Senya v Nova England (27/08)
Senya v Nova England (27/08)
*played 27 August 2016*
Senya's players were paraded before the game kicked off, as supporters inside the Snakepit got a chance to congratulate them on a maiden championship title. For Nova England, it was a bitter pill to take, as they had capitulated in the final of the EMUs, losing 4-0 to champions Passas. But that may have surved as inspiration, as the visitors who managed the first chance of the game, with Peter Nelson playing in Graham Savoy, whose shot was palmed out by keeper Öner Gonzarlez. But the resulting corner beat everyone, landing at the feet of Theo Sinclair, who smashed a first time shot on the volley into the top right corner to put his side 1-0 up. Senya were sparked into action by that goal, with Barnaby Hands almost equalising within five minutes, but his shot from the edge of the box was spectacularly tipped over by Nicholas Harfield. Senya were finding it difficult to break Nova England down, and Hands seemed to have forgot his shooting boots, blasting several free-kick over the bar and volleying over from 12 yards out. But it was to be that only Eĵars Town players would find the net in the first half, as low cross from Zvet was deflected out to Jack Smith, who from the edge of the box slammed the ball into the bottom left to draw the hosts level. Minyorletsken almost changed that on the stroke of half time as he ran into the box, but his effort clipped the post before being cleared.
The second half saw a reversal of fortunes in the game though, as the visitors once again came out stronger, and once again found themselves infront, once again from a corner as Quentin Young rose highest to fire a bullet header past the keeper. This time though, Senya were a bit quicker to respond, with Minyorletsken firing a shot from 30-yards, which the keeper could only palm into the path of Jan Maytek, who smashed the ball into the top corner. Senya then promptly took the lead from the spot, as Hands jinxed his way into the box, before being hauled down by John Mattel. Hands got up and lashed home the penalty into the roof of the net. The game though, seemed to have run its course as it died down, settling into the exhibition match it had been billed as. Nova England came close to an equaliser though, as Jack Jones, on off the bench, sliced his shot just wide of the target, but the game grinded to a halt which saw Senya start life as "title holders" with a win.
Senya 3-2 Nova England
6' Theo Sinclair
38' Jack Smith
51' Quentin Young
54' Jan Maytek
60' Barnaby Hands (pen)