BBOB progressed to another cup semi-final in the Brighton, Hove & Worthing Cup with a well performed win against a team in the next division above. The game was decided after 120 minutes, but BBOB should have finished it inside the 90! Right from the beginning BBOB took charge of the game and retained possession well putting Vista under constant pressure! Early chances fell to Howard Lloyd playing as a makeshift forward in place of missing and injured regulars Lee Madigan & Matt Barton, Josh Staniforth placed a header from a corner over the bar, and midfielder Dan Buchanan missed from a tight angle after a good run into the box from the left. Vista's main threat in the first half (and throughout the game) was their aerial play, but BBOB were equal to the long throw tactic and the occasional corner they faced. Goalkeeper Craig Watson made a good save at full stretch from a header in the 30th minute.
Shortly after this Howard Lloyd found him self clear and one on one with the keeper but somehow was unable to keep the ball close to him and was quickly closed down by the Vista centre back who was able to clear the apparent danger! BBOB didn't give up and their pressure on the Vista defence paid off in the 44th minute! After a quick throw by right back Paul Barton to Howard Lloyd, his cross found its way to right midfielder Ed Wyeth, his shot from just inside the area found its way past the Vista keeper after he got a touch on it! Half time 0-1.
The second half started with BBOB inside the Vista half but unable to find a crucial second goal, a great attacking move down the left by Jac Edwards found striker Joe Thomas, he beat his marker and unselfishly played the ball to the on-rushing Howard Lloyd with keeper to beat, his well struck shot was placed just past the post! Shortly after this Joe Thomas created a great chance for himself, again beating his marker with a great manoeuvre, his fierce strike was well saved by the Vista keeper at full stretch!
Vista equalised in the 67th minute after a spell of corners and long throws, the goal coming from a long throw, after a flick on the Vista centre forward got the final touch and the ball dropped into the BBOB net with the defence slow to react. Three minutes later a poor tackle by the Vista centre forward meant midfielder Chris Thomas had to leave the game early, Howard Lloyd reverted to his usual position at central midfield and substitute Ben Wheatland came on up front.
BBOB continued to press but were unable to breach the Vista defence and the game went into extra time. BBOB were determined not to take the game to penalties, and again played some decent attacking football, utility player Dan Buchanan, this week playing centre midfield, was pivotal to this, challenging well for every ball throughout the match. This paid off as in the 95th minute a penalty was awarded to BBOB for hand ball, which was angrily contested by Vista. Making amends for his earlier misses, Howard Lloyd stepped up to convert the penalty. In the second half of extra time BBOB made it 3-1 with a superbly taken shot by Ed Wyeth, after a good passing move the ball was played out to Ed on the edge of the box, his perfectly taken half volley found the top right hand corner of the net!
With time running out for Vista, a long run down the left by a Vista forward into the BBOB box resulted in a Vista penalty, he was brought down by two goal hero Ed Wyeth who had superbly tracked back to assist the defence. An unfortunate decision by the ref, and the penalty was well taken by the Vista midfielder sending Craig Watson the wrong way. There were two minutes left after this and BBOB held out to set up another semi-final to look forward to in the New Year!
Match report by Paul Barton
