8th July 2007
The ‘snipers’ came into the game determined to restore their bruised egos and nothing more than the stern look and concentration on their faces could explain better how focused they were. Arriving an hour and a half before schedule they changed, talked and warmed up promptly to the whistle of Mr Carlos, the referee for the day.
For Park View, United's undersized pitch coupled with their equally determined team, felt like a fighter in a small boxing ring facing an opponent very determined to thrash the day light out of you. But that wasn’t going to stop the Park View boys from dishing out their fair share. Park View very used to quick passes and counter attack football, could not get into gear with every attempt closed down by the United boys, obviously due to the size of the pitch but occasionally manage to string a few. With Junior off for personal reasons Park View had to rely heavily on their young striker Jevoy Blair (O’Daine) to deliver the goods. On a few occasions KK and Bright found O’Daine with some neat through passes but he couldn’t covert them as he was being over shadowed by the physical presence of the United defence. But all the same he managed to battle his way through the defence forcing a few saves from the United Goalie.
Kennington United’s game plan was to close down as early as possible leaving no room for the Park View boys to operate. Tackles were flying in from both sides resulting in the referee blowing his whistle every few minutes. With a few cautions shown both teams settled down. This produced a Park View move that saw Nana Kofi dash pass two United players whom in response could not resist crashing him down. The referee then awarded a free-kick 25 yards from the right wing and soon as KK placed the ball and took three steps backwards the Park View fans started chanting for a goal and really and truly he whipped a beautiful curler to the top corner of the far post to open the score line for Park View. The goal, reminiscent of his free kick against Republicans in the first leg showed KK’s class as Park View's dead ball specialist.
After the goal, the stage was then set for an even tougher remaining half. With the referee almost loosing control of the game, he stopped and started the game so many times awarding free kicks everywhere for minor tackles. Luckily the first half ended sooner than expected with another 45 minutes to go. The second half started just like the first with both teams determined to stop the other from playing. O’Daine was substituted by Hawell who also powered his way through the defence threatening to add another goal to the tally but couldn’t and in the 80th Minute lo and behold he did just that. He received the ball in his own half then sprinted pass a few United players, shrugging off Lalas and struck home a powerful shot at an acute 25 degree angle for the second goal. The place erupted with a small pitch invasion by the subs. KK, Nana Kofi and Bright were replaced by Moses, Frank and Agyemang who came in fresh to control and protect the lead leaving the final score as Kennington – 0, Park View - 2
Park View FC - Goal Scorers
Kofi Appiah (1st Goal)
Hawell Awotwi (2nd Goal)
Park View FC – Line Up
Mohammed (Keeper), Osei, Richard, Joe, Coleman, Princeton, Nana Kofi, Kofi (Captain), O’Daine, Bright and KK (Subs: Hawell, Moses, Frank and Agyemang)
LAUNCH PICTURES