Game 8: Bemerton Heath Harlequins 2.2 (4.2 pens) Shrewton United (Sport4Salisbury Cup Final) 31.07.10

I was looking forward to seeing these two teams play each other following last week's games and to see if Shrewton could avenge a 2.1 defeat to Bemerton in last year's final. After a 45 minute break listening to the radio in the car and catching up on the new Mojo magazine, it was back to the touchline to watch the final.

Bemerton play at a higher level than Shrewton and I expected them to have the edge in the match. They came close to scoring in the 13th minute when Puckett put a shot wide from a narrow angle. Shrewton were playing well and both teams looked capable of scoring.

Shrewton took the lead in the 18th minute from a direct free kick about 30 yards out from goal. The ball was hit hard and low through the wall and into the bottom right hand corner, leading to some frank words between the Bemerton defence and goalkeeper.

Five minutes later and it was 2.0 to Shrewton with a super poacher's effort from Jesse Walters. A cross from the left side looked to have evaded everyone but he timed his run towards the goal line to perfection and somehow managed to hook the ball round the post and in to the net before it went out of play. The reaction from the Bemerton players was rather more vocal on this occasion!

Bemerton had a couple of half chances to equalise before half time. Rowe put a good shot just wide of the post and a long high shot from midfield just before half time almost caught out the Shrewton keeper. He managed to peddle back quickly and made the save when the ball looked to be going over his head.

I was surprised that Joe Sanger had started the game on the bench and Bemerton certainly missed him as an outlet when playing balls out of defence. With a two goal deficit it was not a surprise to see him come on in the second half.

Bemerton had an appeal for a goal turned down in the 48th minute following a goalmouth scramble. The players were adamant that the ball had gone over the line but neither the referee or his assistant agreed. In the 50th minute there was another close call as a cross from the left curved over the Shrewton keeper but hit the crossbar and bounced over.

The pressure was all one way as Bemerton looked for a way back into the match. The woodwork came to Shrewton's rescue again in the 59th minute when a Bemerton shot across goal hit the post with the keeper beaten.

Fisher then saw his point blank header from a corner well saved by the Shrewton keeper who just threw himself towards the ball and hoped for the best. Sanger hit a shot over the bar and another cross from Jones on the left arced over the keeper only to hit the bar and bounce out.

It looked like Bemerton were not going to be rewarded for their efforts but in the 75th minute they finally managed to pull a goal back. A cross from the right found O'Kane in the box and he leapt above the covering defenders to place the ball away from the keeper and into the left corner of the net.

Bemerton kept pushing forward for an equaliser and finally pulled the game level in the 83rd minute when Jack Slade hit the ball through a crowd of players at the back post.

The game finished as a 2.2 draw and went to a penalty shoot-out to decide the winners of the Sport4Salisbury Trophy.

Shrewton took the first penalty, only to see the ball hit the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

The next 5 penalties were all scored, giving Bemerton a 3.2 lead with two kicks remaining.

Bemerton's keeper saved the next penalty, guessing correctly that the ball would go low to his left and deflecting the ball up in the air and out. This meant that Jack Slade had the first opportunity to win the shoot-out and he made no mistake, giving Bemerton a 4.2 victory.

After a quick speech from Mike Turner from Sport4Salisbury, both teams received their individual commemorative trophies before Bemerton were presented with the Sport4Salisbury Cup for the second year in a row.