midfield under control. Eventually the equaliser came when Simon Black burst through the midfield with the ball, out paced about 4 MG Star players and coolly slotted the ball home. Citadel then went and had a moment of madness that would eventually cost them the game. A needless freekick, given away by Paul Dickinson, was given on the edge of the box. MG Star lined up with a man to the side of the wall. Ramoth kept going to the man but being called back to the wall. Eventually, what we all could see on the sidelines was going to happen, happened. The ball was passed to the man standing free in the box, Ramoth was caught in no mans land, and the MG Star player slotted home easily leaving Gareth in goal with no chance. Citadel still had chances to equalise though with two good chances off corners unfortunately not being taken. The final whistle went and Citadel were out of the senior cup. However considering the circumstances this was a very good performance from Citadel. In a game like this last season Citadel would have just folded. However there is more determination on the whole this year and Citadel deserved more and showed they're no pushover. FT 3-2

Team:
Gareth Murphy
Paul Dickinson
Richard Mays
Dave Maybury
Chris Black
Steve Buchan
Craig Mack
Simon Black
Shane Hopkins
Scott Richardson
Ramoth Gudza