USA Cup 2003Reports

The 19th annual Schwans Usa Cup got off to a flyer for Paisley Utd, proven in the first group stage match against Eagan, a team from Minnesota. Paisley Utd 8-0 Eagan Wildcats In the first minute, Paisley made their mark with a well worked corner kick, by Michael Conroy and Shaun Grimshaw allowing the captain Andy Elliot to header home. With this early goal Paisley attacked continuously for more, and found another, in the way of Shaun Grimshaw, who neatly executed a loose ball from 12 yards into the right hand corner. Still on the push for more goals Matthew Forde, came up to slide the ball by the keeper from 6yards, which made it 3-0 at half time and a comfortable lead. In the second half Paisley knew if they kept tight at the back they would win, but they still wanted more goals, and once again Matthew Forde came up with the goods, with a header by the keeper, from a delightful Shaun Grimshaw free-kick. With no real pressure from the Eagan side, more goals came
>Paisley's way, with Andy Mcnab also flicking a head to another Grimshaw free-kick, making the score 5-0 with only 15 minutes of the second half gone. Now it was Adam Kerr's turn to get on the goal sheet with a brace in a matter of minutes, both goals put away to the bottom right of the keeper, and finally to put icing on the cake Stephen Hyndmann, picked up the ball on the half way line, ran through three defenders and buried it in the top corner with style.

Cedar Rapids 1 - 0 Paisley Utd

This game was a test of Paisley Utd fitness levels, due to this game being the second of the day, and due to the scorching heat of Minnesota. In the first half Paisley Utd had most of the ball possession but didn't create many clear cut chances, one or two chances falling to the captain Andy Elliot. Due to the weather changing in the first half, play was abandoned because of a small thunderstorm brewing. After 45 minutes of waiting, the second half began, and just like the first half there wasn't many openings, most of the play being in the middle of the park, and no real danger for Paisley Utd's defence. However, a silly free-kick was given away by Stuart Madden of Utd in Cedar's own half, which was taken short to their right back, who ran past several Utd challenges slipped a ball through to the right midfielder, who slided a ball across the penalty area allowing the striker to tap in from 5 yards giving the keeper Ryan Dakhil no chance. The first shot for Cedar which was a goal frustrated the coaches, . With torrential rain, blurring vision, Paisley Utd could not get the equaliser before fulltime. A frustrating afternoon for the Paisley team.

WBL Ajax 3 - 2 Paisley Utd

Due to a misunderstanding with the kick off time, Paisley Utd came into this a little unprepared, and it cost them dear, as Ajax scored a goal within the first ten minutes, a strike from outside the box, which luckily sailed into the top right hand corner. With a couple of subs made after the
>goal, normal service was resumed as Andy Elliot broke through a couple of tackles and slided the ball to Shaun Grimshaw who neatly tucked the ball home. From the kick-off Ajax caught out the left hand side of Paisley by play in a speculative ball to the right-mid, who earned his side a free-kick outside the penalty area. The free-kick was floated in, to met the head of the big centre back, making Paisley down 2-1 within a matter of seconds from grabbing the equaliser. The second half was all Paisley, creating many good chances, especially from the corner kicks taken by Michael Conroy and Shaun Grimshaw. After 68 minutes the ball broke for Matthew Forde, who ran untackled to the 18-yard box and slotted by the keeper easily. Paisley Utd needed the win, so kept pushing forward for the winner, but their was no luck for the Paisley Boys as chances were hitting
>the woodwork, just going wide, and the keeper saving them. However,  disaster struck as Ajax counter attacked with one man, who ran by the right back, turned the centre back and took the ball round the keeper, to tap in the winner, with literally seconds until fulltime. Paisley left wondering if they were going to get any breaks through-out the tournament.

