News

Polska ease to cup win despite Harper seeing red

(contributed by Mark Whait - 29/10/2006)

LEICESTER POLSKA cruised through to the next round of the Billy Walton Cup with a comfortable 6-2 win against Fleckney Athletic, despite having Vernon Harper sent off after just 28 minutes. Harper was shown a straight red card by referee Dave Pegg after pushing a Fleckney player to the ground after being fouled himself by the same player just seconds earlier. Polska were 2-0 up at the time - Savvo Wieczorek putting the hosts in front after just 9 minutes from a Mark Inglis pass - but only after a Pete Smith goal kick had beaten the Fleckney defence. Polska thought they had gone 2-0 up on 18 minutes when Chris Eames 'scored' from a corner, only for the goal to be strangely disallowed. But Inglis made sure two minutes later, slotting home a Chris Rudkin pass after Fleckney failed to clear their lines. Inglis then put a shot just inches wide after 35 minutes - again from a Chris Rudkin pass - as Polska failed to let their man disadvantage trouble them. Rich Ellis then put Polska 3-0 up on 36 minutes. After taking a throw in, he received a return ball pass from Chris Rudkin and curled a wonderful shot in from the wide right. All three of his goals for this season are genuine Polska 'goal of the season' contenders, and he tormented Fleckney all morning with a dazzling array of skills. In the second half, Polska went 4-0 up after Savvo picked up a precise Rich Ellis pass and slotted it past the advancing Fleckney keeper. Inglis then put Polska 5-0 up on 64 minutes from a Wiezcorek pass - this time started from an Ellis throw. Fleckney then pulled two back as Polska relaxed - a header from a free kick on 68 minutes, and then from a cross on 72 minutes. Ellis then thought he had scored another as he beat three men on 75 minutes, only to see his shot go wide of the right hand post. Inglis then completed his hat trick - his fifth of his Polska career - when slotting home from a Wieczorek cross on 78 minutes. This win was Polska's fifth straight victory, and sets them up nicely for a home cup clash in the County Cup next week.

edited by Admin (05/12/2006)