ENDON 1-6 BLUES

LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL

4/3/01

Junior Blues continued their relentless pursuit of back to back "trebles" with a convincing win over their local rivals, in the League Cup semi-final. Blues were never extended in a match, in which three goals in the first seven minutes removed any possibility of a shock result.

Owing to an overnight frost, it was lucky that the game went ahead, and throughout, defenders had the problem of dealing with a bobbling ball. Fortunately for Blues, though, much of the play was at the other end, and 'keeper Jim Brunt was reduced to a mere spectator for most of the game.

Blues soon allayed any possible nerves with a goal in just the second minute of the start. Matt Bayley's fierce shot was parried by the keeper and Jamie Robinson reacted first to score easily. Three minutes later, he scored his second, when he ran onto a defence splitting pass from James Brough, and he made the finish look simple.

On seven minutes, Matt Anderson fed the ball to Danny Gruic, and his superb turn gave him time and space to select his spot, and his shot from the edge of the box gave the keeper no chance at all. Blues continued to dominate the game, but too many chances were wasted.

They put Endon under constant pressure, but eventually paid the penalty for pushing up too much. A big clearance caught out Blues' defence, and although they had a few opportunities to clear the danger, they failed to do so. Alex Wright never gave up hope as he chased the loose ball, and he managed to put it away, in off the post, to give Endon hope.

H/T: - Endon 1-3 Blues

Having got themselves back in the game, Endon were hit by two goals within the first minute of the restart, to thoroughly knock back their chances. Immediately from the kick off, Matt Anderson found Jamie Robinson, and he had no trouble in completing an excellent hat trick.

Within seconds of the resumption, Oliver Edwards superbly created an opening, and his perfect pass to Jamie Robinson gave him the easy task of scoring his fourth, and Blues' fifth goal.

Thereafter, the play became somewhat scrappy, with one or two Blues' players guilty of dwelling on the ball too long, and choosing to go for goal themselves, instead of passing to someone better positioned.

With virtually the last kick of the game, Oliver Edwards got his name on the score sheet, as just reward for his efforts, to seal a place in the Cup Final for the second successive year.

Blues were never stretched during the game and with such a good start in both halves, it was surprising that there were not more goals. Such was their dominance that they limited Endon to just the one effort on goal, which on a different day may have been enough to end Blues' unbeaten record, now standing at 48 games.

Once again, Blues are grateful to Protech Electricals and The Britannia Building Society for their sponsorship.