Emotional cup final a fitting tribute to Dan
PARSON DROVE 0 PERKINS 2 (PFA Senior Cup final)
PARSON DROVE 0 PERKINS 2 (PFA Senior Cup final)AN emotional night was guaranteed at London Road last night, but Perkins and Parson Drove also ensured it would be a memorable one.
Perkins brought the curtain down on an illustrious history by deservedly adding the prestigious PFA Senior Cup to their Peterborough Premier Division title.
But Parson Drove played with so much spirit and commitment, it was a fitting tribute to the memory of their gifted player Dan Markillie who lost his life in a car crash earlier this year.
Both teams wore black armbands in honour of Drove manager Nick Markillie's son whose face also adorned T shirts worn by the entire underdogs' squad.
He would doubtless have enjoyed a game which featured spells of pressure from both sides and chances galore, especially late in the game when the play was spread far and wide over a bigger pitch than these two teams are used to.
Perkins had a clear edge on chances created, although Drove's dogged defending and the pace of striker Paul Shafer had victorious boss Alex Brown slightly worried at half-time.
Brown, who skippered Perkins to their last League and Cup double win four years ago, said: "I felt we started the game well, but as the half wore on we kept playing high balls forward to strikers who weren't competing well enough.
"I told the players at half-time it was down to them how they reacted and they came out and played well. It was certainly the perfect way to bow out."
Perkins missed three clear-cut chances before taking the lead midway through the second-half. Stuart Addinall was hampered by a team-mate when preparing to convert a corner on four minutes and then one of local football's golden boys Ashley Favell side-footed wide from close range following another set-piece.
Favell also headed against the inside of a post from a Dino Salerno free-kick after the break, but the quality of Salerno's delivery was finally rewarded when Addinall powered home a header from a corner.
Perkins were now rampant and two touches of sheer class 11 minutes from time confirmed the works' side would be celebrating a major double as substitute Marco Sementa timed and weighted his through ball perfectly to send Jonathan 'Nipper' Hands into a one-on-one situation.
Hands was helped by a slight slip by goalkeeper Adam Wright, but his dinked finish was pulled off expertly.
Hands was awarded the man-of-the-match as a result of that and some direct running, although Addinall must have pushed him hard as his goal was accompanied by excellent aerial ability and cool sweeping.
Drove did however breach the Perkins rearguard on several occasions. Mat Fuller missed their best opportunity of the first-half following a superb cross from Dominic Pintillie, but the ball wouldn't fall for them in the area, particularly during a hectic final few minutes which saw both sides hit the crossbar.
Isaac Twigden's cross almost gave the scoreline an unfair look, while few in the boisterous crowd would have begrudged Drove sub Danny Norman's injury time header looping under the bar rather than into it.
It had been a brave effort by Drove, but manager Nick Markillie refused to be too downhearted. He said: "Perkins probably just about edged it, but we are a young side and we will come again. This was just the beginning for us."
Conversely it was the end for Perkins, but what a glorious way to finish.
FACTFILE . . . on last night's final
Parson Drove: Adam Wright, Marc Clare, Michael Cozens, Gary Haime, Steve Thompson, Dominic Pintilie, Robert Taylor (sub Danny Norman, 75 mins), Jamie Muffett, Paul Shafer, Mat Fuller (sub Jamie Parsons, 85 mins), Arthur Mikaila. Subs not used: James Clarke, Stefan Markillie, Sam Kilby
Perkins: Gianni Salerno, Jason Doggett, Jason Bannie, Stuart Addinall, Michael Dudley, Ashley Favell, Jonathan Hands (sub Kaye, 83 mins), Dino Salerno (sub Twigden, 77 mins), Lee Ayres, Danny Wilder (sub Sementa, 62 mins), Andrew Bradley. Subs not used: Shaun Skerritt, Lee Tyler.
Goals: Perkins - Addinall (63 mins), Hands 79 mins).
Booking: Perkins - G. Salerno (foul).
Referee: Nick Breen
Assistants: Reg Parker & Charles Keates.
Fourth official: Lawrence D'Errante.
Attendance: 450 (approx).
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Thursday 29 July 2010
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