League Cup Quarter Final for Locos produced a tough away tie to high flying Kettering All Stars. A handful of players missing but still a strong 14 man squad which included Keeper Ryan Turbett after a lengthy spell out the mix, and a very hungover Dean Clark.
The match started and Kettering All Stars were gifted an early chance which they made no mistake with to make it 1-0 with only 2 minutes on the clock. A nightmare start for Locos.
The lead was then doubled 7 minutes later after some more uncertainty at the back leaving the All Stars frontman 1 on 1, who slotted the ball home. 2-0.
A change was then forced upon Locos 15 minutes in. Left Back Tom Medhurst pulled a muscle in his fanny and was replaced by Ryan Poore who was making his first appearance for Locos. Snodz showed his versatility and shifted out to left back and Ryan Poore slotted in centre half to man mark the All Stars frontman who was proving to be a handful.
Locos were awarded a free kick on the half way line. Sinky sent a tasty ball in the box which produced a little scramble and Scott Porch smashed the ball in to make amends for an early error. 2-1 with 25 minutes on the clock.
Kettering All Stars then went into beast mode and created a mammoth amount of chances. Turbs made a few worldies and a lot of routine saves to somehow keep the score 2-1 going into half time.
Second Half became a great display of football. End to end and some meaty tackles. A proper cup tie was developing. Locos still had the majority of defending to do, but they were throwing their bodies on the line and doing whatever possible to keep All Stars in their grasp.
60 minutes in and All Stars added a third. A looping cross from the right flank floated just over Marc Borthwick's head to the left winger who sent a nice header back across goal which just edged past Turbs. 3-1.
Before any heads dropped, before any efforts were reduced, before all the hard work had a chance to become undone, Lee Sinclair produced a moment of technical brilliance. From Centre he smashed the ball which lobbed the cocky All Stars keeper to quickly make it 3-2.
What a crucial goal at a crucial moment of the game.
Locos tails then went up and All Stars began to rattle. The keeper who was visibly low on confidence went to clear the ball and smashed it off the back of his defenders head, this left Colin Thow 1 on 1. He composed himself, drew the keeper off his line and slotted the ball coolly into the right corner to make it 3-3 on 70 minutes.
Sean Porch / Bobby Hearn ON Gareth McBlain / Chris Chalmers OFF
One last roll of the dice, fresh legs on, the battle continued. Again end to end, a cracking piece of entertainment for the neutral. 90th minute, Just when both teams had accepted their fate was a penalty shootout, Lee Sinclair fired a cross back post, Bobby Hearn creeped his way in and headed the ball in to make it 3-4. The little man yet again saving the day!
Final Score 3-4.
A game which looked certain to be a hammering for Locos 10 minutes in, was turned on its head due to desire, hard work and solid graft. A fantastic effort against a well drilled team.
On to the semis for Locos!
MOM was Turbs. Phenomenal number of saves in the first half to keep Locos in the tie. Sinky can feel slightly hard done by for 2 assists and one of the most crucial goals you will ever see in a game of football, both as good as each other in their own departments, but Turbs gets the nod.
