Late Vernon strike gives Richmond Shield again

WENSLEYDALE LEAGUE MEDALS SHIELD FINAL
RICHMOND TOWN ACADEMY 2 HAWES UNITED 1 (aet)
By Ricky Butler at the RGPS

A goal from Sam Vernon three minutes from the end of extra time at Northallerton Town last night saw Richmond Town Academy retain the Medals Shield for a third year in a row.

With a closely fought final seemingly heading for a penalty shoot out, Vernon's 117th minute shot on the turn from 12 yards left Hawes United heartbroken.

Town, who had lifted this trophy for the past two seasons, went close early on through Jonathan Kellett and Ben Holmes but it was Hawes who went in front after 14 minutes.

Steve Calvert broke from midfield and fed Jonathon Champion on the edge of the penalty area. He played a neat 1-2 with Darren Bell before smashing the ball past Town goalkeeper Karl Lathum from 16 yards.

But the lead lasted barely 10 minutes. Mark Cleminson whipped in a dangerous free kick from out on the left and Ross McGuigan flicked the ball past Hawes 'keeper Chris Harrison from six yards.

Richmond were the better side for the remainder of the first half and they should have gone in front after half an hour when Josh Wooff hit the crossbar from close range after a low cross from Dylan Wardale.

But Hawes got on top in the second period with Brett Calvert, Daniel Peacock and Bell all coming close to winning it. although it was Richmond who nearly snatched the trophy two minutes from time.

Vernon played in Wooff and he displayed a neat touch to round Harrison, but Brett Calvert got back to make a superb last-ditch challenge as he was about to roll the ball into the empty net.

Extra time was difficult as players from both sides went down with cramp and the final was heading for a penalty shoot-out when Richmond grabbed a dramatic winner.

Cleminson showed a cool head on the edge of the penalty area before slipping in Vernon whose shot on the turn beat Harrison to give Richmond the Shield again.

RICHMOND TOWN ACADEMY - Lathum, Simpson, Muirhead, McGuigan, Cleminson, Carruthers, Kellett, Wooff, Holmes, Vernon, Wardale. Subs - Donaldson, Soulsby, Metcalfe, Battersby.

HAWES UNITED - Harrison, Iveson(L), Calvert(B), Guy(S), Allen, Calvert(S), Iveson(J), Dinsdale, Champion, Peacock, Bell. Subs - Guy(J), Hulley, Richardson, Iveson(A).

REFEREE - S. Peake
ASSISTANTS - E. Morris, J. Shuker
FOURTH OFFICIAL - J. Stephenson

Time to scrap the away goals rule?

Laurent Koscielny heads Arsenal's second goal in Munich in March, but should that have led to extra time?

FOLLOWING Arsenal's heroic failure in the Champions League at Bayern Munich this season, surely it is time to review the ridiculous away goals rule?

I understand why it was introduced - to encourage more attacking football in the early days of European club competition. But has it really achieved that?

It is now accepted that a 0-0 draw at home in the first leg is a good result. In what way is this encouraging attacking football?

Also, if the away team score early in the first leg they are happy to sit back, knowing a 2-1 defeat is not a disaster as a 1-0 home win will take them through. Again, hardly encouraging teams to attack.

All that tends to happen is that the home team sets out to keep a clean sheet - the definition of negative football. That has become more important than actually winning the game.

Moreover, the whole idea of football is to score more goals than your opponent. Putting the ball in the net is the hardest thing in the game which is why good strikers cost the most money. Therefore why should a goal scored away from home be more valuable than one scored at home? A goal is a goal after all.

In no other competition is the away goal rule used. Imagine if it were in place in the FA Cup. The away team gets a 1-1 draw but goes through as their goal is worth more. No one would think that was fair.

If we accept that the away goals rule was brought in to encourage the away team to attack, rather than just sit back for a 0-0 draw or 1-0 defeat hoping to turn it around at home in the second leg, then surely it should be overruled by an away win?

Therefore, if both legs end in away wins (say, 1-2 and 0-1) how can one away win be more worthy than the other if the aggregate score is the same?

I cannot for the life of me understand how Arsenal's 2-0 win in the Allianz Arena was not as worthy as Bayern's 3-1 win at the Emirates three weeks earlier? Both are 2-goal away wins, one should cancel out the other.

Of course it is easy for people to think I am just a bitter Gooner who is unhappy that his team went out of the competition. Everyone knew the rules before the start. But I have no problem with going out if you actually lose the tie.

Last year, Arsenal lost 0-4 away in Milan and although they won the second leg 3-0, they were out on aggregate. Fair enough. The year before, Wenger's side lost 3-4 on aggregate to Barcelona. Again, no problem. But to win away from home, draw 3-3 on aggregate and still go out? No, I'm not having that.

And just because we all knew the rules does not make them right. The game has changed. The offside law, for example, has changed several times. Three points for a win was introduced back in 1982. Then we had the new back pass law ten years later. All were brought in to make the game more exciting.

As the game changes, the laws of the game need to change with it. The away goals rule is now out-dated. Unnecessary. Extra time and penalties were introduced to decide cup ties that finished level in every other competition. Why should Europe be any different?