Boca Turn Pale in Cherryvale

Cherryvale, Sunday 4 April 2004, 1:30PM

Boca Seniors FC (0)4 Dub FC (0)6

Dub have made it to their second final of the year as they beat Boca Seniors in the semi-final of the cup. This sets up another Allen Park clash with Rushlight Celtic who must now be clear favourites to complete a cup double, having put St. Matts out in the other semi.

Dub were denied a last day league decider against Boca who settled the title last week ? although they were only in the clear after the BSPL awarded them 2 extra league points after Apollo fielded an ineligible player. With the league already settled and the last fixture a formality, all the emphasis switched to the cup semi-final clash.

Dub played with the wind and slope in the first half, looking to put early pressure on Boca. Although Boca were a physical team with good aerial ability, Dub dominated with some good interplay in the middle of the park. On several occasions, the men in yellow tore through the Boca midfield but were unable to find the final pass or indeed the net. Boca could only look to their target man Malone but central defender Harvey lived up to his name and Marked him out of the match. Boca defended well in the first half and Dub were frustrated not to have the lead at the break. There had been several incidents in a nervy first 45 minutes but the match was soon to live up to its derby expectations.

In the second half, the weather finally broke and Dub were forced to play into strong rain and hail showers. Boca continued with their tactics of playing through the man to get the ball and tempers started to fray. It was only a matter of time before someone got hurt and Shane Murphy was the first to suffer from a particularly nasty challenge. Shane had covered the whole defensive line on occasions and played the ball well out of defence but could only play on for a couple of minutes before Dub were forced to bring on Michael Smyth. Gareth Dickson took on the defensive duties as Smyth came on at left midfield and within 2 minutes of the change, he was on the score sheet. Sean Doherty created the chance with a great ball from defence and Peter McToal fed Smyth who finished coolly. Boca had yet to create any real chances as Dub continued to defend resolutely but the yellows knew that with half an hour to play the game was far from over. Smyth was again involved soon after when he was on the receiving end of a challenge that can best be described as disgraceful. His understandable reaction was perhaps the only reason that Boca were allowed to continue with 11 men. The match was heating up and building to a tense finish. Cormac Kernan was brought off to allow Chris Hodgkinson to lend his weight up front but he only lasted a quarter of an hour before he was forced to limp off with a recurring ankle injury, letting Art Kernan on. With minutes to go Dub looked favourites to win as Boca could not break down the defence but there were still several twists left in the match. Boca equalised from a fluke touchline free kick that left Dub scratching their heads and the game went into extra time and the silver goal.

Dub won the toss and played downhill again, looking to finish the game quickly but were met by a revitalised Boca who prevented any real chances. Switching ends for a final time, Dub came out strong and were rewarded when Phil Doherty?s goal bound attempt was spilled by the keeper. The ball dropped at the feet of Dickson who found himself six yards out with an open net. The look of surprise didn?t last long and he tapped the ball in for his tenth of the season and to maintain his cup goal-scoring exploits. A couple of minutes later Michael Smyth extended the lead with a long range effort into the top corner of the net. 2 goals up with 5 minutes to play and Dub collapsed. Boca?s Malone was held back in the penalty area and Neil Smyth could do nothing from the resulting penalty. Boca pushed everything forward, knowing that Dub were capable of throwing the game away after the last match between the two teams and the inevitable equaliser came with 30 seconds left on the clock. Dub gave the ball away straight from the kick off after the penalty and Boca pushed forward, scoring a weak header. The final whistle went and the match was to be decided by penalties.

Phil Doherty took the first and shot straight at the keeper while aiming for the corner. Boca scored despite Neil Smyth getting a hand to the penalty. Michael Smyth then stepped up to complete another great performance, slotting it past the keeper. Boca allowed Dub back into the game by putting it wide but Sean Mullan could only watch his shot cannon back off the stanchion. Malone was next but Neil Smyth performed his usual heroics to push the shot on to the post and wide. Ryan McGaughey converted his penalty with a low drive under the diving keeper and Boca put the ball over the bar. Art Kernan then took the final Dub penalty (overruling an eager Sean Doherty), knowing that a goal would win the game. The ball hit the roof of the net and Dub completed a cup double against their division 2 rivals.

Club captain Shane McCusker (who ran the midfield with Mullan) was quoted as saying "Sweet?" after the match as he choked back his tears. Dub now have a little time to regroup before taking on Rushlight and will look to improve on the last time the two met.

Squad

Subs