23/05/2026
Our Challenge Cup Journey Ends 🏆
Classic cup tie Thursday evening, with the lads falling short after extra time in their pursuit of getting to the final!
One of those games where we feel we didn’t do ourselves justice and the opposition just performed better.
While the perfect start going 1-0 up through Josh so early, we never kicked on and Quarryvale had some great chances only to be kept at bay by Henry & luck. Then a blistering five minutes of good play from our front three, and we were 2-0 up (Aaron again) & had missed 2 1v1s. Quarryvale then got a deserved goal and so halftime came in at 2-1.
A scrappy second half ensued, with the game becoming an end to end affair. First another one v one for us was missed, before Quarryvale missed a couple of half chances. The tie was levelled and Quarryvale seemed to have momentum, but substitute Sam took matters into his own hands with a cracking header 3-2. A penalty then to bring the tie level, before the pressure from Quarryvale paid off with a 4th. Game set and match you would’ve thought … but again Sam bulleted a header in the 96th minute to make it 4-4 and bring extra time? (not before a goal line clearance from Patrick with effectively the last kick of the game).
The whistle to start again went, and all momentum shifted with a sending off for us right at the start. An already new back line had to be shifted around, and the dangerous Quarryvale attack took full advantage to clinically punish three times.
Best of luck to a top Quarryvale side in the final, and special mentions must go to Pauly & Dylan for two exceptional performances.
For us, with injuries and lads missing, extra time just proved a step too far. While not a performance we would look on fondly - the lads battled hard & gave it what they had. Blue Men MOTM would have to be Sam for taking the game by the scruff of the neck, with special mentions for Khaleed and Henry.
While we are disappointed to end the season falling just short of a treble, full credit must go to such a young group of blue men who brought home two cups this year. Last night will stand to us as we continue to grow 🔵⚪️