CAMDEN SUNDAY LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP

This article first appeared in the Camden New Journal, dated 11 October 2012.

Published: 11 October, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT
 

BOUNDARY Estate’s Ben Watson (right) and Enate United’s Sam Jackson were among the players hoping to edge their teams a step closer to winning the prestigious Camden Sunday League Challenge Cup at the weekend.
 

The preliminary round of the highly-sought after competition, which we proudly sponsor, once again delivered none stop action with a staggering 72 goals in just 11 games. United play a division above rivals Estate, but did the magic of the cup strike at Hackney Marshes to cause an upset?

The article below also appeared in the Camden New Journal, dated 11 October 2012.

Published: 11 October, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

GUNNERS’ goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny and Vito Mannone might want to watch their backs as it looks like the club has unearthed another top shot-stopper.

Arsenal communications officer Tom Bennett swapped the Emirates Stadium for Hackney Marshes at the weekend and put in a starring role between the sticks in the preliminary round of the highly-sought after Camden Sunday League Challenge Cup, which we sponsor.

Bennett made a vital save during a dreaded shoot-out as Boundary Estate FC beat Enate United 6-5 on penalties to earn their first win of the season.

The Islington club only managed to field 10 players for the all-important tie, and found themselves even more up against it when skipper Josh Mahony powered home Jesse Caplan’s tantalising delivery from a corner to give United the lead.

But for all of their possession, the Division Two side lacked a genuine goal threat and failed to find a decisive second.

They were left to rue their lack of a cutting edge up front in the final minutes of the match when Fedele Boccia equalised for Boundary, chesting down a corner before walloping the ball into the back of the net.

The game remained 1-1 after extra time and so it was left to Lady Luck to settle the tie. The first 10 penalties were all scored with aplomb, none more cheeky than a chipped effort from United’s Jack Hughes that agonisingly evaded Bennett’s grasp.

The goalkeeper got even closer in sudden-death, however, as he flew across the face of the net to palm away Jason De Lencastre’s effort. That gave Jack Pegg the chance to score the winning penalty, which he nervously accepted.

Following his goalkeeping heroics, Boundary’s No.1 said: “With five minutes of regular time to go, we were 1-0 down with only 10 players against a team from the division above and thought we were a spent force.

“Something in our club motto – nos semper vincere (we always win) – pushed us on though, and in the dying embers of the game, we found an equaliser to take the game to penalties.

“Then it was just a battle of nerve. We were clinical, scoring all six of our spot-kicks and putting tremendous pressure on our opponents.

“I couldn’t get to their first five, but knew I would have a chance sooner or later. I guessed the right way for their first sudden-death kick, and managed to get enough on it to push it away.”