And thus it was that Garnett eased into the Final of the prestigious and highly sought-after Northumberland Minor Cup after a comfortable victory over a clearly overawed Red Row Brick Club. The shock non-participation of pre-tournament favourites Barcelona, Arsenal and Inter Milan has allowed Garnett to use a combination of technical brilliance and brute force (mainly Taff) to battle their way to a Final at Whitley Park against Northern Alliance First Division leaders Blyth Town on 7th May. The recent media speculation on the re-emergence of crowd violence into British football was further fuelled half an hour before the match as two infant charvers (one ginger) took the chance to deck each other after a long chase beside the pitch. Noteworthy was the female charver mother, a rare species that should not in any circumstance be approached, and who was urging her little contender to "Hit 'im back, Hit 'IM BACK". This was much to the merriment of the Garnett team but also to the consternation of club Captain Shaun Cavanagh who does not approve of such behaviour off the pitch.

Much of this Semi-Final on a bumpy Benson Park was played without Garnett needing to hit top gear but this was only after a nervous start when Garnett failed to get out of first. They suffered an early blow when Phillips, the right-sided defender of their back three, stretched for the ball but turned awkwardly and was forced to leave the pitch in agony. Early indications from the team of medically inept Garnett substitutes and supporters pointed towards a partial recurrence of a previous cruciate ligament injury and if correct his loss will be keenly felt over the crucial next few weeks, although it must be said his replacement Paul Wilkinson went on to put in a sterling performance in an unfamiliar position.

At this stage the yellow and blue of Red Row were exerting a modicum of pressure and Scottish goalkeeper Hepburn had to live up to his national stereotype by being extremely tight, but this time with clear sights of goal for the opposition. Unlike his rugby-playing brethren though he has mastered the art of catching a ball and he put this skill to good use at the back post when the bald opposing centre-forward lost his marker and headed goal wards from a deep left wing cross. After this early scare the mighty Green and Black settled down and with Mercer bossing the midfield and wingbacks Corcorcorcorcorkerscoran and Hall using their pace to stifle any attacking threat from the channels Garnett were able to assert their authority.

Attacking central midfielders Neil Hindley and Dave Cave were now able to control the tempo of the game and it was the former who produced a wonderfully deep curling cross from a free kick on the left for Hall to rise imperiously and head Garnett in front. The lead settled the home side down even more and playmaker Cave was able to display his array of incisive short and long range passing. Midfield Mormon Cave, while not famous for his RnB voice, appears to be able to turn back the hands of time, such is his ability to find an extra second on the ball whenever he is put under pressure. Such a valuable asset spread throughout the rest of the midfield and meant that Red Row were unable to wrest the ball from a constantly probing Garnett attack. They carved out another opportunity when record marksman Danny Sherwood rounded the keeper but the tight angle forced him to pull the ball back for John Hall to blaze over. It was not long before Hall was back on the score sheet though and it was another header that did it, this time from a right wing corner.

The half time whistle blew minutes later which gave Alan Wilkinson the opportunity to say nothing unpredictable, saying as he did that the opposition would go hell for leather in the first fifteen minutes but that were Garnett to hold on they would be able to pick off the tired opposition at will. As is salient through the green and black's lofty league position in their inaugural Northern Alliance season manager Wilkinson knows his stuff and this was proved once again as the second half went exactly as forecasted. Garnett went three goals up on the hour as Dave Cave took the opportunity to showcase his fearsome shooting ability, hammering in a low long-range volley from a half cleared corner. Soon after the impressive Corcancorancororan was replaced by the diligent Sam King in a straight swap as the home side looked to secure their final place. The last half an hour marked a reward for the afore-mentioned Sherwood who continued his prolific Alliance form with a well-taken brace, although credit must also go to his striking partner Jason Thompson who worked his Geordie whippet feet to the bone to create chances for the team but who was just unable to make it onto the score sheet himself. Victory was duly accomplished without any mishap and the final whistle was a cue for joyous but not wild celebrations from a Garnett side who are becoming accustomed to embracing hard-earned achievement almost every week. With a title challenge and possible promotion imminent and a Cup Final appearance already booked one wonders just how far this cool, cold-hearted, clinicism will take them…

Author: Enigma

Team: F.Hepburn, W.Phillips (P.Wilkinson), N.Hindley, A.Alexander, S.Cavanagh, D.Cave 1, D.Mercer, D.Sherwood 2, J.Hall 2 (MoM), J.Thompson, S.King, D.Corcoran (S.King)