Jennings clan shine in win over Onions
North Village 8 MR Onions 0
Onions usually cause tears but last night it was the team by that name which would have wanted to cry.
In a match delayed from Sunday, MR Onions' commercial side found the might of Premier League club North Village too hot to handle as the latter dealt them an 8-0 thrashing and advanced to the FA Cup's quarter-finals.
That Village keeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams swapped positions with midfielder Kentoine Jennings and scored his team's final goal underlines the imperious grip which they had on the match from start to finish.
Four goals in either half at Devonshire Rec. satisfied Village fans though some were calling for “double figures” which they could easily have had if players did not become so complacent and loose with their shots as the result became inevitable.
Keith Jennings got the runaway win underway early in the first half when he smashed home from about 30 yards after receiving the ball directly in the centre of the goal. His older brother, Kentoine, added to the family affair by finishing off a magnificent effort by Dwight (Payback) Warren. The latter dribbled three opponents before being felled at the goal mouth where Kentoine ensured Warren's energetic run was not wasted.
A minute later, Clay Smith crashed the ball past goalie Chris Hewson's right hand from close range to make it 3-0 - and this was only about 20 minutes into the game. Smith was denied a second before his half-time departure when he hit the left goalpost with a ball from a corner kick.
Kevin Jennings joined his brothers on the scoresheet before the half with a skilful diagonal run through the middle towards the right goalpost before shooting the ball past the diving Hewson to his right. That was 4-0.
Villaged continued toying with the hapless MR Onions in the second half, being almost cavalier with their opportunities. Yet Jason Davis, Keith and Kentoine Jennings and Adams ensured that Village duplicated their first-half output.
Adams' strike - coming as he dribbled past two defenders and rounded Hewson - was greeted by an outburst of applause and cheers from team-mates, both on and off the field, and team management. For MR Onions, the final whistle could not have be blown too soon.
By contrast, the First Division league match which preceded that one-sided encounter proved a nail-biting battle between Wolves and Prospect, eventually won 6-5 by Wolves. What made the outcome even more astounding is the fact that the winners were down 4-1 at the break. However, a second-half hat-trick by David Burchall turned the tide for Wolves.
“It was great to see the team spirit and determination in the second half. I made a couple adjustments and it paid off.
“I would like us to improve from tonight's performance which I hope will give players more drive to succeed. We have not been consistent this season,” said Wolves coach LeRoy (Curly Joe) Wilson, reacting to his side's great comeback.
Wolves, he noted, still had a chance of promotion but need to win the majority of their remaining matches to achieve this.