Premiership Arsenal take on English side Braunton Wanderers on day one of the two-day tournament. (Picture by Brian Green, 0608344)
EVERTON were crowned the 2008 BWCI Guernsey Mini Soccer Festival champions after they won a dramatic penalty shoot out against Glasgow Rangers yesterday.
‘Good stuff – I think we deserved it in the end,’ said the Everton coach John Doolan. ‘Rangers are a good side. We played them in the groups and it was 0-0, so we knew it was going to be tight.’
The final of the Shield competition was the culmination of a weekend of action that saw 20 sides battle it out. In front of an enthusiastic crowd of more than 700 at Foote’s Lane, the scores were deadlocked at 0-0 after the 16 minutes of normal time. This was no surprise as neither side conceded a single goal during the group stages the day before.
Josh Jefferies shone on the left wing for Rangers but despite all of his tricks and turns he, like his teammates, could not find a way through the Everton defence which was solid. And it was a similar story at the other end of the pitch.
Penalties were therefore required to decide the outcome.
The tension ramped up with the two sides stood on the halfway line with all of the players with their arms round their teammates and it was Ciaran O’Loughlen who turned out to be the hero.
The Everton goalkeeper would bounce around on his line and giving it the shaky legs routine trying to put off the penalty taker.
He got a touch on Rangers’ first penalty to deflect the ball onto the post and across the goal and out.
The blues had a 3-2 lead going into the fifth round and he went onto make another great save to ensure Everton kept their hands on the Shield that they won last year.
‘I’m dead proud,’ said an emotional O’Loughlen afterwards. ‘I was so nervous because Rangers are a very good team and they won their last penalty shootout.
‘I just try and put them off and look where they are going to kick the ball and go that way.
‘I’m just very pleased to win.’
Everton’s captain Callum Connolly was equally delighted.
‘I’m very pleased to have won,’ he said.
‘It was a team effort. We had the commitment, determination and passion [to win].’
Rangers coach Robin Gibson was gracious in defeat.
‘You’re always disappointed that a game finishes on penalties but there’s always going to be a loser,’ he said.
‘We’re really quite pleased with what they’ve achieved as we’ve only had them for a season.’
While Everton left with the Shield, St Peter of Jersey kept their hands on the Plate trophy after getting the better of Corinthian Casuals in that final.
Article posted on 21st July, 2008 - 2.29pm
Loading ...
Most Commented: