Central Penalised in Challenge Trophy Final

After a long road to the final, Central challenged Chadderton Reserves for the Manchester FA Challenge Trophy in front of a vocal crowd at Ewan Fields. The game finished with the sides having two apiece, with Chadderton winning 5-3 on penalties.

Manchester Central started well, with three chances of quality within the first ten minutes, very much setting the tone for the first half. Fuad Kasali had the game's opening chance in the fifth minute, as he looked to capitalise off a long ball which dropped to him just inside of the box. The No. 11 hit the ball on the bounce, slamming his effort goalward, but it flew just over the bar.

Just two minutes later Central's second chance would come via Ruben Lawal, who drilled a long-range effort toward the bottom-right corner. After scrambling across goal, Chadderton's goalkeeper saved Lawal's effort but he was kept busy by Kasali's next attempt - another volley which would go skyward.

Central emerging from the tunnel CC: James Fowles

However, that is not to say that it was a one-sided game in the opening period. Chadderton looked to play a possession-based game, patiently building down the sides of their 4-3-3 before looking to rapidly fire through balls through Central's defence. Thankfully, however, the Whites' back line would stay watertight as they soaked up the pressure.

In the process, however, the referee brandished a yellow card toward Claudio Costa for sweeping away the legs of an opposition player by the halfway line. Chadderton would threaten Whiting's goal on a few occasions, with their most notable goalscoring opportunity in the 14th minute. The ball found the opposition's No. 7 on the edge of the box, who smacked his effort just wide of the far post.

Ewan Fields erupted in the 21st minute as Fuad Kasali was brought down inside the Chadderton box, leading to the referee pointing toward the penalty spot, with the opportunity converted by captain Dan Dolling who brushed the ball into the bottom right corner.

Dan Dolling celebrating putting Central ahead from the spot CC: James Fowles

Just a minute later, Kasali came close to doubling Central's lead, with a cross drawing out the 'keeper who aimed to head the ball away. However, this opportunity would go awry, leading to a quieter next ten minutes where Chadderton would begin to assert more control.

However, the quiet period of the game abruptly ended as Noupoue gave Chadderton their own spot-kick after hacking down a winger who had danced his way into the box. The opposition's No. 4, Owen Massey, converted his opportunity as he stroked the ball into the bottom left corner just before halftime.

This began a hectic few minutes as both sides looked to take the lead before the break. Chadderton were gifted their next opportunity just seconds after their first as they flew through the Central defence on the counter with a through ball threaded to the opposition winger on the left corner of the box. Whiting rushed to meet the attacker inside the box, sliding headfirst in front of the ball to block the run with his chest. This move was almost identically replicated by Central via Lawal just prior to the whistle, but once again, the 'keeper was able to dispel any threat.

Ruben Lawal taking on the Chadderton defenders CC: James Fowles

Chadderton came out after the break reinvigorated, dominating Central for the opening minutes of the second half. Having created but not completed a number of opportunities, including an effort from a corner and a long-range effort from their No. 7 which both drifted just wide of the upright, Tomkinson decided to make a switch, replacing Lawal with Raposo.

On the hour mark, Central were awarded a free kick after Chadderton's No.16 took down Fuad Kasali inside the opposition's half - a challenge for which the referee brandished the game's second yellow card. Dolling took the free kick and smartly slid the ball underneath the leaping wall, towards Kasali - although he was not able to find his intended target as the ball was nipped away from the feet.

Just minutes later, the referee controversially waved away a penalty shout for Central, who claimed a Chadderton player had handled the ball in the box.

Claudio Costa being challenged in the middle of the park CC: James Fowles

In the ensuing confusion, Chadderton rushed forward with a through ball finding No. 12 open on the left side. However, as the winger drifted into the box and attempted to round Whiting to find himself clear on goal, he was brought down by the goalkeeper, resulting in a yellow card and a penalty for the opposition. Chadderton's No. 4 took the resulting spot-kick, caressing the ball into the bottom left corner to gift his side the lead in the 65th minute.

From this point onward, Central would fight for an equaliser, with Tomkinson making another tactical tinker as he swapped Junior Silva for Aria Asqari to overload the Chadderton midfield.

Thankfully for Central, their efforts would eventually come true as Fuad Kasali sprinkled some cup-final magic in the 82nd minute. After receiving the ball on the left side of the pitch, he spun his defender and surged into the box before firing a left-footed effort which ruffled into the top left corner of the net.

Fuad Kasali putting Central level in the 82nd minute CC: James Fowles

This led to a frantic last few minutes, with an attempt by Martin stopped by the goalkeeper before Sholabi outmuscled an onrushing Chadderton attacker. However, both sides would miss golden opportunities to score a last-minute winner.

Chadderton's No.3 fired an effort over Whiting, but also over the woodwork before Kasali smashed an effort goalward from mere yards out that was blocked by the goalkeeper's chest. Following the final whistle, Kasali's impressive performance saw him awarded the Man of the Match Award.

Thus, the evening's drama would continue by the way of yet more penalties. Unfortunately, though, it would be Chadderton who would lift the Manchester FA Challenge Cup as they converted all five of their spot kicks and the goalkeeper saved Sholabi's effort.

Despite being on the wrong side of the result, club chairman Paul McGuire was proud of his side's effort as they dispelled recent poor form to fight until the final whistle, saying:

"It was a fantastic game. Credit to the lads, we made a right fight of it. Listen, we have been in very poor form, having not won in four or five games, and Chadderton are a very good team in the league above."

"We took it to them and I think that we did surprise them. We were very, very unlucky in a really even game, end-to-end. We had that chance right in the last minute, but there you go, lost on penalties in the end, nevermind!"

"We have got good penalty takers taking the penalties there. It's a shame for Emmanuel [Sholabi], he scored in the semi-final from the spot, didn't he? Listen, we got off to a great start and we did everything we were asked we played the style of football that Manchester Central are good at, what we wanted to do, and it was anyone's game. That's how cup finals go."

"It's good for the lads to do just what we asked, do as instructed. They listened in training on Wednesday and took it into the game, it shows what we are capable of. Look, the cup is the cup, but we've got to take this into the league. We can't get promoted, but we can take it into next season and build from this. We're still in another cup, so we'll hope to get into another cup final. The season's not over just yet."

Manchester Central FC are back in Manchester Football League Division One action on Saturday 4th March facing top-of-the-table Govan and University of Manchester at the Armitage Centre.