The Merger Cup - Week 2 results

Abergate v Burnbury from Hamden Park

Abergate:
Stegen, Sciglio, Howedes, Bonucci, Cole, Verratti, Vidal, Oscar, Robben, Benteke, Balotelli
Subs: Thauvin, Ljajic, De Jong, Rhodes, Inler

Burnbury team:
Akinfeev, Zabaleta, Varane, Hummels, Marcelo, Busquets, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Fabregas, Bale, Love
Subs: Begovic, Subotic, Pogba, Cazorla, Lukaku

The Match:
Well the match got off to a cracking start for Abergate who had the first attack of the game with Verratti playing a lovely ball out wide for Robben who cuts in on his favourite left foot and has a shot from 20 years out from the left hand side of the box that just goes wide of the target. After this little scare Burnbury start to dominate the game with Bale and Mata causing havoc down the wings and having shots on goal that go inches over the crossbar. However Burnbury’s big chance of the first half comes when Cole loses the ball and Mata pounces and breaks down the wing and crosses a beaut of a ball into the box only for to fire the ball just wide and having just caught a glimpse of the colour his hair is today it’s Purple with Pink bits in. I must say that Abergate are defending brilliantly today and are only allowing Burnbury to have shots on goal but the moment they get the ball to Verratti he produces fine crosses down field and this time the ball find Oscar who fires a shot at goal from 25 yards and Akinfeev tips the ball over the bar for a corner. Robben takes the corner and Howedes up from the back just heads the ball over the bar. Speaking of corners just before half time Burnbury have one, and Bale takes it and Hummels up from the back see the ball coming into the box and bicycle kicks the ball to goal however, the ball ends up going out to the corner flag .

The second half begins with Burnbury fired up now and looking like their mean business. This starts when Mata takes on Cole again and beats him for pace and the Abergate brings the Burnbury man down in the box and the ref wastes no time in rewarding a pen. Vagner steps up and fires the ball past Stegen 1-0 Burnbury. Burnbury are now dominating the game and trying to find a second but Abergate are still defending brilliantly and Verratti is having a very good game and sets up Abergates first chance of the second half with a brilliant ball forward to Robben who cuts in on his fav left foot again only to be blocked off by the brilliant Busquets who plays the ball forward to Fabregas who sees Bale calling for the ball and then Bale cuts in field and fires the ball from 30 yards out and the ball ends up in the back of the net 2-0 Burnbury. This is harsh on Abergate who like I said have been defending beautifully but that goal was absolute class. However, Abergate finally get a break in the game and yet again Verratti finds Oscar with a brilliant ball down field the Brazilian see’s Robben calling for the ball and the Dutchman cuts in field past Marcello and lets fly an awesome shot and Akinfeev can’t do anything about it from going into the net Burnbury 2-1 Abergate. However, just as we thought Abergate were about the get back in the game with 10 minutes to go Burnbury make the win safe, with Cazorla breaking down the right and swinging a brilliant ball into the box for the on running Bale to fire the ball into the back of the net Burnbury 3-1 Abergate. The match concludes with a few changes but quietens down and the ref blows the on 90+2 mins.

Burnbury 3-1 Abergate
Burnbury Scorers: Pen, Bale (Fabregas), Bale (Cazorla)
Abergate scorer: Robben (Oscar)
MOTM: Verratti – unlucky to be on the losing side today.



Dagend v Middleshrew from The Emirates

Dagend team:
Courtois, Lahm, Kompany, Luiz, Alaba, Martinez, Gundogan, Gotze, Iniesta, Hazard, Cavani
Subs: Dante, Reus, Lamela, Lewandowski, Sandro


Middleshrew:
Stekelenburg, Piszczek, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Schmelzer, Khedira, Maher, Eriksen, Blaszczykowski, Fischer, Kiessling
Subs: Weidenfeller, Nastastic, Clasie, Jovetic, Rodriguez


The Match:
This game starts very nervy with both sides giving the ball away to each other in the opening 10 minutes. But Dagend start getting a foot in the game and start passing the ball around the back four and midfield trying to entice the Middleshrew players out of their defending however, Middleshrew are standing firm and aren’t letting it happen. However, on the 25 minute we have our first chance of the match and it’s for Dagend, lovely piece of play from Kompany finds Lahm breaking down the wing and playing a neat 1-2 with Gotze and the rb gets the ball back and swings a beautiful ball into the box for Cavani who misses an open goal , as Stekelenberg went to punch the ball out of the danger area. 5 minutes late and Dagend get joy down the right again with Gotze and Lahm playing a neat one-two again and Lahm placing the ball into the box only for Cavani to fire the ball just wide of the post again. For the next 10-12 minutes Middleshrew protect their box well and reduce Dagend to only firing wild shots over the bar from distance. But on the 43rd minute Boro break down the left with Lahm out of position down the pitch Fischer breaks with pace and crosses the ball into the box but it only finds Blaszczykowski on the other side of the pitch but the Pole put swings in a beaut of a low cross and Jovetic is there to fire in from close range 1-0 Middleshrew.

In the early exchanges in the second half Iniesta finds himself getting on the ball more and more, but Khedira is having a fine game and not letting him slip balls through to the wingers or striker so he is restored to playing the ball backwards to make things happen. Well something does happen Martinez plays the ball out wide to Lahm who plays a brilliant 1-2 with Gotze on the right and the RB swings the ball into the box only for Cavani to fire wide (think the lads left his shooting boots at home today). Well looks like the Dagend joint managers LSTD and 21 have seen enough and they’re bringing on big Pole Lewandowski is this an inspired change I wonder? Well it might be cause 3 minutes after coming on Lewandowski is in the thick of the action after a lovely ball into the box from Lahm, he heads the ball down and Cavani fires the ball just wide of the target again . However, Middleshrew continue to defend brilliantly when called upon and on 70 minutes finally have their first chance of the second half with Lahm yet again up the field Fischer breaks down the left and inside of crossing the ball this time he decided to have a shot on goal himself but Courtois punches the ball out of the box. After that Middleshrew continue to defend brilliantly and Dagend just run out of Idea’s and the game ends when the ref blows the on 90+3 mins.


Dagend 0-1 Middleshrew
Middleshrew scorer: Jovetic (Blaszczykowski)
MOTM: Khedira – was a rock in helping his side to victory.


Friendly result: BFF 3-0 Cambury Bus Services