It was a strange week for some, the excitement of a big cup semi final overshadowed by the passing of Stuart Nowell. Stuart, along with Big Ben and the Hound was our most loyal supporter this season coming to every game home and away, including friendly’s until his health wouldn’t allow it. As well as being Spud’s dad he has played a big part in many of the current and former B&A players lives on and off the pitch.
So it was fitting that before kickoff there was minutes silence to respect and remember Stuart.
It was a strong B&A line up against a team they had dispatched 3-0 in the league a few weeks previous. So it was a shock that when the game started they looked so disjointed. The conditions weren’t great, a wind blew across the pitch and the rain came with it. That said in a messy kind of way the black and red always looked in control of the game and were rarely threatened by the Invicta attack. So when Hobbit jinxed and bundled his way in to the Invicta box and cannoned the ball expertly in off a defender everyone relaxed and waited for the flood gates to open. Unfortunately.......they didn’t. In fact it was Invicta that went up the other end and scored an unlikely equaliser on the break. But Blackham refused to panic and carried on trying to get a hold of the game. The conditions got worse and so did the play. It was a pretty poor effort from both teams at times. Blackham were having plenty of half chances, Bowlsey snuck forward and stuck a volley on target and Spud and Bert’s corner were being batted away by the dogged Invicta keeper. As the seconds ticked away Pat Lawrence seemed to find a power reserve and go up a gear. The Tonbridge team couldn’t keep up with his overlapping and clever runs. But all his crosses came to nothing and it spilled in to extra time. Pat contained in this vein and as other were tiring and pulling up with cramp he kept driving us on. In fact his clever volley with the outside of his boot nearly won it for Blackham but dropped just wide of the post. Hamish and Pat both had shots from distance just tease the crossbar but there was no breakthrough and it went to penalties.
Its always difficult in these situations, high pressure and high stakes. There were three volunteers and as the manger looked around for two more brave men Junior slade and Stan Bowles stepped forward.
Bish went first and confidently swept his shot home. Invicta replied in turn. Then up stepped Thomas Nowell, he smashed his spot kick in to the corner and gave his team the advantage. Then came big Dazza’s chance to be a hero and with that he gave his opponent the eyes and watched him drag his shot wide. Advantage Blackham. Hobbit stepped up and blasted B&A in to a 3-1 lead. Invicta scored. Then came Junior’s turn. You’ve never seen a man so nonchalant in all y our life. He strolled up and put right in the top corner, cannoning in off the inside of the angle. After Invicta pulled one back it was left to Bowlsey who held his nerve fired home confidently to send the boys in Black and Red to the Presidents cup final at Longmead.
25th April, put it in your diaries
