ROYAL SCHOOL OF MINES 1

CaCAMBORNE SCHOOL OF MINES 6

THE eagerly anticipated annual "Bottle" match had arrived again for Camborne School of Mines (CSM) as they looked to retain the title after last year's 2-1 win over Royal school of mines in Penryn.

This time it was CSM who had to make the long trip to London in the 105th bottle match.

It's been a very mixed season for CSM, being the "draw kings" of the One and All Sports Mining League and knowing that a draw would see them retain the title, but all minds were strongly concentrated on a win and a great performance to help boost themselves for the rest of the season.

Player/manager Jason Dyer, who was desperate to retain the cup in his final year with the club, had suffered a knee injury a few weeks previous to the match and had to be replaced by Sam Harrison at centre-back who was the backbone of the team and was rewarded with the player of the match award for his outstanding performance.

With adrenalin high, the whistle blew and CSM were clearly the brightest of the teams with good passing and taking the game to their opponents with some half chances from strikers Mike Cumner-Price and Wills Hamnett and with excellent dribbling runs down the wings by Chris Long and Leigh Richardson.

The rock steady backline of Tom Anholt, Tommy Morgan, Harrison and Dave Parry, playing for the first time, meant that goalkeeper Jamie Underwood only had to make a couple of clearances.

With Jon East and Sam Davis bossing the midfield and supplying the through balls to the strikers which opened up gaps in the RSM defence Cumner-Price exposed this with a superb ball in to Hamnett who masterfully, from a tight angle, scored to make it 1-0.

CSM then doubled this lead five minutes before the break when Sam Davis's shot was parried only for it to fall to Cumner-Price who slotted home which was well deserved after excellent performances overall this season.

The second half saw CSM picking up where they left from with quick thinking from Jon east who looped the ball into the RSM area for Davis to head home, but resulted in a collision with the 'keeper and both had to be taken to hospital where they were stitched up.

Although 3-0 up CSM could not afford to lose concentration and leaks did start to happen in the defence as RSM became more confident with some good football, but never really threatened the 'keeper.

CSM were now looking to see this game off in style as they attacked in numbers and Cumner-price doubled his scoring tally after a dazzling run, beating off two defenders and sliding the ball past the 'keeper to make it 4-0.

R.S.M still battled away and had a great chance to score when a shot destined for the bottom left hand corner was blocked after a last gasp stretch by Parry.

Parry was replaced by Dan Meakin with ten minutes left who worked well down the right with some delightful runs.

With great support from the away fans, this spurred the team on to completely demolish RSM and the fifth goal came from Hamnett who lobbed the ball with great skill over the 'keeper for his second of the match.

The last goal for CSM truly summed up their greatest performance of the season with the influential Cumner-Price picking out Richardson with a pin-point pass, who rocketed the ball into the net from 18 yards to make it 6-0.

Dyer decided to bring on 'keeper Dan Woolmer who made a fine save that even Peter Cech would have admired. Unfortunately CSM didn't keep a clean sheet after a poor back pass was intercepted by an RSM striker and left the 'keeper helpless as he put the ball into the empty net.

As the final whistle blew, a huge roar of celebration followed with CSM retaining the cup for a second year after a mind-blowing all-round team performance.

Dyer said after the game: "Just what the team needed, a great score line capped off with an excellent team display and the cup's ours again. Let's hope this boosts our league performances and get back in contention for promotion."

Much praise goes to Mark Musgrave who organised the weekend and was unavailable for the match.