FA Cup final 2012: Alan Smith on the crucial individual battles that settled clash in Chelsea's favour Mata v Spearing As Chelsea's main creative font, Juan Mata's ability to find room was always going to be central to Chelsea's cause. If he could get on the ball often enough in good areas, Liverpool's back four was certain to be busy. With this in mind, Jay Spearing was handed the responsibility for picking up Mata. For most of the first half, you could see him constantly looking around with a fair degree of anxiety to get an idea of his opponent's whereabouts. Pinning Mata down was proving impossible for the overworked holding midfielder who, it must be said, didn't get much help from his team-mates in a lamentable first half. One mistake, what's more, proved very costly. A bad miskick by Spearing landed straight at Mata's feet, which turned into bad news when the Spaniard found Ramires for Chelsea's opening goal. Straight after the second, Spearing was sacrificed in favour of Carroll as Mata continued to find inspiration with an important performance that saw him Man of the Match. Spearing on the day hadn't been able to cope. During his time on the pitch he had come a distant second best to a huge talent who has enjoyed a fantastic debut season in this country. Cech v Reina A goalkeeper on form is worth his weight in gold. One enduring a rough patch, though, can cost his team dear. Pepe Reina admitted this week that he hasn't exactly enjoyed his best season in a Liverpool shirt, and that he has made too many mistakes by his high standards. He won't need telling that another error can now be added to the list after Liverpool's No 1 allowed a shot by Ramires to creep in at his near post. Anticipating a cross-shot, the Spaniard edged to his right to leave him off balance when the ball fizzed the other way. Up the other end, Cech would have felt a degree of sympathy but, in contrast, this is a man enjoying a purple patch following his heroics in Barcelona. The late save to deny Carroll effectively won the FA Cup for Chelsea - whether or not it was over the line. It was a brilliant example of good positioning and razor-sharp reactions at a time when Liverpool were piling on the pressure. Contrasting fortunes, then, for two excellent goalkeepers. It is what so often decides big games like this.