1st game qualifying league
Uppingham Colts (1) vs Finedon Volta Pumas (1)

A good opening game but relatively uneventful as Pumas took some time to get into their stride. Both sides found the long grass was stifling their passing.

The first goal went to Uppingham with a long punt through midfield and clean finish.
Pumas equaliser came from a good run by Luke and a shot at close range from Callum. A draw was probably a fair result as both sides created chances.

2nd game qualifying league
Great Doddington (0) vs Finedon Volta Pumas (2)

Pumas started the game in a very lively way, with two early runs down the wing from Luke. From the second run, Luke fired in a good shot that was well saved. Sam also made a spirited run down the left and his pass to Callum resulted in a good shot that was saved for a corner. Josh took the corner and Ryan was unlucky with a shot over the bar.

Down the other end, Josh made two great saves in quick succession to deny Doddington.

Pumas took the lead after a run by Josh and pass to Aaron, whose cross was met by Callum with a neat finish. (1-0). Pumas extended their lead with a cracking shot from Josh on the left-hand edge of the penalty area (2-0). The team showed good battling to deny Doddington any meaningful chances after that and were deserved winners.

3rd game qualifying league
Finedon Volta Pumas (1) vs. Weekley Rovers Jets (1)
In a closer game, Pumas had a good start with a run down the right from Sam earning a free kick outside the area, taken by Aaron and shot narrowly wide. Sam had another shot shortly after that which the keeper dropped and the ball went for a corner. Ryan forced another corner with a run down the right but neither corner produced a scoring chance.

Luke went close from a free kick with a crisp shot that was well saved and Sam went on a run through midfield but was unable to finish. Weekley then scored from a corner; as the ball came in, it was met on the volley by a Weekley player, leaving Josh no chance (0-1). Pumas didn't let their heads go down and were soon level. Ryan forced a corner with a good run and passed to Luke, whose cross was met on the volley by Josh, a great goal (1-1). From the kick off, Josh had a chance to hit the winner but was unlucky and the game ended with a draw.

4th game qualifying league
Ise Lodge (0) vs. Finedon Volta Pumas (3)
Pumas were starting to hit their stride.....In the opening minutes, Luke had a shot which clipped Aaron on the way to the goal and flew wide. Ryan had a shot that was flicked over by the Ise Lodge keeper and then from a throw-in by Sam, Josh headed just wide.

Pumas took the lead with a cracking shot by Josh from the edge of the area, following good work and a cross by Luke (0-1)

Ryan made a mazy run from midfield and forced a corner that he took himself. Luke was in the penalty area to score from close-in (0-2). Ryan went close with a nice turn and shot, and, not to be outdone, Aaron scored a good individual goal with a run, turning the defender and waiting for the keeper to commit before placing in the bottom corner (0-3).

5th game qualifying league
Finedon Volta Pumas (2) vs. Wellingborough Town (0)

Pumas finished top of the qualifying league with a good team display, although both sides were obviously tired at the end of the league stage.

Wellingborough had the first chance of note with a free kick that went just wide.

Sam opened the scoring for Pumas with a fantastic run through the middle, rounding three or four players and finishing with a shot in off the post....there was some debate about whether the ball had crossed the line, but without goal-line technology, it was difficult to say and anyway, the quality run deserved a goal (1-0).

Wellingborough forced a good save from Josh before Pumas made the game safe - a cross from Aaron was nicked in by Luke (2-0). Josh made another good save from a cross just before the final whistle.


Semi Final
(1st place team) Finedon Volta Pumas vs. (4th place team) Wellingborough Town
Pumas won 3-1 on penalties after extra time ended 0-0

A much closer game than the earlier encounter in which both sides struggled to break the other side down, playing on the long grass. The best chances came for Luke, with a shot from outside the area, Sam, with a shot that bounced over. Both sides forced corners but were unable to break the deadlock.

In extra time, Ryan went close with a shot just wide from a corner swung in by Josh.

The game was settled by a penalty shoot-out, 'best of 6' with all players having a turn. Josh was the hero for Pumas, conceding only one out of the 6 spot-kicks and standing up to make some good saves. Pumas converted three out of their six kicks to reach the final

Final
Findeon Volta Pumas vs. Weekley Rovers Jets
Weekley Rovers won on sudden death penalties after extra time ended 0-0 and penalties ended 3-3

Weekley almost took the lead at the start with a shot wide. Pumas then forced a succession of corners with good pressure:

Ryan headed just wide
Sam shot over
Ryan flicked wide of the post.

Josh was unlucky from a free kick outside the area, his shot going over and then Sam saw a shot saved.
Aaron made a good run and forced another corner and then Sam released Aaron with a through ball, only for his shot to run wide.

In the three minutes of extra time, the only chance of note was a cross from Callum to Luke who was unlucky with his shot.

The Penalty shoot-out was a nervy affair, with both teams level at 3-3 after six penalties. Weekley were the eventual winners on sudden death, converting two of their penalties to one from Pumas.

Pumas can hold their heads up for a spirited display, with some great passing football, neat touches and quality finishing. They can be proud of their runners-up trophies for the way they played, losing only by the narrowest of margins.

Gary Tofts, 6th June 2010