PICS: Pinnacle
UEFA REGIONS CUP
INTERMEDIARY ROUND – GROUP 2
ENGLAND (Isle of Man League) 0 GERMANY (Wurtemburg) 7
Thursday 25 September 2014
At: The National Sports Centre, Poprad, Slovakia
ENGLAND went into this morning’s clash with Germany knowing that nothing less than a win would be suffice to keep alive their hopes of making it to next year’s Finals.
The match was again played at the National Sports Centre in Poprad and kicked off in warm sunshine however, the game did not go to plan, with Germany handing out a lesson in European football at this level and running out easy 7-0 winners.
Manager Steve Burns decided to start with the same line-up that had started the tournament so well against Scotland. The game started quietly with both sides appearing reluctant to attack but as the half progressed it was the Germans that began to take the upper hand.
Max Thomas in the England goal was the busier of the two keepers, making three vital stops, and it was from one of these saves, on 20 minutes, that lead to a German corner and the opening goal with Kleinschrodt rising unmarked to head home.
The Germans really began to impose themselves on the game now and they almost doubled their lead on 33 minutes when Braig’s effort was cleared off the line by Julian Ringham. A second goal was not long in coming though and it was a goal keeping error from Thomas who allowed a deep cross from Asch to somehow find the net.
It was going to take a huge effort in the second half to rescue this game but matters went from bad to worse with two German goals in two minutes scored by Weist on the hour mark and a second for Kleinschrodt a minute later.
The Germans continued to dominate the game and it was no surprise when substitute Marinic added a fifth on 80 minutes. The Germans continued to pour forward and Asch added a sixth goal on 85 minutes and to crown an end to a miserable day Marinic added a seventh on 88 minutes.
The defeat effectively ended the English interest in the Tournament yet again with this reverse being the worst result in the seven Regions Cup competitions that England has entered.
Team: Max Thomas, Julian Ringham, Stephen Riding (replaced by Liam Cowin 74 mins), Andy Crennell, Johnny Myers (replaced by Karl Clark 64 mins), Marc Kelly, Conor Doyle, Frank Jones, Lee Gale, Ciaran McNulty (replaced by Jack McVey 63 mins), Josh Kelly – Subs Not Used; Chris Bass, Karl Clark, Sam Holiday, Dan Bell and Mark Wolfenden.
