10 Seconds. 10 bloody seconds and Cringleford were on their way to a second successive final and celebrating an unlikely victory against an Albion side who were much stronger than anyone had anticipated.
Cringleford went into this game in justifiably confident mood after a good run of results involving some impressive football, but with several key players missing. The opening exchanges soon made it quite clear that this was not going to be easy, and things were soon made worse when the in-form Pyne was crocked after just 5 minutes. However the visitors should have taken the lead early on when a great toe-poked effort from Kevin Taylor hit the inside of the left-hand post and, defying the laws of Physics, somehow went out for a goal kick on the opposite side.
Cringleford seemed surprisingly fragile early on, unsettled by an Albion side showing more appetite and leaving them little time on the ball. The away side blustered and battled but showed none of the fluent football and composure of recent games, unable to develop any sort of possesion. It came as no shock then when Albion opened the scoring after 10 minutes although the goal itself was most contreversial. Our trusty linesman Fez, kindly over-ruled the referee to award a corner to the opposition, the ball was subsequently floated to the far post where an Albion player clearly pushed Mark Dennis in the back before heading into the net.
Albion continued to push and probe, running Cringleford ragged at times but the away team struggled not to concede more and they reached half-time relieved to find themselves only a goal down. A score-line for which they had the excellent Mark Dennis to thank.
The second half saw a much more open game with Cringleford beginning to show more purpose and belief. Huw and Mick Sanders started to exert more influence in midfield with the team maintaining better possesion and showing more willingness to get forward, albeit riding their luck somewhat at the back with the dangerous "Chinese Giggsy" spawning several good one on one opportunities. The away side were also fortunate to have the out-standing Alan Fletcher in goal displaying the full range of his goal-keeping skills. The unexpected equaliser came probably against the run of play after some good work from Nick Skipper on the left who pulled the ball back for Mick Sanders to drive a fiercely accurate side-footed shot into the right-hand corner of the net. A goal with shades of Steven Gerrard.
The tide seemed to be dramatically turning and the outlook looked even brighter when after a kerfuffle in the box, Huw somehow found the ball at his feet and was able to bumble it into the corner of the net. A goal with shades of Norman Wisdom.
Cringleford then proceeded to do all the right things, keeping possesion when needed and clearing their lines well under pressure, battling bravely to deny an increasingly desperate Albion the chance of an equaliser. In the final minute and with the "wounded knee" boys Ecky and Pyne shouting until hoarse their encouragements from the side-lines and with Ecky already mentally preparing his inspirational victory speech, the unthinkable happened. Cringleford failed to clear the ball away safely and an Albion player from outside the box turned and swung a foot more in hope than design at the ball which then looped disastrously and almost in slow motion over Alan in goal and into the back of the net. Curses!
In extra time, with a deflated Cringleford and a buoyant Albion, there was really only ever going to be one winner and predictably Albion soon scored, again from a header. Cringleford did have an opportunity to take the game to penalties, and a good chance of victory considering the stature of the two keepers, when in the dying seconds Masood headed over when Kevin Taylor was probably in fact better placed to finish, after a great cross from Young Min.
The final whistle brought jubilation for the home team and misery for Cringleford who had come so close to reaching the final. The mood was somewhat improved however when it was pointed out that the sheild is in fact a loser's competition and therefore of very little merit.
Cringleford can now concentrate on finishing strongly in the league and on the all-important seniors cup.
