Park View’s remarkable performance this season ensured their place in the MCFA/L history books by doing the double and being a finalist in the League Cup final first time of asking. The ‘Snipers’ finished the MCFL Division 1 Season with 45 points and 52 goal difference. But their crowing glory was the MCFA Cup final.
MCFL League Table
On an evening when more than a cup rivalry was at stake, Park View demonstrated that they were head and shoulders above a few leagues above them. Park View set out to make a statement for top flight football next season. They lifted the Intermediate cup for the first time as new entrants in the Middlesex County Football League.
The evening could not have started worse than it did for the snipers. Park View conceded a goal in just 15 minutes. The back four Frank, Princeton, Eben and Douglas proved the inadvertent architect when the goal came as their dawdling in possession in the 18 yard allowed Joe Johnson of Lammas to pounce on the mix up to slot the ball home from 5 yards.
Park View’s response was magnificent and muscular. The rampant Park View strikers, Ansong and Francis went into frenzy and struck from all angles with clinical precision to the delight of the Park View Fans. Staines seemed to struggle with the onslaught, trickery and skill displayed by the snipers .If there was any perception that Park View were two leagues below Staines, the stunning fight back may well have changed that perception as Park View were level within three minutes. The Staines defence were caught napping moments after the lead and paid the price when the ball dropped at the feet of Osei Ansong midway in Staines half. Ansong lofted it over a stranded Stone in the Staines goal to cue exuberant celebrations. Park View were level 1-1.
Staines were struggling to make any sort of impact as the snipers cranked up the pressure with waves of attack. Kofi Appiah made an audacious free run into the 18 yard box. KK was sent tumbling as Staines tried to shield the ball just three yards from goal, but referee Joseph Jempeji was unmoved. Bernard Ebo Arthur, Park View’s maestro was rampant and rattled the bar with a blistering 25-yard drive after bulldozing his way through the Staines midfield…with the pressure mounting it therefore came as no surprise when Kofi Atokorah made a surging run through the midfield. He was allowed time and space to make an acute pass to KK on the left wing. Staines failed to deal with KK’s cross allowing the ball to reach Francis Williams who drilled home from the edge of the box.
The Staines defence were all at sea when Theo Kissi mesmerised the defence with his trade mark quick blistering pace and seemed to baffle the opponents all night. He made a telling pass to Ansong on thirty two minutes who produced a stunning drive from 30 yards into the top corner of the net to give Park View a two goal cushion. Only an excellent save from stone prevented the lead being extended. Park View started the second half brightly and should have extended their lead when Princeton Owusu-Ansah picked out an unmarked KK only for the no 11 to sky his from six yards.
The Staines defence was being exposed repeatedly, while in attack their feeble efforts were easily repelled by Park View’s alert rearguard. Ansong was proving a thorn in the flesh all night as he breached the Staines defence again as they were caught on the counter. He was brought down repeatedly and as the physical demands of the night took its toll he had to be substituted. It was difficult to see how they could loosen the home side’s strangle hold on the match.
But against the run of play Staines rattled the woodwork and had a couple of fine shots in but anything Staines came up with was equalled by the brilliant Park View goal stopper, Nana Opoku. Staines yet again look jittery at the back, Theo Kissi sent a free-kick into the box and Princeton nearly got to the end of it to make extend the lead further. Eben and Frank and Douglas were a measure of steal in defence. Having recovered from the earlier mix-up.. Staines had no answer to their drive and purpose.
Park View upped the tempo midway in the second half. They played with such ferocity, desire and hunger that but for some excellent goal keeping and wasteful finishing the score line is very flattering for Lammas.
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