Golden Pheasant lift the Sunday Senior Cup
Golden Pheasant lift the Cawarden Derbyshire Sunday Senior Cup as they beat Doe Lea 2-1 at the Proctor Cars Stadium, Matlock.
Golden Pheasant managed to beat a battling Doe Lea 2-1 despite a late comeback scare. Goals from Pat Pugh and Mason Booth-Davis put the visitors in the drivers seat, but a late goal by Perry Richards put some late pressure on.
It did not take long for Golden Pheasant to take the lead, as in the third minute a ball whipped in from a corner found Pat Pugh in the area, and his effort flew past Ross Etheridge in goal.
A chance to equalise for Doe Lea came in the 20th minute, Lee Thompson missed the ball after coming out to collect it. Craig King looked to capitalise from the mistake as he took aim with a lofted effort, which was cleared wonderfully off the line by Cory Burton.
Doe Lea continued to hunt for the equaliser, as a long-ranged effort came from Perry Richards, but it whistled just over the crossbar.
The Blues had an opportunity to double their lead as Mason Booth-Davis cut inside off the left flank and fired a low-driven effort into the near post, which was stopped by Etheridge.
Golden Pheasant immediately looked to capitalise on the brink of halftime as Richards fired in a dangerous ball which found Josh Parfitt but he could not direct his shot on target.
Despite Doe Lea pressure, it was Golden Pheasant who found themselves in front at the end of the first half.
History repeated itself for Golden Pheasant, as in the 50th minute some beautiful link up play between Matthew Brian and substitute Gerson Diaz saw a line-splitting ball played to Booth-Davis who took it around Etheridge and slotted home to double their lead.
Doe Lea refused to give up, and in the 68th minuet substitute Oli Rouse was picked out by Thomas Poole from a dangerous set piece, but his effort whistled over the bar.
Another chance for the home side to get back into the game in the 75th minute as Parfitt latched onto a lovely ball from the midfield but dragged his effort just wide of the post.
Doe Lea managed score a goal to inspire hopes of a comeback, as King played a great ball into Richards who jinked inside and blasted his effort past Thompson into the back of the net.
The full-time whistle blew as Golden Pheasant held off a battling Do Lea to lift the Sunday Senior Cup.
Written by Max Stairs
Photography by Michael South