The Old Bulldog Athletic FC

After a long hard season, we got to our first cup final in the Coors league.

I want to say that this cup wasn’t just a normal knock out competition.
It was a lge format playing all the sides in a league once.

The top 4 qualifying for the semi finals.

We won our first 4 games qualifying and had 2 dead rubbers which we lost against the 2 best sides in the lge.

The semi was a good game against Wood Lane the stand out side this season.
(Congratulations on their double).
They were magnanimous in defeat, respect.
A great result for us.

I have won many things as a player and a manager at good levels but this tops them all.
Missing 5 players against a good Lamboure side (who are a credit to to the lge and as a club).

We nicked a 1-0 in a game that could have gone either way.

Be proud lads, all of you. 8 games v premier level opponents and every one of my 20 man squad contributed.

Not about individuals, we are the sum of our parts.

To be told we wouldn’t get a point and battered every week at this level.
I am very proud and so should you lads.

No one can take it away from you ever.

It says it all.
WINNERS.

Today the lads were away at Norton Grange a club we have had many games from the PDSL through to the Coors Division one to the Coors prem.

Today’s installment was the premier league division cup where each team play each other once.

The game started well for the Bulldog who scored after 5minutes through Matt plant with a good finish. The next 15 mins saw the bulldog dominate creating 4-5 chances before a soft penalty was conceded by Jord when he was in control of the situation the game then evened out until half time 1-1.

The second half the Bulldog got on top and controlled the game missing 4-5 chances before a corner in the 60th minute was pounced on by Hayden Dunn.
The next 15mins was dominated by the bulldog and again missing 3-4 good chances before Tom Riley netted the 3rd.
A late goal by Ryan Booth made the score more reflective.

Overall a good team performance where everyone from the starting 11 to the bench contributed and could have been 8 or more and our keeper never had a save to make.

Norton Grange 1 Bulldog 4.

We have now won 4 out of 4 in this competition.

We are now through to the semi finals with 2 still to play.
A great effort from the boys.

Barber life at home next week in the Sentinel cup 1/4 final.

The lads entertained FC Lambourne in the Premier Division League Cup looking to build on their previous 2 wins in the competition and both sides in good form.

The game was a scrappy affair with both sides not playing to their potential.
However in the first half despite us not being at our best, felt we were comfortable and did create a few chances before Josh Bristow scored direct from a free kick 22yards out just before half time.

We started the second half brighter and Riles hit a shot that their keeper saved then Macca scored a good team goal to put us 2-0 up.

We were comfortable but a few minutes of pressure from Lambourne resulted in them scoring a deflected goal after Bulldog having 4 attempts to clear.
We again went sloppy and Lamboure pushed us but the lads held on.

A good result in the end after not being at our best.

The lads have a free weekend this week, so no game.

The lads are at home this Sunday 9th Feb against Barber Life.

Kick off 10.30am
Meir KA

Bar open and all are welcome.

This week the lads were away at Greenhoffs in the Sentinel Cup a team that have won the competition the last 2 seasons. Greenhoffs who are one of the best if not the best side in Staffordshire.

The game started well with Marco Buckley scoring 2 in the first 8minutes, both good finishes but the second was an exquisite chip over the keeper.
A 3rd arrived on 20 minutes after a good move involving Josh, Macca and Bucko with the finish by Planty.
It was difficult for the lads to know what to do as we knew there would be pressure coming.
The game was even till 30mins when Greenhoffs scored, they then penned us in until 1/2 time with the lads defending well and not conceded many chances.

The second half changed within 2minutes of the start on a referee decsion giving a penalty that no one apealed for. Greenhoffs scored to make it 3-2.
It then became 1 way traffic with Greenhoffs dominating and creating good chances.
Their equaliser arrived after a rash challenge and rightly awarded a penalty to make it 3-3 on 70minutes.
As they pushed for a winner, the Bulldog started to catch them on the counter and got some joy and in one goal mouth scramble our side were adamant the ball crossed the line but wasn’t given.
The game went to penalties and Bulldog scoring all 5 and Zak saving a Greenhoffs peno for us to progress.

Our first competitive game against Greenhoffs and they are a very, very good side.
We rode our luck at times with brilliant defending but nice to progress into the next round.
Hopefully the lads will take confidence from this.

The Bulldog are at home on Sunday 19th January
V FC Maybank kick off 10.30am.

Our game today is off.

The lads are back at home Sunday 1st December.

Bulldog v Lambourne (lge cup)
Kick off 10.30am
Meir KA

All welcome and bar will be open.

The boys are at home again in the Staffs Trophy.

Bulldog v Bentley fc from the Crewe lge.
Kick off 11am
Meir KA

All are welcome.