Morning Star FC 2-1 Metheringham FC
Thursday evening saw the Fred Quibell Junior Cup final become the first of the League’s 4 Cup Finals played at the LNER Stadium, the home of Lincoln City Football Club.
The actual date seemed quite fitting that this final should take place on the 80th year of Victory in Europe Day, as Fred Quibell, to whom this Competition is named after following his dedication to the League as a Referee, was an active Serviceman in World War 2, and he was a Grenadier Guard and a body guard of Sir Winston Churchill I am told.
This final was contested between 2 teams who competed in Division One of the League in the Season. In the League matches it was all square with one victory for each team against the other. Metheringham FC recorded a comprehensive 5-0 win on the second Sunday of the Season in the League match between the two teams, Morning Star extracted revenge against the village-based team in March when they returned from the Paddock at Metheringham with a 3-1 win to their name.
The League form of these 2 teams was interesting. Metheringham FC returned a 50% win rate for their League matches played over a 16 game League Season. By comparison, Morning Star FC returned a win rate of 25%. This all resulted in Metheringham FC bagging 27 League points this Season and finishing in 4th place in the Division. By comparison, Morning Star FC secured 15 League points, some 12 points fewer, finishing in 7th place in the Divisional table.
They are the League stats, would this give us any clues as to who would lift the trophy? Of course not!
Referee, Mr Phil Dainty, led the teams out onto the immaculate looking pitch, supported by his Assistant Referees, Mr Mark Hartley and Mr Alex Wilson, with Mr Tim Eagles completing the Match Officials’ team as the 4th Official.
The teams were greeted onto the pitch by a good sized crowd and after the pre-match formalities it was Tom Robinson of Morning Star who got the game under way. Morning Star, playing in green and black shirts, were attacking the South Park end of the ground in the first half, whilst Metheringham FC, playing in their traditional red and black shirts, attacked the Stacey West end of the ground in the first half. Metheringham were also playing in a change kit of white shorts and white socks due to a colour clash with their opponents.
Morning Star began the match knocking the new ball around on the lush looking pitch during the first 3 minutes which was pleasing on the eye, but their first 2 final passes were overhit enabling Josh Wilson, in the Metheringham goal, to get a couple of early touches of the ball. Neither he, nor Rory McCracken his opposite number in the Morning Star goal, would see that ball again after 4 minutes as a Metheringham defender put in a Peter Kay like “Have it” clearance which saw the ball thundered out of the ground and doubtless clear the High Street. A ball never to be seen again!
In the 7th minute of the game a clever and quick thinking Metheringham free kick released Ollie Smith down the left and his deft little clip of a cross was just taken off the head of Ethan Thompson at the last minute to bring about the first corner of the match.
The resulting corner was invitingly flighted towards the near post by Sam Sutton and this time Thompson did get ahead of his marker to glance a goal bound header which beat McCracken and all of the defenders in the goal mouth. As the celebrations began, a little prematurely it must be said, the ball struck the inside of the post and rebounded into play without crossing the goal line. This was expertly observed by the Match Officials and whilst some were appealing that the ball had crossed the line the play rightly continued, and the game remained goal less.
The goal post scoreline would be levelled up in the 10th minute when a Metheringham defender, (number noted but blushes being spared), miskicked a ball towards his own goal from the centre of his 18 yard box and as the ball evaded everyone else it looked certain to be the opening goal the ball did exactly what it did at the other end, it hit the inside of the post, bounced along the goal line before being dispatched back up the pitch in an unceremonial fashion.
Referee Dainty produced the first yellow card of the evening on 15 minutes when Metheringham’s Bruno Pires was cautioned for a late tackle on an opponent.
2 minutes later, on the 16th minute mark, Ben Ashall opened the scoring for Morning Star after reacting quickly following 2 wonder saves made by Meg keeper Wilson all in the same move. It proved to be 3rd time lucky for Ashall after Wilson’s double save in the same move.
