DCFC took part in the 5th annual Merseyside football supporter’s tournament on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May. The format was 11-a-side with 15 minutes each way and was all for Claire House Children’s hospice.

8 teams took part with the Groups being

Group A
Tranmere
West Brom
Runcorn Linnets
Liverpool

Group B
DCFC
Grimsby
Motherwell
Rochdale


The first game was versus Grimsby. The game ended 0-0 albeit Ash Dolan, DCFC’s top scorer had a goal ruled out for being marginally offside.

The second game was versus Rochdale where DCFC were beaten 2-0. The first goal coming after a goal-moth scramble in front of Nathan Auty on the post and the second being a decent finish. At the other end Allen Jones fired wide from a Holliday corner. Daniel Watling also had a volleyed effort which he failed to keep under the bar.

The third game was winner takes all between DCFC and Motherwell. Motherwell were the defending champions from last year’s tournament and we unbeaten to this point. DCFC defended brilliantly and at the other end Ash Dolan received the ball from a neat cut-back from Allen Jones before firing home. In the 2nd half Allen Jones had a chance to get on the score sheet himself, however his effort from the edge of the box was pulled just wide. The DCFC defence repelled everything thrown at them in the last few minutes and they won the game 1-0 qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time in 4 attempts.

In the semi final, DCFC were pitted against West Brom. The Baggies had won all their group games including a 5-0 defeat of Runcorn, 3-1 win over Tranmere and a 2-0 defeat of Liverpool.

The game kicked off and took shape as a battle between Wes Brom’s obviously talented attack versus DCFC’s solid defence. West Brom took a 1-0 Lead in the first half, for the first time all tournament both central defenders backed off the striker rather than going to him, allowing him to get a shot away. The shot carried some power and although Gardner got a good hand to it, he could only push it into the side netting.

A high defensive line from West Brom should have been exposed by Dolan as DCFC grew into the game, however Holliday’s ball failed to find him.

In the second half DCFC grew in confidence and started to press West Brom, a neat move between Holliday and Allen Jones lead to the latter crossing for Dolan and Evans, both of whom could not make contact. DCFC Made Changes as Salmon came on for Holliday and Ephgrave for Dolan. It was Ephgrave who had his head in his hands at the end of the game as with seconds to go he audaciously chipped the West Brom Goalkeeper only for the ball to striker the underside of the bar and bounce to safety. West Brom went though, although they knew, and stated, that they had been lucky to escape a penalty shoot-out to reach the final.

In the Final West Brom’s superiority in this tournament told as they comfortably beat Runcorn for a second time to take the title. 4-1 the final score although the Runcorn goal was a stunner.

DCFC Squad
Gardner
Mace
Darlington
Stef Lambe
Dutton
King
Auty
Watling
Andy Holliday
Robinson
Evans
Salmon
Dolan
Allen Jones
Ephgrave

Was this tourny played on some fields behind a Sainsbury's in Prenton by any chance? Not far from me that place. I'd have popped over to lend some support if I'd known.

Unlucky lads anyway....Losing in the semi's to the eventual winners is no disgrace at all.

it was right on the back of prenton park, i didn't see any sainsburys though.

Ahh right! I know the place you mean.