Primorska

1-4

Mid Cheshire League

Valenèiè 82

 

Pennington 13

 

 

Boardman 65

 

 

Towey 77

 

 

Gahgan 80


UEFA Regions Cup
Preliminary Round Tournament
Koper, Slovenia
20 September 2004

England's Mid Cheshire League team got their UEFA Regions Cup campaign off to a flying start as they beat hosts Primorska of Slovenia 4-1 in Koper.

Lee Pennington, Neil Boardman, Kevin Towey, and Chris Gahgan gave England a comfortable four goal lead before Matej Valenèiè scored a late goal for the hosts which proved nothing but a consolation.

With the support of 40 travelling fans the English enjoyed a perfect start as they took the lead in the third minute.

Pennington was first to react to a mistake in Primorska's defence as he latched onto a loose ball and struck a powerful shot which hit the underside of the crossbar to beat the keeper from five yards.

Neil Critchley then missed two glorious chances to increase the score midway through the first half - firstly flashing a shot across goal and then striking the side netting with only the keeper to beat.

On the stroke of half time, a spectacular save by Primorska's giant keeper Dean Žuniè, who tipped Chris Gahgan's shot out for a corner, denied Mid Cheshire from doubling their lead.

The hosts made a double substitution for the restart, but it was the visitors who managed to increase their lead through a well drilled set piece.

Neil Larkin's free kick was fired into the far post and was headed across goal by Stephen Davis towards Neil Boardman who, having not scored for four years, was left unmarked by Primorska's defence. He tucked the ball home to double the score five minutes after the hour.

Shortly after this, Aidan Brodigan received an elbow in the throat, which only brought a yellow card for the Slovenian defender.

Ten minutes later, Kevin Towey, who was introduced as second half substitute for Jerry Coll increased Mid Cheshire's lead. Towey, brought down Aidan Brodigan's cross before taking the ball round the advancing keeper and slotting it home past the attentions of the final defender.

Gahgan completed the rout in the 80th minute with the best goal of the game. The diminutive striker stripped a defender of the ball before unleashing a powerful left foot drive, which hit the underside of the crossbar and landed behind the goalline to the delight of the 40 travelling fans.

Two minutes later, Matej Valenèiè cut the deficit with a well taken goal which gave Richard Mottram no chance to seal the result at 4-1.

Mid Cheshire coach Nick Armitage said: 'I was worried about the conditions as the weather is hot and the pitch was slower than we are normally used to. But we played to our potential and I am delighted with the result.

"We controlled the pace of the game which was a pleasing factor. But after learning that the Irish had won by 4-0, it just makes our match against them on Wednesday even bigger."