http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/June/FulhamDeafTeamVictory.aspxFulham DFC Trophy WinnersFulham DFC 3 - 2 Doncaster Deaf FC
British Deaf Cup Final, Goodison Park
FDFC played their final and most important match of their season on a warm Sunday afternoon at Goodison Park, the home of Everton FC. The squad, who had taken the decision to stay overnight near Liverpool in order to maximise preparation time for the match, were all ready to give it their all in order to secure the BDF Trophy for the third time in seven years. The lustre of playing in a Premier League stadium simply added to the occasion, particularly for one die-hard Everton supporter amongst the squad.
With a almost full-strength side to choose from, the Gaffer had yet another tough decision to make. In the confines of the spacious home dressing room (there was much debate amongst the players as to who was sitting in Wayne Rooney's seat!), the squad was decided.
Michael Roberts kept his place in goal, playing behind a back four consisting of Vorster, McDougall, Harding and Captain Evans. Lampert and Gregory were selected as centre midfielders, with Swift and Monksfield operating down the left and right flanks respectively. 46-goal striker Ailey and Hogan continued their 'Little and Large' partnership, and completed the first eleven selection. Rumours that the Gaffer was to select himself as one of the subs proved to be, thankfully, unfounded.....
After a few words of encouragement from the Chairman (which mainly consisted of his moaning about how lucky we all were and 'it wasn't like this in my day') and the Gaffer, the team went out to face Doncaster Deaf FC, a team which Fulham had never beaten before, and who knocked out FDFC after extra time in the semi-finals of the EDF Cup a month previously. Everyone was under no illusions about the need to stay focused and determined in order to achieve victory.
Once the match went underway, Doncaster started very strongly, pressing the FDFC midfield with a high tempo performance and putting in some very solid tackles. The FDFC rearguard was stretched on occasions, but never quite broke. Early opportunities for Hogan and Ailey to counter-attack quickly came to nothing in the face of Doncaster's capable custodian, Sam Kitchin.
The action wasn't confined to the pitch, with the Gaffer rapidly exhausting his supply of chewing gum and prowling the technical area with the air of a Icelandic volcano due to erupt.
The eruption was not long in coming, when Doncaster drew first blood, centre back Seon Anderson rising well to meet Naylor's corner to plant a header past Roberts and Swift at the near post. FDFC really should have done much better to snuff out the cross, and it was now clear that the road to victory had just become that bit longer.
Nonetheless, going behind had woken up FDFC's as yet dormant midfield, who began to spark into life. Several chances soon came, with a headed chance for Ailey from Monksfield's excellent cross after great interplay in midfield being the highlight. Hogan also almost got on the receiving end of an intuitive no-look pass by Lampert, only to see the ball take a cruel bounce and take the ball away from him as he closed in.
With Gregory beginning to take the game to Doncaster in the midfield engine room, it only seemed to be a matter of time before Fulham profited from their new-found dominance of the game. However, it was Doncaster who came closest to scoring again, when a bye-line cross dipped over Roberts in the FDFC goal, only to be cleared away off the crossbar by Evans, who insisted that his clearance was all 'part of the master plan'.....
As the half-time whistle blew on a frenetic and even first half, FDFC knew that they had to come out stronger and take the game to Doncaster more. After the Gaffer spouted lava in the dressing room, that feeling only became stronger! Funny that....
The second half started, with FDFC looking to get back into the match. Swift, who had settled down after a poor first half, provided some entertainment by skinning two Doncaster players on the left flank before playing the ball across the mouth of the goal. The Doncaster team smothered the danger, but it was a clear show of intent by FDFC.
As Fulham continued to take control of the second half, Doncaster started to falter, and several tactical fouls were given in FDFC's favour, which allowed the Whites to build up increased pressure.
On the hour, the much-needed equaliser came. A FDFC corner was half cleared by the Doncaster rearguard and the ball fell at the feet of Swift, who played the ball across to Gregory. The Welshman, perhaps remembering his misses in the first half, opted to put the ball into the box. An umarked Evans was on hand to rise and flick the ball in off the near post from fifteen yards out. A well-taken goal, and a much needed one. Looks like the Captain's 'master plan' might have worked out there.....
Encouraged, FDFC continued to attack, with further chances falling at the feet of Gregory and Lampert who unsurprisingly, missed the target. Doncaster started to get back into the game, and Roberts had to be at his best to tip over a dangerous Denmead shot over the crossbar. In the meantime, Gill came on for Harding at left back.
FDFC then took the lead with ten minutes of normal time remaining, when Hogan ran behind the Doncaster defence to get on the end of a great cross-field ball from Lampert, gathering the ball and hitting the ball past an exposed Kitchin at the near post. Soon after, Vorster came off for Willis, with Monksfield dropping back into defence.
Any joy FDFC felt at taking the lead was quickly tempered when Doncaster equalised soon after, following FDFC's failure to clear away the initial cross sufficiently enough. Ailey and Evans then had the opportunity to win the game in the last few minutes, but both were denied by a Kitchin double save, saving Ailey's follow-up shot from a free-kick and saving Evans' shot on the rebound.
And so the game went into extra time. The Gaffer, smoke still blowing out of his top after his latest volcanic eruption, urged the team on and pointed out that FDFC looked the fitter of the two teams.
The fresh legs of Willis were used to great effect in the first half of extra time, with Hogan heading just wide of the post after a searing run and cross by the youngster. There was also time for Evans to make a nuisance of himself at yet another set piece, rising to flick on a deep ball from Monksfield on to the post and out.
However, it was early in the second half of extra time when FDFC finally made their pressure count, with Ailey meeting Hogan's cross to knock the ball past Kitchin in the Doncaster goal to give FDFC the lead for the second time in the game. Ailey's goal was his 47th in all competitive matches this season, easily a new club record.
Undeterred, Doncaster roused themselves for one final effort, and were almost rewarded for their adventure as an increasingly anxious and defensive FDFC (after Hogan had gone off for Burns, FDFC switched to a 4-5-1 formation), struggled to clear their lines, giving Doncaster some half-chances inside the box. However, FDFC managed to survive the late onslaught as the referee blew the whistle for full-time.
As the FDFC dugout celebrated, the players made sure to shake the Doncaster players' hands as both team played a part in making the match an extremely competitive final. FDFC claimed the BDF trophy for the third time in seven years, with captain Evans lifting the trophy aloft, much to the delight of the players.
To round things off, Evans also collected the Man of the Match award, selected by the referee, although the award could have gone to one of several candidates on both sides.
The new season will see FDFC strive to keep their hard-won BDF trophy at Craven Cottage and to build on this success in the new up-coming league campaign.
Final score Fulham Deaf FC 3 - 2 Doncaster Deaf FC after extra time (HT 0 – 1, FT 2 - 2)
FDFC Line-up :- Roberts, Vorster (Willis 80), McDougall, Evans, Harding, (Gill 70), Monksfield, Gregory, Lampert, Swift, Hogan (Burns 110) and Ailey
Subs not used :- Bovino and Rumney
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