TVR United on a clear route to the Final
Spen Valley League heavyweights TVR United and Route One Rovers have locked horns in the first Spen Valley Cup Semi Final in a fiercely-contested game at Overthorpe Sports Club.
Route One dominated early proceedings, but is was TVR’s Mohammed Ismaeel who had the game’s first chance, side-footing a gilt edged opportunity wide after ten minutes.
TVR failed to settle as Route One crunched into the tackles. Their hard work was rewarded on the half hour, as a cross from the right was met by Ryan O’ Donnel. TVR keeper Usman Nawaz was powerless to prevent the header squirm away from his grasp and trickle over the line.
Route One should have extended their lead, but excellent stops from Usman Nawaz kept TVR within the tie. The setbacks provoked a positive response from TVR. Good work between Asif Iqbal on left saw his cross-smashed home by Faisal Shabir five minutes before half time.
The second half was an extremely scrappy affair, with both teams cancelling each other out. It took a moment of genius from Mohammed Ismaeel, latching on to a throughball before chipping the onrushing keeper to give TVR the lead which they comfortably held on to.
As TVR march into the final, Route One can take solace from being in the driving seat in the fight for the league title.
Both teams will clash again on the 7th and 17th of May which will decide where the title will fall.
