S&HCSL League Cup Semi-Finals
Handsworth Reserves 2-1(AET) Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915
Super Sam Eccles completed the miracle comeback for ultimate dark horses Handsworth Reserves as he hit the extra-time winner to fire his side into the League Cup Final.
All hope looked lost in the last minute of normal time as ex-Parkgate striker Kenan McKenzie-Grey’s first half finish had put Matt Griffin’s Ecclesfield Red Rose on the brink of their first League Cup Final since 1998.
But a bolt of the blue header from teenage starlet Noah Flint rescued Daz Sponer’s side and sent the tie to extra-time.
Eccles made himself the hero in 11th minute of the additional 30 minutes with a close range tap-in which has booked a date with destiny with either Dodworth Miners Welfare or favourites Swinton Athletic.
The proceedings were spoiled in the final few minutes of extra-time as Ecclesfield finished with nine men and Handsworth with ten after a storm in a teacup mini-brawl involving eight players and 20 peacemakers.
As brawls go it was a poor 3/10 with no punches thrown and some present have seen 100 times worse in the conifers at Parkgate when no cards were shown.
Yet the over-enthusiastic officials, who should have turned a blind eye, spent five minutes deliberating before blowing it out of proportion by needlessly showing red to Ecclesfield’s McKenzie-Grey and Ryan Grover as well as devastatingly to Handsworth’s James Woodhouse who will probably be suspended for the final.
The ending took the shine off Handsworth’s unbelievable achievement.
With a team of youngsters, the Ambers won their Group despite it containing four Premier Division teams including the now-dethroned holders North Gawber.
Now in the knockout rounds they have beaten decent Premier Division sides in Oughtilbridge and Ecclesfield to defy the odds to reach the final.
Looking to the future all the players on show have a bright future in the Non League game if they get the opportunities and take them.
Every single Handsworth player is technically good on the ball and their passing game on the wonderful 4G surface helped make it an interesting contest against an Ecclesfield who themselves can move the ball around well and have multiple youngsters with huge potential.
The contest was tight throughout with lots of great build-up play, however few shots which truly tested the goalkeepers.
Ecclesfield were especially dangerous from set-pieces, but the home side stood firm. Handsworth centre-backs Ethan Hobson and Ellis Moore were exceptional throughout and never missed a header between them.
The same could be said for Red Rose’s Harry Hurst who despite having to look like Terry Butcher for most of the tie, was excellent for his side at the back. Chris Lewis was also superb in the middle of the park for Ecclesfield.
Red Rose turned the screw towards the end of the first half and the two danger men Carlton Carty and McKenzie-Grey combined to break the deadlock.
Carty did the hard work down the right and his cross was put away by the club’s top goal-scorer.
Straight after the goal Carty should have done far better with a brilliant chance.
That was one moment of a few that will haunt Red Rose whose second half performance appeared to have been enough to see it out having ridden out flurries of minor danger from the odd Handsworth counter-attack and set-piece.
But critically, regardless of whether it was offside or not, they switched off at the wrong time and Callum Walton’s left-wing cross was nodded home by the unmarked leaping salmon Flint.
Into extra-time we went and again a missed chance came home to roost for Red Rose. Carty blasted a good opportunity high and wide and from the goal kick Handsworth went down the other end and got the winner.
Flint was involved again as it was his powerfully-hit low ball across the six-yard-box that Eccles tapped home after it had flown past goalkeeper Sam Nuttall.
Handsworth goalkeeper Spencer Bingley then made two excellent saves to keep his side on course for the final.
Red Rose applied pressure with numerous corners and throw-ins in the second half of extra-time, but to no avail.
The red cards, caused by the referee ignoring four blatant fouls, finished off their hopes.
Unfortunately the handbags were the talking point at the end, not Handsworth’s latest sensational win.
The Teams
Handsworth Reserves: Spencer Bingley, Callum Geelan, Ellis Moore, Chris Samuels, Ethan Hobson, Ellis Moore, Sam Morley, Perry Jackson (captain), Sam Eccles, Jack Charlesworth, Callum Walton. Subs: Ryan Dixon, Noah Flint, James Woodhouse, Patrick Muirhead, Owen Hogan.
Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915: Sam Nuttall, Gav Hunter, Ryan Radford, Tyler Bates (captain), Harry Hurst, Declan Childes, Chris Lewis, Sam Gibson, Carlton Carty, Kenan McKenzie-Grey, Liam Childes. Subs: Alex Radford, Rob Womack, Mark Groves, Steve Davies, Harry Groombridge.
Who Was In Charge
Josh Thompson (5/10)
Man of the Match
Ellis Moore (Handsworth Reserves)
What Next
Handsworth won’t know until next Saturday who they will play in the final as that’s when the other semi-final – Dodworth Miners Welfare versus Swinton Athletic takes place.
A very fair assessment of the game thank you.