Game Changer FC Will face Futures FC in the Final of the Flourish Cup after the Reds convincingly beat Flourish League Division One side Yorkshire Athletics 3-0 in the semi-final at Frickley. Two goals from Dean Crawford and a solo strike from Tom Watson was enough to defeat the top of the table side.
The Barnsley based club will face Futures FC after they won their semi-final 7-0 against Aston Swallownest Juniors White on 7th April at the Eco-Power Stadium.
Gamer Changer faced a Yorkshire Athletic side in the semi-final of the Flourish Cup high on momentum after tabling the Division One table with a 100% record having won all five of their league matches, but they proved no match for the plucky Reds who swept an over confident Athletic side aside.
Game Changer v Yorkshire Athletics
Wednesday, 10th April 2024 – 20:00PM
Flourish Cup semi-final @ Frickley.
Game Changer had the kick-off and after a good start created the first opportunity in front of goal. Following a foul on Lewis Ripley on the right flank, his delivery found Dean Crawford, who brought the ball down, but an Athletic defender cleared the ball away for a corner. At the other end, after 8 minutes, in a comparable situation, the opposition delivered a set-piece into the box with an attacker unmarked in front of goal, but Joe Deakin recovered to clear at the expense of a corner.
It was entertaining end-to-end stuff as good play down the right-hand side saw Cameron Harrison's ball into the middle of the park flicked on by Ripley's header and after Crawford played the ball into the middle, Dean Noble, after winning back the ball saw his effort blocked on the line. From there, Athletic broke away on the counter and an effort from the edge of the area cannoned off the crossbar in what was, perhaps, the closest they came throughout the match, despite dominating a large percentage of possession.
After applying pressure, the Reds took a deserved lead but only after Brett Hanson missile an effort narrowly wide from distance. Moments later, on 19 minutes, Ripley's ball through the middle-found Crawford unmarked and in sight of goal, and he did the rest to finish past the keeper.
The remainder of the half turned scrappy and ugly with the referee blowing up for several fouls. As the break approached, the Reds sprung a counter attack, which resulted in Ripley attempted a long-range effort 35 yards from goal, but his effort drifted wide of goal, as the Reds lead 1-0 at the break.
The early exchanges of the second half saw the Reds double their advantage. Noble had tried his luck on the left, but the ball narrowly missed the top of the goal. On 47 minutes Crawford doubled his tally as his acute effort proved too powerful for the keeper who could only parry the ball into the net. Minutes later, as Game Changer chased a third, Ripley flashed his effort wide of goal.
At the other end, a free kick conceded by Noble, saw a good delivery kicked over the bar by an unmarked Athletic attacker with the goal arguably at his mercy. Changer almost tripled there lead from Crawford's free kick which was flicked onto the far post and after the ball hit the crossbar, Noble headed wide of the mark.
Athletic attempted to get back into the game as keeper, Scott Crawford was alert to keep out a far post header following a corner before the smashed an edge of the area free kick wide.
The opposition were reduced to ten men on 78 minutes after an Athletic player stamped on Deakin after the ball had gone - with referee Kevin Dearman issuing a straight red. The Reds weathered the storm as the opposition became frustrated. On 76 minutes they added a third after Watson won the ball in midfield and after surging forward, he clipped the ball past the keeper.
Yorkshire Athletic failed to penetrate the Changer goal in what was an excellent performance from keeper Crawford as the Reds marched into the final at the sound of the referees final whistle and was met with jubilant scenes from an excited Game Changer side!
Team: Scott Crawford, Brett Hanson, Matthew Townsend, Joe Deakin ©, Cameron Harrison, Lewis Ripley, Jamie Moore, Dean Noble, Tom Watson, Dean Crawford, Brandon Jones. Substitutes: Paul Holland, Jordan Riley, Callum Brown, Kevin Laws, Tayler Calton-Smith, Levi Wilkinson, Kyle Lazenby.
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