Vegas Draw! But Lose On Pens...

Magical Vegas' season ended in a disappointing penalties defeat in the Ken Dogherty Memorial Cup semi-final against an organised but unspectacular White City Wanderers FC.

Beginning in a 4-2-3-1 system the game started very cagey with both sides ensuring they didn't concede for the first 20 minutes. Although Vegas made a couple of big openings they were not able to capitalise on their space in and around the White City box.

With a slippery surface to play on after rain, Vegas struggled to keep hold of possession in midfield on numerous occasions and were caught napping by White City when they did make mistakes. The first goal began with one of those mistakes and a Wanderers attacker squared for his partner to tap in at the far post to make it 1-0.

The second to concede was a category of errors with a Wanderers attacker somehow sliding between 3 Vegas players and beating the goalie to the loose ball on the penalty spot. 2-0 in 30minutes. Vegas still looked second best and their play was ponderous and static with little intensity or spark. But they did switch to 442 with Ricardo Beckford joining Erol Resat up-front and Patrick Moore Jones going wide left.

The revival began when a quick free-kick was played down the left wing to Jacob Bond who danced his way into the area, past 3 opponents, when his shot was saved his rebound went in off a Wanderers defender.

From the re-start Vegas had awoken and when a big tackle in midfield won the ball, Luke Morgan got the ball forward to Beckford who calmly pushed the ball onto his left foot and stroked into the corner from outside the box.

Half-time came immediately and the scores were level. Vegas needed to push on and assert themselves which they did to an extent. They bossed possession and chances throughout the 2nd half, most notably when Moore Jones released Resat who took it round the goalie but had his goal bound shot blocked by a recovering defender.

Penalties at full-time came and when Vegas missed their first penalty the pressure was on. White City stroked all of their first four home so when the fourth penalty for Vegas was taken and missed the tie was over.

'The Vegas Boys' can look back on a rollercoaster season with some damaging defeats and some very good wins but ultimately no trophies. If they are to succeed next year, they will need to think very deeply about how they can avoid 'folding' in games against teams they should be beating.

Consider this season a learning experience and remember that wins come from determination and strong team ethic. Without those two fundamental qualities, the likelihood they win a trophy next season with be in jeopardy.