In a highly anticipated Senior Cup fixture, Armada FC visited North Birmingham United at Cooksey Lane Playing Fields. With a pitch in poor condition and concerns about the rain making the surface potentially dangerous, the stakes were high. The weather at 2:00 PM in Birmingham, England, was cloudy with a mild 15°C forecast and no rain predicted. However, the tension between the teams was palpable even before the first whistle. What followed was a one-sided affair, with Armada FC cruising to a 6-1 victory, demonstrating their tactical superiority and sheer determination.

Right from the off, the match atmosphere was heated. North Birmingham United’s coach, marred by administrative disorganisation, set the tone for a frustrating day, showing poor hospitality by creating rules about warm-ups and dugout use, not to mention arriving without the required match form.

1st Half
The game began with North Birmingham United kicking off, trying to keep possession and frustrate Armada, but it didn’t take long for Armada’s game plan to take effect. Captain Pardale and striker Francis quickly seized an opportunity following a misplaced NBU goal kick. A quick exchange of passes saw Francis net the opener, setting the pace for the match. Just moments later, a dazzling solo run from defender Bevan led to another Armada goal—Francis once again on the scoresheet, sending the fans into chants of “We love you, Harry, we do!”

Armada’s relentless pressure was too much for a disorganised NBU side, whose frustration was evident as they shouted at each other on the pitch. Captain Pardale got on the scoresheet with a header from a perfectly executed corner by Riaz, sending Armada 3-0 up.

NBU’s brief glimmer of hope came when Rio Stewart managed to pull one back after a fortunate deflection, but it did little to stop the Armada onslaught. A stunning throw-in play between Arafat and Erinfolami saw Erinfolami score a spectacular goal, reminiscent of his strike last week.

2nd Half
Unstoppable Armada The second half began with Armada continuing to control the game. NBU’s attempts to get back into the match were thwarted by a resolute Armada defence. Francis completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute, and substitute Brelsforth added another after being played through by a sublime lobbed pass from Uzair. Armada’s triple substitution in the 79th minute solidified their dominance, and the game concluded with a 6-1 triumph.

Match Stats
Armada FC dominated possession with 54%, firing 22 shots and scoring 6 goals. Armada completed 211 passes, keeping the ball predominantly in the midfield (43%) and attacking areas (37%). They also won 5 corners and were awarded 6 free kicks, consistently applying pressure on North Birmingham United.

Star Player
Francis was simply unplayable, with his hat-trick cementing his place as the star player of the match. His composure in front of goal and clinical finishing were a joy to behold. The fans will be hoping for more of the same from Francis in future fixtures.

Manager’s Statement
Speaking after the match, the Armada FC manager expressed delight at the team’s performance: “Today, everything clicked into place. We executed our game plan to perfection, and the team’s work ethic was exceptional. There were moments where we allowed NBU into the game, but overall, we remained in control. Moving forward, we need to maintain this intensity for the full 90 minutes and not allow complacency to creep in. A great performance from the lads, and I’m proud of every one of them.”

Assistant coach D'Ambrosio had the following comments to add too, "The team responded exceptionally well to the early pressure from our opponents. After recognising that we started off slow in the first half last week, the players made immediate adjustments, pressing strategically and without hesitation, which aligned perfectly with the team's expectations. However, after going up 2-0 around the 20-minute mark, we eased off a bit. While we executed our plan well initially, we gave the opponents too much time on the ball for the remainder of the first half. If we had maintained our intensity and capitalised on the additional chances we created, we could have dominated the entire game. Overall, the team’s performance was phenomenal today. Moving forward, I’d like to see us involve our wide players more in the attacking play to create even more chances. Additionally, more composure in the final third would be beneficial. Although we scored six goals, it easily could and should have been nine or ten."

Match Official Review
Match Official Shenton displayed a balanced performance, but there were some questionable decisions that slowed the game’s tempo. Shenton kept control well despite some heated moments from the NBU coach and players.

Thanks to Our Sponsors
Armada FC would like to extend gratitude to our sponsors, including @GambleAware, Dynamic Solutions for Social Communities, The Kit Plug Teamwear, Mitre, and Sported UK, whose support has been invaluable to the club. We encourage fans to visit our sponsor MakHalal for a post-match meal and support our fundraising efforts through EasyFundraising.

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