Paisley Utd 5 - 0 Gitchi Gummi

The last group game had to be a victory, to ensure Paisley would finish 3rd in the group and allow them to enter the B play off for the Trophy Flight and a victory it was. Paisley got off to a great start with an early goal by Andy Elliot, shortly followed by a wonder strike by Matthew Forde, striking the ball from 20 yards into the top left hand corner leaving the keeper with no chance, the goals still kept coming, as Andy McNab volleyed home a cross from the left hand side, making it 3-0 with only 20 minutes gone, however Paisley did plateau until the start of the second half, where Andy Elliot once again finished from 6 yards, giving Elliot a brace, Paisley still thrived for more goals as the away team didn't even pressurise the Paisley defence, and the fifth and final goal came through Graham Black, passing it by the keeper comfortably. A great performance by Paisley on the day.

Paisley Utd 2 - 0 St Paul. Blackhawks

With St Paul Blackhawks, who already played a game in the morning, the favourites had to be Paisley Utd. Paisley dominated from the first whistle and pressurised early for the opening goal, mainly through the two strikers Andy Elliot and Shaun Grimshaw. However, disaster struck, when the Paisley Utd keeper Ryan Dakhil went to clear a pass back made to him, received a terribly late tackle which left him with a massive gash on his lip, the Blackhawks Striker surely should have been shown red but due to the referees disgression yellow was the verdict, With Dakhil continuously bleeding the keeper was advised to leave the field but he showed his brave character and got on with his game. Five minutes later it was Michael Conroy's turn to face a late tackle, which left him having to be carried off with a sprained ankle. The Paisley team were now pumped up to win this 1/4 final, and so they did, with two neatly tucked away penalties by the captain Andy Elliot. At half time with a 2-0 lead Dakhil and Conroy were taken to the Medical Centre. Adam Kerr, an outfield player took the gloves for Dakhil and kept a clean sheet for the rest of the game. A good win for Paisley, but thoughts were for Dakhil to make a speedy recovery.

Paisley Utd 9 - 2 Urban Stars

With Dakhil out, and Conroy doubtful, Paisley went on to the semi final to face a local team. Bizarrely, at kick off time, there were no Urban Star players, but one by one they started to arrive, and the referee said when 7 players turn up the game will kick off. To Paisley Utd delight, the game
>started with only 7 Urban Star players, Utd took advantage of this by scoring three early goals, 2 from Andy McNab, and 1 from Matthew Forde. The game was comfortably over by this stage but still didn't stop Paisley wanting more goals, and more came through Elliot and Grimshaw. With a 5-0 lead, Urban Stars had a full line up, but didn't really cause any trouble for Paisley. The goals for Utd were still on the increase after the second with Stuart Madden scoring his first goal for the club with a powerful header past the keeper. Urban Stars did get a goal making it 6 - 1 but  Paisley had to score more. Graham Black made it 7-1 with a solo run from 30-yards and placed it by the keeper. On 65 minutes Andy McNab secured a hat-trick with a shot/cross in the top bag. Once again Urban Stars did get another scrappy goal , but that was cancelled out by Graham Black scoring again to give him a brace, leaving the final score 9-2 to Utd. A great semi-final performance by Paisley, giving them a final spot.

Final - Paisley Utd 3 - 2 Dakota Rev (after golden goal)

Hopes were high for Paisley Utd as both Dakhil and Conroy started the final BUT hopes were especially high as Dakhil had undergone plastic surgery 2 nights before. The first 5 minutes were pretty tense with no real chances but Paisley stepped up a gear and began to create numerous chances but did lack the finishing touch, with Shaun Grimshaw, Matthew Forde and Andy Elliot all missing the target. The break through came around 20 minutes with Matthew Leitch scoring from the half way line, due to the Dakota keeper reading the pace of the ball wrong. However, Utd's lead didn't last for long, as Dakota Rev got the equaliser, which did look to be offside. The two teams were tied at half time. In the second half Paisley lost their shape a little and went 2-1down with a well worked goal, at this stage Paisley had to lift their game, and they did, with Graham Black getting a quick equaliser to make it 2-2. The Utd team pushed to get the winner, while Dakota put another in defence holding on for extra team. Paisley could not find the winner, so extra time beckoned. With Dakota still holding back, it left Paisley to attack continuously, and the golden goal
came 3 minutes into extra team, the scorer being Elliot, from a Shaun Grimshaw free kick (once again). The  trophy was United's.