Morning Star FC 1-0 Metheringham FC
After the opening goal Metheringham came back strongly and enjoyed a strong quarter of play with Ethan Thompson and Ollie Smith particularly impressing and looking constantly dangerous.
Meg produced a great move in the 34th minute when a super cross from Josh Booth was flicked away from danger by Kobi Stead. The resulting corner was played to Sam Sutton who played a clever ball into the box which appeared to elude everyone with a last-ditch clearance off the line being completed by Josh McBride.
The last minute of the first half saw Meg keeper Wilson diving down to save a fierce looking shot from Joey Walukiewicz and that proved to be the last significant action in a game which had seen plenty of endeavour from both teams with both goal keepers impressing with excellent handling and organising of their respective defences.
Half-time: Morning Star FC 1-0 Metheringham FC.
The second half began with Morning Star appearing to be in the ascendancy and looking to extend their lead. In the 50th minute Tom Robinson powered a great header which was goal bound, only to see Meg Keeper Wilson produce a save of top quality to tip the ball around the post and out for a corner kick.
4 minutes later a repost from Metheringham saw a goal bound shot scrambled off the line by the Morning Star defence to keep their lead intact.
Sam Sutton went close to finding an equaliser for Meg in the 62nd minute but a last-ditch defensive header saw the ball cleared from the danger area.
In the 67th minute Metheringham made strong appeals for a penalty after Ollie Smith went over in the box under challenge, but Referee Dainty was well placed to wave away the Meg appeals and play continued.
Metheringham did fashion the equaliser however and this came in the 68th minute of the match. The dangerous Ollie Smith received the ball from a cross from the right. The cross evaded all of the Star’s defenders and Smith, for once, appeared to mis-control his first effort and the chance looked as though it may have gone. That said, Smith remained alive to the situation, and he then rifled the ball home at the second attempt to level the scores, much to the jubilation of the Metheringham contingent in the ground.
Morning Star 1-1 Metheringham FC
Both sides enjoyed plenty of possession thereafter but there was evidence within both camps that cramp was beginning to creep in during the last quarter of the game. This resulted in the game becoming a little disjointed at times, understandably so.
The match would be determined in the 75th minute when a free kick of absolute brilliance would prove to be the winning goal. A free kick for a trip was awarded to Morning Star and was a couple of yards outside of the penalty area, slightly to the attacking side’s right as they looked towards the Stacey West end of the ground. Meg Keeper Wilson looked to have his defensive wall lined up as Ben Ashall placed the ball on the ground.
Ashall then curled a stunning free kick over the top of the wall with his left foot in a moment of brilliance, the ball evading everyone before nestling in the top corner of the net with Keeper Wilson having no chance of saving it. Needless to say that it was the supporters of Morning Star who found their voice in celebration but most people in the ground were left marvelling at the quality of the free kick. Personally, for those nearer to my age, I would describe the free kick as “Beckham-esk”, but for the younger element it would probably be more correct to describe the free kick as “Declan Rice-esk”!
Morning Star 2-1 Metheringham FC.
Despite the best efforts of the Metheringham team, including their substitute players that were brought on in an attempt to rescue the situation, it was not to be for the Metheringham Club and after 8 minutes of time added on by Referee Dainty, the match finished with Morning Star being the name that would be engraved on the trophy for the Season 2024/2025.
Congratulations must go to both teams who provided us with an entertaining final and one that was very enjoyable to watch for those in attendance. The League would like ti thank all of those who turned out to watch and support this event. Your attendance is very much welcome and appreciated.
Final score: Morning Star FC 2-1 Metheringham FC.
The presentation was made to the teams and the Match Officials by Mr Gavin Gordon, Imps Legend and very good friend of the League, supported by our League Cup Organiser, Mr Phil Hibbitt, who, as always, ensured that the final was extremely well organised and enjoyable for everyone. Thank you Phil, excellent work as always.
The evening also included a separate presentation to Referee Mr Tim Eagles, who received the Referee Merit award for the second successive Season.
Ian Stephenson
League Secretary
