BBOB were in their first semi-final in several years with just the bear 11 players, up against Premiership opposition Worthing BCOB, who had not conceded a goal in this Supplementary Cup competition. Worthing started well attacking mostly down their left-hand side, in the early minutes they had a corner on their left, they played the ball into the middle where their player headed over the crossbar. In the 6th minute Worthing were awarded a free kick on their left just inside their half but made nothing of the kick. Three minutes later Worthing had a corner on their right, it was played into the middle and cleared away by BBOB only for the ball to be played back in and BBOB conceded another corner, this time on the Worthing left, Jac Edwards cleared the kick up field. A minute later BBOB concede a free kick just outside our penalty area, they shot on goal but Mike easily collected the ball and cleared up field for BBOB to make an attack. A few seconds later Joe Marshall attacked the Worthing defence down our left, Worthing put the ball out for a throw-in which was taken by Steve Maskell, again playing at left back. Seb collected the ball from the throw-in, played it towards the far post where Joe Howard had an easy tap in the make it 0-1. Our lead did not last long, two minutes later Worthing hit a shot from just outside our penalty area, it was just wide of the diving Mike into the left-hand side of his goal, 1-1. But BBOB hit back one minute later, a superb cross by Ben Middleditch on our right found Dan Buchanan on our left where he volleyed the ball in to it 1-2, the best goal of the season. Again Worthing were not going to be out done three minutes later they had a corner on their left, the kick was cleared away for another corner on their left, the ball was cleared away but only as far as a Worthing player who played the ball straight back in to their player on the edge of the penalty area, his shot on goal when to the left of Mike and into the back of the net, 2-2. In the 19th minute Worthing crossed the ball from their left towards their player on the far post, he fortunately put his header over the cross bar. A minute later Worthing put the ball wide of our goal from a direct free kick on their left. A free kick by BBOB on our left, just outside the Worthing penalty area, was taken by Dan Buchanan, he kicked the ball towards the far post where it was cleared away by a Worthing player. Shortly afterwards Dan Buchanan broke down our left, he played the ball to Joe Marshal who ran at their defence and towards the goal line where it was eventually put out for a corner. Ben came across and took the corner, it was cleared by Worthing to their left, Adam tackled their player and cleared the ball but was shown the yellow card by the ref. From the resultant free kick the ball was played into our penalty area and cleared away only for the ball to be played back into the middle where a Worthing player skewed the ball over the cross bar. In the 31 minute the ball was played from our right wing into the Worthing penalty area, the ball was deflected off one of their players to Dan Buchanan on the far side for him to head the ball home to make it 2-3. Shortly after Joe Howard crossed the ball form our right to Joe Marshall on the edge of the Worthing penalty area, he couldn’t control the ball and it was cleared up field by their defence. Again the lead did not last long as in the 33rd minute Worthing had a throw-in on our left about halfway inside our half, the throw was played to a player on the edge of our penalty area he blasted the ball just wide of Mike to make it 3-3. Worthing were putting pressure on the BBOB defence and we conceded several free kicks before half time but Worthing weren’t able to capitalise on them, so it remained 3-3, what a first half thriller. BBOB started the half well but were still concede too many free kicks Dan Buchanan conceded one on our left, Worthing played the ball back to their keeper who hoofed it up field into our goal area and it was easily collected by Mike. Steve was brought down by a bad tackle just inside the Worthing half, after he picked himself up, he played a short ball to Dan Buchanan who played it into the area only for Jac to head the ball just over the cross bar. In the 51st minute Jac went on a run down our left and into the middle where he checked back and hit a shot just over the cross bar. Then Dan Buchanan broke down our left and crossed the towards goal where it was cleared by a Worthing defender but only as far as Dan Buchanan who again crossed the ball, this time Worthing cleared the ball and the broke down our left, several BBOB players tried in vain to stop the attack and in the muddle Mike concede a penalty only for the Worthing player to hit the cross bar and the ball to be cleared away. Worthing gave away a corner on our left, Ben took the corner and played it to Seb in the area, he couldn’t control the ball and it was cleared away by Worthing. Both teams were pressing for the winning goal, in the 71st minute Ben was adjudged to be offside, their keeper took the free kick with all of their players in the BBOB half. In the 83 minute Worthing attacked down their left, the ball was played into the BBOB area, in the process of clearing the ball Dan Edwards brought down their player and the referee awarded them a second penalty, this time they didn’t miss and placed ball to Mikes left. BBOB were determined not to let Worthing win, a place in the final was still on the cards, and pressed the Worthing defence, winning a couple of free kicks in the last three minutes of the game which were taken by Dan Buchanan on our left but we couldn’t fine the equaliser and the game ended 5-4. BBOB had played their best game of the season and neither team deserved to lose but unfortunately in a semi-final there can only be one winner. It was an exciting game, perhaps next time BBOB it will our turn.
