Halas visited Bilbrook Junior Football Club to play the Merit Vase final against Black Country Phoenix West.

With 12 only players available the game was always going to be tough, but today saw the lads pushed to the max, with injuries being picked up by Ben, Harvey, Kyle S and Tom P. Bravely they all returned to the action after treatment and rest as the lads dug in.

Halas opened the scoring when a long ball was flicked on by Kyle O'C and Josh was strong to out muscle the defence and control the ball before lifting his shot over the keeper and into the top corner. 0-1 (This boy doesn't do tap ins!)

The lads struggled to get out of second gear and Black Country posed a threat with their pacey attack, however Simon was rarely troubled in the first half.

HT 0-1

The lads were told to let the ball do the work and try and use the space on a very large playing surface, and at times the lads played some good football, especially down the left flack. But their play couldn't get a second goal they needed to kill off the game.

Black Country grew into the game and as injuries started to rack up Halas were put under more pressure and when the back line was breached Simon was alert to make a few smart saves.

In the last 10 minutes Tom P and Harvey couldn't continue so the lads were down to 10 men and Jacob was called on to plug the gap in the heart of the defence.

With moments to go Black Country won a free kick and the ball was launched forward, the ball broke to the attacker who saw Simon push the ball out wide and away from goal. However, the winger reacted quicker and crossed the ball with Simon out of his goal and with a queue of Black Country players at the back post the ball was headed home. 1-1 Leading to much excitement from the Black Country lads.

The referee said there were 10 seconds left after the restart, so Harvey grabbed his sock and boot to hobble back on the pitch in view of the impending penalties. But Halas had other ideas, and from the kick off Kyle sent a lofted pass forward and Joe got on the end of it and seeing the keeper off his line fired home into the roof of the net. 1-2 The scenes of joy were now from the Halas boys.

Seconds later it was all over and hats off to the Halas boys for not giving up and certainly for playing through the pain barrier. Commiserations to the Black Country Pheonix lads who had given their all and will be bitterly disappointed they didn't get the chance to display their penalty skills.

Enjoy the moment lads and enjoy the summer. See you back here in September!

FULL TIME - BLACK COUNTRY PHOENIX WEST 1 - 2 HALAS HAWKS EAST