A superb comeback saw Continental Star progress into the next round of the Birmingham Senior Cup, at the expense of Evo Stick Southern Premier Division side Bedworth United, at the Oval Ground.
The hosts took the lead after 13 minutes when a shot from Aaron Donaldson beat Star keeper Gavin Ellis at his near post and rolled into the net. Six minutes later Bedworth scored their second of the night; Ellis produced an excellent save from Donaldson, but the resulting corner taken by Tom Byrne was met by Bedworth’s Loysio Recci, who rose above the Star defence to powerfully head the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. The visitors were given hope in the 36th minute of the game when Ibrahim Benjamin tapped the ball into the empty Bedworth net following a mix up between keeper Haywood and defender Dean. But 3 minutes later the host restored their two goal advantage when Donaldson scored his second of the half, taking advantage of slack marking by Star, to smash the ball from the edge of the box past Ellis into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
The second half started with Star out-performing their host with quick, slick passing and moving, and a high tempo press whenever they lost possession of the ball. Star were rewarded in the 56th minute when a ball over the top by Daniel Holgate was latched onto by strike partner Rikardo Reid, who outpaced Ian Roper and Nathan Haines in the Bedworth defence and then from the edge of the penalty box he calmly chipped the ball over the advancing Haywood into the empty net. Star now had their host on the back foot and up against the ropes.
In the 67th minute, an excellent run into the box by substitute, Lewis Wright, culminated in him playing a pinpoint ball across the Bedworth six yard box into the feet of Daniel Holgate who neatly turned and hit the ball hard and low into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
With the score all square after 90 minutes, we headed for extra time. Star continued where they had left off, out playing their host. And after 102 minutes Star took the lead for the first time in the tie with the Bedworth defence looking tired, ragged and a man down, due to Roper going off injured, and them having already used their allotted substitutes; Tony Green Volleyed the ball past the outstretched hand of Haywood into the bottom right hand corner of the net following an excellent build up between midfielders Davion Hamilton and Franklin Hazell. The host pressed hard for an equaliser, but Star held firm and in the 115th minute, Hazell, hit a 25 yard pile-driver past the hapless Haywood and into the net, to cap off a magnificent comeback from the visitors: a real never say die performance full of skill, spirit and determination.
Star return to league action this Saturday 27th October when they travel the short distance to The Tipton Sports Academy to face Tipton Town K.O 3 pm
Continental Star: Ellis, Brown, Davis, Hunt, O’Garro, Green, Hazell, Hamilton(c), Holgate, Reid, Benjamin (Swaby 40), (Wright 55). Subs not used: Gethin, Robinson.
Report by: Adam Duffy Continental Star FC. 23/10/12
“As a Bedworth United fan I just want to say well done to you for tonight’s win. Great spirit to come back from 2-0 & 3-1 down to win. Not good enough from our lads, but fair play to you. Hope you get a good draw in next round.” Glenn Watkin
Posted on our FaceBook page on 23/10/12
Continental come from behind twice, to beat Bedworth United 5 v 3 after extra time, in the Birmingham Senior Cup. Goals from Benjamin, ‘Stardom’, Holgate,
Green and Hazell seal victory.
Today saw Continental Star under 11s take on Singh Sabha – we started off with a lack of confidence and I can’t explain why? Within 4 minutes we had conceded our first goal and our heads were down. But in true Continental spirit we refocused and then realised that the game was ours for the taking. Within the next five minutes Ramello Mitchell had brought Star all square. Sabha were quick on the break and spoilt our momentum, but we continued to press and got our second goal from Alex Dias – Half time 2-1 Star.
We started the second half strong, Owen and Joshua playing in defence, were dealing with every ball sent forward by Singh Sabha. 5 minutes later, a fantastic passage of play between Aurio, Ramello and Alex saw Kyron score a well deserved goal. We continued to push on with both our centre-backs Owen and Joshua hitting the cross bar and post. Sabha struggled to get the ball out of their own half and with 5 minutes to go Star punished them further; a shot from Ramello went in off a Sabha player for a own goal – final score Continental Star 4 v 1 Singh Sabha.
Top of the league stars! #still we rise !!
Report by: Melanie Judd 14/10/12
On Sunday the ladies played host to Redditch ladies. We played Redditch in a pre-season friendly that ended 2 v 2 so we knew it was going to be a good challenge. In recent weeks the Star-ladies have allowed teams to come onto us and we have often found ourselves chasing the game early on; this is something we have been working on and going into the game we knew we couldn’t let this happen.
From the whistle we took the game to them, working as a unit, and working hard for each other we controlled the game. Half time came and it was still 0 v 0. Extremely frustrating considering that we created so many opportunities, but failed to convert them. For 70 minutes we pinned Redditch in their own half, although we were not playing our usual pass and move game. We were comfortable, and perhaps a little too comfortable, creating opportunities at will. However, we were to pay dearly for not taking our chances, as Redditch scored from set piece, followed by another shortly afterwards. This saw us 2-0 down at the final whistle.
