England CP team to meet Australia in 2009 Arafura Games Final.
Arafura Games 2009
Cerebral Palsy seven-a-side tournament
Thursday 14 May 2009
Marrara Stadium, Darwin, Australia
England waltz into Final
England qualified for the Final of the Arafura Games in Australia after a stunning second half performance that saw the Three Lions score eight goals.
Michael Barker became the top scorer, notching five goals in an impressive final group game. He was ably supported by Michael Wilson and Graham Le Clerc who scored two goals each.
To use an old football cliché, it was certainly a game of two halves. England got off to a flying start when Barker scored his first goal in the 10th minute but after this Korea defended courageously and frustrated England, although all the play was in their half.
At half-time Lyndon Lynch made two changes and changed tactics which brought immediate results and a second goal for Barker from a Wilson corner. In the next minute Barker completed his hat-trick after a clever chip over the defence by Le Clerc found him in space to finish with ease.
England began to play with a fluency and pace that the Koreans found too hot to handle. Three goals came in quick succession and a rampant England was out of sight. In the last ten minutes Korea conceded a further four goals from Wilson and Le Clerc.
An outstanding team effort was summed up by Head coach Lynch, who commented: “I am delighted at the way the team applied themselves after a difficult first half. We chatted at half time about the way we could break Korea down and the players responded magnificently and this is the highest score for an England CP squad for many years.
“We play Australia in the Final of the Arafura games on Sunday and look forward to hopefully winning our first major tournament. Australia are a well organised team who are dangerous at set pieces. However, if we can continue to play in the manner we have over the first three games I think we will push them all the way.”
England: 1. Jordan Raynes, 2. Sam Whatley, 3. Matthew Ellis (Richard Fox 50), 4. Michael Wilson, 5. Dean Cartwright (Graham Le Clerc 30), 6. Michael Barker, 7. Martin Sinclair (Karl Townshend 30)
For full details and fixtures at the Arafura Games, click here