Watson Shield
Final
Henlow Reserves 1 Clifton 6
Monday, 07 May 2007
This Watson Shield final under Biggleswade United's floodlights on Monday evening before a crowd of 115 was all but over at half-time by which time Clifton had raced into a 4-0 lead with hattrick man Greg King their hero, King's night of glory was to start as early as the second minute when a ball from Lee Austin found him unmarked just twelve yards from goal to enable him to slid the ball passed the slow reacting Brian Cooper in the Henlow goal, then only the miss of the evening by Mark Gearing from just six yards out prevented Clifton doubling their lead just three minutes later.
But within sixty seconds of this miss Clifton were to increase their lead when after a foul by Gary Wing on Harry Fisher some thirty yards out the resulting free kick from Craig Pateman found King on the backpost, this time keeper Cooper was able to beat away the Clifton mans shot only for Alex Fisher to lash the rebound passed him to give his side a 2-0 lead.
Clifton unbeaten in their last sixteen league outings were now firing on all cylinders, Cooper having to stand up well to prevent Fisher adding to the scoreline before Henlow's first chance to reduce the arrears arrived in the 17th minute when Richard Follano effort was blocked off the line by none other than that man King who just three minutes later was to virtually put the tie beyond Henlow recall with his second and his sides third goal, captain Paul Roberts lobbing the ball to the backpost and with the Henlow defence all at sea up popped King to poke Clifton into a 3-0 lead.
It was now all one way traffic, Gearing having a penalty claim waived away by referee Tony Beal before Cooper did well to prevent King grabbing his hattrick nine minutes from the break, but King's wait for his treble was just five minutes away, starting the move himself by flicking the ball into the path of Gearing whose return pass had him racing into the box to sweep the ball passed Cooper for his hattrick and Clifton into a 4-0 lead.and but for a fine save by Cooper from Pateman plus a glancing header from Barry King landing just the wrong side of Cooper's upright's Clifton would have gone nap before the break.
Henlow unbeaten themselves in their last fourteen league outings came out at the start of the new half looking a more determined side, Chris Kennedy producing the save of the game out of Clifton goalkeeper Liam Hall after a sweeping move involving Follano, Andy Newton and Leighton Machin had the Clifton defence on the retreat before they reduce the arrears on 56 minutes, Colin Stanbury bravely senting a diving header passed Hill froma Follanio corner in a crowded six yard box.
Henlow briefly threaten to claw their way back into the contest Newton heading just off target then goalkeeper Hill needed his legs to keep out a snapshot from Stanbury before he was back in action has he was seen backpedalling to tip over his bar a long range effort sent on goal by Steve Worboys, Clifton however were to settle matters with two goals in the closing ten minutes , first Pateman netted the goal of the game with a solo run from the half-way line which he finished in style having outjumped the attention of at least three Henlow defenders on his gallop towards goal.
Then three minutes from time, Pateman grabbed his second goal of the night and his sides sixth with a perfect chip over the head of the advancing Cooper.
Clifton, Liam Hill, Lee Austin, Alex Fisher, Harry Fisher, Mark Gearing, Robert Harridine, Barry King, Greg King, James Norris, Craig Pateman, Gavin Ratford, Paul Robets, Matt Burges, Luke Jenkins, Dave Petley, Chris Wing.
Henlow, Brian Cooper, Steve Worboys, Richard Follano, Chris Houghton, Chris Kennedy, Scott Leger, Leighton Machin, Kerion Munnilly, Andy Newton, Gary Wing, Colin Stanbury, Tony Miceli, Dean Horner, Dan Sorrell.