17 Port & Martime with the USFL league Championship beatin Network Rail 1 nil in the Playoff Final

Although featuring the same teams this was a very different game to the April’s Charity Cup final and Network Rail dominated possession from the outset, whilst 17 Port & Maritime (17 P&M) played the counter attacking game with rapid breaks.

The spine of Network Rail (NR) worked well with No 4 App George Palmer holding his back four on a highline regularly catching 17 P&M’s strike pair Pte Jason Woods & Cfn Lloyd Martin offside, whilst in the midfield NR’s No 8 App Charlie Renton was more than holding his own against the powerful 17P&M midfield; upfront App Callum Baker was able to hold up the ball and cause problems for the strong 17P&M back four resulting in numerous corners. The 1st (first) half followed this pattern without either side testing the keepers. However the best chance of the first half fell to 17P&M’s No 9 Sgt Darren Smith, who should have scored when he found himself free on the left side of the box clear through on goal only to see his shot go well past the right upright. Half Time 0 – 0

The second half followed the same pattern as the first with 17P&M being caught off side and even when they managed to beat the offside trap Network Rail’s keeper & Captain App Bradley Walker, who was also holding a highline, was able to sweep the ball clear. Network Rail’s and the games Man-of-the-Match App Danny Walker was exemplar throughout showing skill and endeavour on the ball working hard on the right side of midfield. Midway through the second half App Charlie Renton showed skill in midfield to created space for Network Rail’s best shot of the game forcing a fine save from 17P&M’s Keeper Pte Tom Chambers. With 5 minutes to go it was looking highly likely that the game would go to extra time and even penalties as neither side really tested the opposing keeper; but Network Rail’s best defender App George Palmer went down with cramp resulting in being carried off to receive treatment his presence was missed and in the 1st minute of added time 17P&M’s substitute Sgt Simon Hillam received the ball in the opposition’s box, (where App Palmer would have been) displaying skill and nerve he create space for the shot and put the ball in the far corner of the net away from a despairing dive from Network Rail’s keeper. Although App Palmer came back on after the restart there was no time for a Network Rail response and 17 Port & Maritime took the victory beating a much improved Network Rail over their performance in the Charity Cup, 17 P&M have completed the USFL double of Charity Cup winners & League Champions 2013/14.

Final Score 17 Port & Maritime 1 – 0 Network Rail
Man of the Match Network Rail’s App Danny Walker