Farez hands Kenilworth Wardens cup success with stoppage time winner
By James Smith
25th Apr 2022 | Football
Joe Farez's late winner ensured Kenilworth Wardens lifted their second trophy in the space of ten days as their Sunday side edged out Bulldog to win the Spa Trophies Divisional Cup.
Backing up last Friday's Bedworth Nursing Cup triumph, Farez's goal added to Andy Legg's first half opener to ensure the Sunday team picked up silverware in their first full season.
And with 11 of the 16-man squad all under the age of 19, Wardens rode their luck at times to come out on top against a far more experience Bulldog.
"We can count ourselves fortunate today because Bulldog probably edged the contest and certainly had the better chances," said manager Paddy Breslin.
"But over the course of the season we deserve silverware for what has been a monumental campaign.
"The young lads have come of age and deserve this day - I'm proud of the entire squad."
Both teams started nervously with little football being played.
Wardens created the first chance with their first bit on quality on 15 minutes when George Walker ran past two players in centre midfield and played a brilliant chipped pass to Toby Wells only for his finish to be well saved by the Bulldog keeper.
Bulldog almost took the lead two minutes later. A long throw in was flicked on to the back post but the recovering Pablo Scopes managed to clear the ball off the line with a desperate lunge.
But On 28 minutes Wardens took the lead. A deep free kick by captain Tom Holmes was helped on by Wells then Dan Twigger before falling to Legg who volleyed home from 15 yards out with a brilliant finish.
Bulldog worked their way back into the game and looked dangerous with their long throw in and corner routines.
And on 35 minutes they were level with a goal of real quality. The ball went out to to the right and crossed back to Mark Hickey who out jumped his marker to head home from 10 yards out.
The second half continued in a similar fashion with neither sides really playing any football.
As the game continued Bulldog looked the more likely to score. Three times their right midfielder got in between Wardens' back line, but a combination of great goalkeeping from Alex Brown and good defending from James Carro and Legg kept the score level.
Twigger had arguably the best chance of the game with a free header at the back post from an excellent Holmes delivery but he couldn't direct his effort on target.
On 80 minutes there was controversy when Ethan Price ran through on goal, Bulldog's keeper ran out of his area and appeared to foul Price in the process, with the two clashing heads.
A lengthy delay was held due to the head injuries but the referee felt it was okay for the Bulldog keeper to continue to play, albeit with a heavily bandaged head.
And with a sense of deja vu, two minutes after the restart Twigger ran through on goal and once again the keeper came out and appeared to make contact with the ball with his hands out of the area and with his foot high made strong contact with Twigger.
Both players were injured in the incident but no foul was given.
With the game looking like it would go to penalties with a minutes left, Wardens had one last attack.
The ball was passed to Farez on the right before he beat his man cutting inside and entering the box.
Farez beat another two players before shooting with his left foot which was spilled by the Bulldog keeper into the back of the net to the delight of the Kenilworth Wardens faithful.
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