BA met at a soaking Concorde Centre with revenge very much on their minds. North Hillingdon had soundly beaten the boys in blue 7-1 in the previous game and the time for retribution had arrived. 7-1 was always a freak scoreline and the management team were confident of a better performance and result this time around. A further incentive was that it was the 1st round of the Presidents Cup, a cup that BA have a tradition of doing well in! Well once anyway.
BA welcomed back some big guns with Trig, Whitey, Jez and Robbie all back into the fold and they even had the luxury of subs. The management team decided to move Stu Trig back to centre half, Whitey lefty midfield and Jez up front. Robbie and Dazza made up the bench.
The game began in torrential rain and strong wind, so It was no surprise that the standard of play was poor from both teams. If anything BA were slightly the better side but could only create half chances, Whitey being at the heart of most of the positve play. However after 30 minutes it was North Hillingdon that took the lead. A good through ball from the centre midfieder found the forward who finished with aplomb past a diving Trig.
The goal galvanised the North Hillingdon side who then had a really good spell of possession. Fortunately the BA rear-guard held strong and the half time score was 1-0.
A positive half time team talk re-focused the BA minds on better passing and moving and trying to keep possession. It was clear from the start BA were more up for the game. As the half progressed Bish and Garlick began to dominate the midfield, as a result possession of the ball improved and chances came BA's way. Jez went through one on one and the keeper saved well and Whitey had a good run and shot that sailed just wide and Kingy shot wide after good link up with Whitey. It was only a matter of time before BA equalised. Gav Long hit a lovely through ball for Jez to run through and the BA hitman dispatched the ball with ease, a great finish and BA were back in the game. As always it takes a goal to give BA the confidence to start playing as they can.
Within minutes of the equiliser, a good break on the right found Jez again, this time BA's new signing turned well and drilled a shot inside the keeper's near post BA were now in front.
BA were now dominating and Kingy had a chance to seal the game but somehow managed to hit the bar from 3 yards out after more good work from Long. It was a bad miss but BA still looked very comfortable.
However with 20 mins to go it was North Hillingdon that scored the next goal. A long ball down the middle was partially cleared by Stu Trig, the North Hillingdon midfielder aimed a hopefully long ball out to the right, from nowhere Trig came out of his box and looked to smother the ball, his decision was nearly a good one but unfortunately the ball escaped from his grasp and the North Hillingdon forward finished well for 2-2.
BA had to do it all again. Fortunately Jez was now on fire and it didn't take him long to fire BA in front. This time brother Tim supplying the cross. Fantastic hat-trick for BA's new top scorer. 3-2 and surely BA could not throw it away now.
With full time approaching North Hillingdon were given a dubious corner. The corner was taken and was headed out for a throw by the North Hillingdon forward. The ref wrongly decided that it was a North Hillingdon throw. BA were not happy and switched off. The cross came into the box and the North Hillingdon forward headed in from half a yard. 3-3 and extra time beckoned.
Not sure what happened in extra time as i had to go to work, but from what I hear Robbie Blood scored a couple of good goals and BA conceded 1 in the last couple of minutes. 5-4 win and BA are through to the next round.
Another example of a game that BA would have definitely lost last year, BA are making progress but are still capable of much better. Middx cup game next week.
