Paget and P&P Through to Finals!

On a gloriously sunny afternoon, Paget and SSPP were the tow shining brightest as they secured their places on finals night with victories over Abbey and Mapledene, respectively. Paget proved too powerful for Abbey whilst P&P were stoic against the 'dene. They will join divisional winners Short Heath and St Thomas More in the season-ending showdown at Castle Vale Stadium on May 22nd.

Paget 5 – 1 Abbey
Report by Gemma Spiers.
Paget started the brighter and their possession and pressure was swiftly rewarded with an early goal and soon after, following another great passage of play, that lead doubled – an attacker smashing the ball into the back of the net. Abbey pushed to get back into the game just before half time, but they couldn’t break down Paget’s defence and at the interval they remained 2-0 down.
They started the second half as well as they ended the first but once again they were met with stubborn Paget resistance. And the P’s were soon back into their groove and two more goals in quick succession took the game beyond Abbey; Paget were flying. Abbey, to their credit, didn’t give up and they at least grabbed a consolation albeit from a P’s defender putting through his own net. However, Paget were determined to finish the game on a high and won a penalty towards the end of the game. It was only right that the ball was given to their striker to try and complete his hat-trick and he did just that; 5-1 Paget and left their management team of Mrs Spiers and Mr Cobbs beaming proudly after what the former hailed as ‘the best ever performance by a Paget football team.’

Mapledene 1 -3 SS Peter & Paul
Report by Joe Perkins
Though the pitch wasn’t a resplendent as it usually is, the Dene Arena shimmered in glorious sunshine, setting a picture-perfect scene for both Mapledene and SSPP’s biggest game of then season. And what a start! Within thirty seconds, SSPP were one up. Their defender took possession just outside his own penalty area and slalomed his way through a bewildered ‘dene defence before thumping home from ten yards out. A minute later and it was two-nil. A long ball took a vicious bounce which caught out two ‘dene defenders but allowed a black and white raider to nip in and tuck beyond the ‘keeper. Despite that early P&P onslaught, Mapledene began to edge their way back into the game and they certainly were when a midfielder crashed a delicious shot into the top corner from distance, drawing huge cheers and applauds from a large home crowd. The game had a far more even feel about it now but three minutes from half-time, the black and whites restored their two-goal advantage. A throw-in level with the ‘dene penalty box, spotted a cleverly moving defender who took aim before firing high into the far corner.
The second half saw Mapledene increase the pressure on P&P as they went in search of a goal to once again haul themselves back into contention, but they spurned two excellent chances from close range – both efforts flew over the bar. They then came even closer but when it looked like the ball would cross the line, a black and white defender somehow cleared off the line. Dene wouldn’t go as close again and as the clock wound down, SSPP took control, seeing the last few minutes out with little fuss.

There were a couple of other games in the ESPSFA on Thursday with Heathlands entertaining Corpus Christi at their Heathway home in the Premier division. And in an entertaining game, played with pride and passion by both sides, Heath emerged victorious, nudging their way to a 2-1 win.
Meanwhile over the other side of Shard End, Highfield won a tight affair with their hosts, Timberley, 1-0; it just wasn't the Timbers day as they hit the bar twice and the post!