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Man with the tan inspires Fletton
AK ELEVEN 1 FLETTON UTD 3 PFA Sunday Afternoon Cup final
AK ELEVEN 1 FLETTON UTD 3 PFA Sunday Afternoon Cup finalIT WAS a tale of two red cards and one substitution yesterday afternoon as Fletton came from behind to reclaim the PFA Sunday Afternoon Cup.
In blazing hot sunshine at Chestnut Avenue last season's winners reclaimed their trophy after a 3-1 victory against perennial pot hunters AK 11.
And if the weather was warm, the temperature on the pitch reached boiling point just before half-time when midfield heartbeat Jaff Khan was sent from the field after an off the ball clash of heads with Fletton's Karl McPolin.
With AK leading by a Mohammed Suhail goal, McPolin was already on his way after being shown a straight red for an ugly tackle on James McDonough when Khan decided to launch his own protest at the challenge.
Sadly for his team's chances of adding this trophy to the Tony Palazzo Cup, Khan's efforts resulted in the experienced midfielder being forced to watch the rest of the game from the touchline.
And it proved to be one of two decisive moments in the game as without Khan's influence in the middle of the park, AK temporarily lost much of their earlier fluency.
The other key factor was the introduction of Fletton striker Kevin Brisley for the second half.
Just off the plane from a holiday in the sun, Brisley missed out on his side's midweek defeat in the Nortnants Sunday Shield final but he made sure he was not going to miss this one.
Brisley's introduction saw Fletton take control of the game and two quick goals, both set up by the man with the tan, turned this game on its head – much to the delight of Fletton co-manager Dave Toms.
He said: "We struggled in the first half but once we slung Kev on the whole side brightened up and we were well worth the win.
"We are delighted to have won this trophy for a second year in a row and it makes up for our disappointment midweek. All the lads were absolutely superb."After Fletton's goals from Ashley Liddie and Terry Green, however, AK did manage to fight their way back into the game with McDonough, Suhail and Majid Akhbar all going close.
But with Fletton keeper Richard Roberts in stunning form there was no way back for Khan's side who were unlucky to find themselves on the end of a 3-1 defeat after Adam Spouse's late goal.
Khan said: "We are gutted really because I though we deserved to win this game and created plenty of chances.
"The sending off hurt us as Jaffa is an experienced player for us but there keeper was superb and I think he won them the game."
Fletton and AK Eleven will play each other in the last game of the season to decide who wins the Division One title.
AK Eleven need three points while Fletton only need the draw to take the crown.
SQUADS
AK 11: Anthony Leadbitter, Safraz Ali, Jaffar Khan, Asif Rehman, Nesearat Mahomood Arif Aziz, Majid Akhbar, Aaroon Jesson, Michael Simmons, James McDonough, Kamran Khan, Craig Keenan, Mohammed Suhail, Ali Khan, Premescan Nosal.
Fletton: Richard Roberts, Matthew Salmon, Karl McPolin, Martyn Fox, Steven Woodcock, Pat Rodgers, Adam Spouse, Terry Green, kevin Brisley, Ashley Liddie, Dan Copestake, Lee Defraine, Sam Gale, Luke Madden, Raff Ruberto.
THE JUNIOR Alliance Under 13 side beat Colchester 2-0 yesterday to claim the EASY Cup.
Goals from Matt Sparrow and Connor Pilbeam at Saffron Walden yesterday means Peterborough Junior Alliance teams have completed a clean sweep of all age groups in the competition this season.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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