Woofferton 2 Shobdon 1

GOALKEEPER Wayne Roberts used his memory to inspire Woofferton to their first Herefordshire League Jock Handley Cup final victory.

Veteran Roberts kept out a spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out from Jack Brazier, who had earlier scored Shobdon’s goal as the tie finished 1-1 after extra time.

“Wayne said that, for the one he stopped, he remembered how the lad had taken a penalty against him last time,” revealed Woofferton manager Steve Chadd.

“The lad kicked it at him the last time he played, so Wayne stood just there this time and hoped he would do it again and he did.

“I told him I couldn’t remember last week, never mind the last time we played Shobdon and Wayne said he had to remember these things as a keeper.”

Woofferton were lethal from the penalty spot with Craig Powers, Dave Chadd, Simon Bradley, Dan Spear and Danny Gower all scoring in the shoot-out to spark some jubilant celebrations.

Chadd said: “Shobdon were the better side and we looked tired - we had two players on holiday and two injured.

“But I always fancied us if the game went to penalties.

“We have some good penalty takers. We take them in training for a bit of fun.

“And Wayne is always likely to save one or two.

He’s a big lad and is decisive.”

It was Woofferton’s second knockout success in six days - they had earlier won their maiden Leintwardine Cup. Shobdon, backed by a large following, dominated large parts of last Saturday’s hard-fought final at Leominster Town.

Former Leominster Town player Daniel Stack had an unlucky return to the Briarwood Stadium, hitting the woodwork three times.

Shobdon assistant manager Rob Williams conceded: “We played well and had a lot of chances but that has been the story of our season.

We have only lost two league games this year and drawn seven.

“We have been on top of most teams but not been able to finish them off.”

Shobdon’s Stack had an early penalty shout turned down when he took a tumble inside the box.

Simon Bradley then got behind the Shobdon defence and fired narrowly wide of the far post before Stack blazed over.

Woofferton took the lead in the 18th minute when Paul Nash collected a good cross from Bradley and neatly slotted the ball home from close range.

There were chances at both ends with Vladimir Biscak showing some neat touches for Woofferton.

Bradley again came close to finding the net with an angled shot.

Woofferton, perhaps tired from their Leintwardine Cup win over Orleton and having played a Thursday night league game, sat back after the break.

Shobdon started to take control and created a hatful of opportunities against their Division One rivals.

Shobdon were awarded an indirect free-kick inside Woofferton’s area in the 61st minute after a mistake by goalkeeper Roberts.

However, Stack’s shot struck a defender and appeared to bounce off a post.

Seconds later, Stack forced a fine tip over from Roberts after heading Jake Bowen’s pin-point corner.

Shobdon continued to press and looked certain to level in the 67th minute after a sweeping move down the left cut open Woofferton’s defence. But Danny Gower somehow blocked Brazier’s closerange effort.

The equaliser eventually arrived with 20 minutes of normal time remaining.

Brazier showed plenty of composure to dance around a couple of Woofferton defenders before planting the ball into the net from the edge of the box. The goal stirred Woofferton into life and former AFC Ludlow man Gower blasted a snapshot against a post.

With just seven minutes left, Stack headed Mervyn Stephens’ free-kick against the bar and he was unlucky in the first period of extra time, nodding Bowen’s corner against an upright.

Both teams battled hard as the wind picked up in the closing stages but neither could find a winner before the end of extra time.

Shobdon assistant boss Williams said: “We thought we would edge it before full time but we weren’t too worried about penalties.

“We have experienced players and had worked out a format but poor Jack Brazier was unlucky. The keeper made a save off his penalty - and that was it. It is a cruel way to lose.”

Shobdon manager Ian Lawrence praised Woofferton’s efforts. “We lost to Woofferton in the semifinals of the Leintwardine Cup and they don’t give up - they keep going.”

 

SHOBDON manager Ian ‘Knocker’ Lawrence says his sights are now on reaching the Herefordshire League Premier Division.

“It feels very disappointing to lose,” he said.

“I am normally pretty wound up and nervous but I am just happy to be here as part of the final.

“Winning would have been nice but we got to the final and that’s OK.

We now want to reach the Premier Division.

“We have been told by the league that if we finish second in the table, they would invite us into the top division.

“We have just one league game left so we could finish second.

“We have very good facilities and we just need a new challenge to move on and take the club forward to the next step. Hopefully, I will have some experienced help next season.

“We would have to be a lot more committed on players’ availability and we would need to do a lot more on training.

“If you move up, you have to put in an extra bit.”

 

WOOFFERTON boss Steve Chadd hopes his side can take their end-of-season form into the start of the next term.

“It has been a good end to the season,” said the smiling Chadd. “Hopefully, next year, we can push back up again.

“We lost a few players to Ludlow but they are now starting to come back.”

He added: “We didn’t start the season too well - we took one point from the first six matches. We won seven out of the last 11 games and it is a shame we could not have started a bit earlier.”

Chadd expects to be in the hot-seat next term.

“We have our annual meeting in June and they keep telling me that I am managing the team again next season,” he said.

The former Leominster Town striker netted an excellent goal but missed the only penalty in the shoot-out, a day after getting the key to the door.

“Jack Brazier is going to have a lot of emotions after today,” said Shobdon boss Ian Lawrence.

“He’s a top quality player and no-one at the club will have a go at him for missing the penalty. You have to be in it to win it. It takes a brave person to step up and take a penalty in a cup final.”