More silverware for Puss In Boots

2:28pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

PUSS In Boots secured their second piece of silverware this season against a Mary Dendy side with whom they have become all too familiar.

This was their third meeting in 17 days and the fifth in total this season and, with Puss In Boots winning the first four fixtures, this was one Dendy perhaps weren't looking forward to.

Coming into the game with several key players missing, Dendy started brightly and scored with their first real effort on goal after 13 minutes, Matty Morris dispossessing a Puss defender and unleashing a low drive into the net.

Puss created the better chances and Dendy had goalkeeper Stuart Davies to thank as he made a spectacular save to deny Simon Ainsworth from a free kick.

Two minutes later the game was level. Lee Malkin, jinking his way across the penalty box, found Simon Gibbons on the left and his low centre gave Geoff Shaw an easy tap-in from four yards.

Despite Andy Currie and Simon Lee's battling efforts in midfield, and Matty Morris's physical threat up front for Dendy, it was the Puss who created the clearer chances and after Lee Malkin and Simon Gibbons went close it was Gibbons who gave the Puss the lead five minutes before halftime, latching onto a huge punt upfield from Andy Atkinson to slot the ball home.

Simon Lee and Matty Morris both saw sight of goal before the break only to see their efforts go wide.

On the hour mark Dendy had a great chance to draw level from the penalty spot, Dave Clowes adjudged by referee Rick Bradfield to have impeded a Dendy player in the area. Matty Morris took reponsibilty, only to see his effort superbly palmed away by Andy Atkinson. It was a miss that was to prove crucial as four minutes later the Puss were awarded their own penalty, with Paul Cronshaw penalised for a tug on Emlyn Hughes's shirt.

Captain Simon Ainsworth stepped up and made no mistake.

Dendy worked hard to get back in the game, Gary Baker using all his experience up front to conjure up chances, but on 70 minutes, with seemingly no threat, Lee Malkin unleashed an unstoppable curling shot from 25 yards to secure cup glory for the league champions.

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