THE MINERS CRUISE TO FINAL

Precision Notts Senior Junior League Cup

Semi Final

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES 6 SELSTON RESERVES 0

@ Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC

Att: 141

Division One and holders of the NSL Junior Cup took on a youthful Division Two side Selston Reserves in what on paper looked like it could well be a close tie, with Kimberley laying in 2nd place, whilst Selston sat in 3rd place in their divisions.

Selston began the brighter and the left winger made a few advancing runs and slotted across a few crosses but no one was able to connect to threaten. The cup holders Kimberley began to come more in to the game and began to force openings and on 27 minutes, TOM SLADE smashed the ball home in to the top corner from 25 yards out to give them the lead.

Kimberley continued to press forward and on 40 minutes, a chip beat the keeper and the defender totally missed the ball towards the line, allowed LIAM HONEYMAN to tap home goal number two. Things got worse for Selston as on 45 minutes, a ball over the top left JOSH LEWIS to side foot home to give the Miners a 3-0 half time advantage.

After 65 minutes, a mis-timed tackle saw Selston captain Jack Melbourne receive his second yellow card, thus leaving them with only 10 players to face the final 25 minutes.

On 72 minutes, Kimberley forged in to a 4-0 lead when sub JEZ BAILEY headed home from close range. By now Kimberley were pressing forward and on 80 minutes, it looked as if the ball had gone out for a corner, but the referee consulted with the Assistant Referee and awarded them a penalty to which KYLE WRENN duly dispatched to make it 5-0. With tired legs of Selston and the man advantage of Kimberley, the Miners hit their sixth goal in the 88th minute, when JOSH LEWIS slotted home his second goal of the game.

So now Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves go on to the Final on Saturday 6th May  at Sandiacre Town FC, where they face the winners of Awsworth Villa Reserves or West Bridgford AFC who play on the other semi final at Calverton MW on Wednesday 5th April.

On behalf of Hazel and my mum who did the Charity raffle for Maggies Cancer Centre, may they thank everyone for their kind donations, where the raffle raised £90, which takes the running total including the six goals to £416.05