A big thank you to those Continental staff (Deno; Daniel Moses & Mista Too Blessed) who were there giving their support.
Report by: Carly Whitehouse 14/10/12
After six weeks on the road Continental welcomed Tividale to Dales Lane in this Midland Football Alliance clash. Star gave debuts to new signings Richard Gethin in goal and Matt Hunt at centre half.
With nine minutes on the clock Jamie Price saw his shot from the edge of the area sail just over the Tividale crossbar; seven minutes later with Tividale on the ropes and having no answer to Star’s quick, free flowing, attacking football, Ibrahim Benjamin made a superb lung busting run through the Tividale defence only to see his shot scrambled off the line and away for a corner, by Jason Chilton. The hosts continued to dominate the game and in the thirty second minute a quick Star corner was played out to Tony Green who unleashed a curling shot that crashed against the Tividale bar and was cleared away to safety by the defence. Then totally against the run of play on thirty five minutes Kyle Hill gave the visitors the lead, neatly volleying the ball from just inside the Star area, through a crowd of players into the bottom left hand corner of the net, wrong footing Gethin in the Star goal.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first half with Star pressing forward playing neat, slick, attacking football in search of the equaliser; a superb close range reaction save by the young debutant, Gethin, in the Star goal prevented Tividale from scoring a second in the sixty-second minute, when Gethin palmed away a Kyle Brady header. Tividale’s skipper, Richard Taylor spurned another great chance after seventy-five minutes to put the game to bed for the visitors when he was set up by Brady on the edge of the Star area, but saw his shot skim the top of the crossbar. Star continued to press forward in search of the equaliser, playing their trademark brand of attacking football, forcing Tividale to put ten men behind the ball for the remaining minutes of the match. However, with the last kick of the game substitute Daniel Holgate flicked the ball into the path of Benjamin, who with the time and space saw his shot go wide of the Tividale post; with that the referee blew the final whistle of a game that Star dominated from start to finish, and should have gone away with a point at the very least, if not all three.
Star travel to Evo Stick southern Premier League side Bedworth United on Tuesday 23rd October, in the first round of the Birmingham Senior Cup; K.O 7.45 pm.
Continental: Gethin, Brown, Davis, Hunt, O’Garro, Green, Hazell(c), Tomlinson, Reid, Price, (Holgate 57), Benjamin. Subs not used: Hamilton, Robinson, wright.
Report by: Adam Duffy, Continental Star FC
First Team Sponsor, Don Dadda was pleased to see CSFC play their 1st home game in 6 weeks. Whilst the result was disappointing, at times the approach play was exciting to watch, but just lacked a cool clinical finish. A rugged hard fought battle which saw Star dominate in all areas, but were unlucky not to find the equaliser. Keep rising Star.
Don Dadda’s Man of the Match: Anthony Green. He commanded the midfield, played some inch perfect passes and was always available to receive the ball.
JW Hunt Cup 1st Rnd.
Team:
C Hunter, N Sawyers, A Powell, R Gough, R Hoyte, W Hughes, D Moses, S Griffiths, D Chisinga, R Thompson, A Robinson; subs used L Rhule, T Powell, A Williamson.
A good solid start to this cup tie with Star demonstrating good ball retention and using the fullbacks effectively. Daniel Chisinga had a fine performance in what was his debut game. He was supported by midfield stalwarts Daniel Moses & Wes Hughes. Hughes brought his experience to the fore, controlling the midfield at will. One such occasion resulted in a penetrating pass to striker, A Robinson who was clinical with his finish. This was a well overdue goal.
Ettingshall’s game plan was to try and catch Star with fast, direct, counter attacks, but this was foiled time after time by Star’s rearguard, marshalled by 1st Team keeper K Hunter (returning from injury,) and assisted well by the promising centre-back R Gough, R Hoyte, A Powell and debutant N Sawyers. However, Ettingshall did manage to pull a goal back following a lapse in concentration by the defence, just before half time.
The team-talk at the interval was simple: keep it tight and start converting the chances created.
L Rhule and T Powell were introduced after the break and they didn’t take long before they began to make an impact. Star were awarded a penalty following a late tackle on L Thompson. Ettingshall’s keeper saved the resulting spot-kick but the referee orders it to be retaken. Up steps ‘Bobby’ confident after scoring his first goal in awhile; the keeper makes a save again! With the game nearing the closing stages, a third goal is need by Star in order to kill off Ettingshall, who are growing in confidence. Star’s coaches ‘Deno’ and Adrian were nervously clock watching when Star were awarded another penalty. Surely not! Confident of putting the game beyond all doubt; up steps Relly. And, you’ve guessed it; the keeper saves the penalty again! Star hold out to win the game two goals to one, but we will definitely need a new designated penalty taker.
Reporter: ‘Deno’ Moses
Enjoying half time.
