Bluefin Insurance UHL League Cup
Shortwood 0 Bradford Town 1
By Jim Cunneen
A momentary lack of concentration and a missed penalty cost Shortwood dear as they went out of the League Cup at Meadowbank on Saturday.
Brimming full of confidence after beating league champions Studley last time out, new boss Ian Soule handed a debut to midfielder Louis Tosdevine. They also named fit-again top scorer Luke Soule who came on with 25 minutes to go.
Bradford are 5th in the Hellenic Premier and Wood can consider themselves a little unlucky to not force at least a penalty shoot-out and even possibly the win but on small margins are such games decided.
After 9 minutes a low cross came into the Wood box and George Box nipped in to score the only goal.
Tareq Soliman almost put Lewis in before Payne picked up a knock and after treatment carried on but left the fray after 25 minutes to be replaced by Tosdevine.
Wood pressed forward and twice keeper Hill had to be alert with dangerous crosses. With both Wood and Town closing down quickly chances were limited and when they did get through both keepers made routine saves. Just on the break Box controlled the ball and Sims parried his shot but Pollard fired the rebound well wide.
Just two minutes into the second half, Tosdevine when down in the box and Wood were given a penalty – it looked like a harsh award. Lewis stepped up and fired the ball hard and low but Hill made a fine save to turn the ball behind.
Wood were generally on top but the Bradford defence was rock steady.
Soule came on with 64 minutes gone and almost immediately fed Byrnes but his shot was blocked.
Lewis fired high over when a pass may have served his side better – and twice crosses into the box were just too far in front of the Wood attack. Pollard fired high over the bar for the visitors from a good position and in the dying minutes, Soule turned and shot but his effort was deflected straight into the grateful arms of keeper Hill.
Overall Wood can take a lot of heart from this performance. Their next game will be on April 9th when they will be away to either Bourton Rovers or Chipping Sodbury in the Supplementary Cup.
SHORTWOOD: Sims, Harper – Emerson (Underwood 80), Barrett, Byrnes, Tunnicliff, Nowell, Payne (Tosdevine 25), Peyton, Lewis, Soliman, Brent (Soule 64)
