The games for Cringleford keep getting bigger and bigger and the opportunity to prove themselves against Premier Division opposition was probably their biggest challenge so far this season and having lost on their last outing Cringleford were keen to bounce back.
As the team was announced, the Boo Boys picked on the ageing Dave Sharred. This reporter for one does not condone this sort of behaviour and would like to draw the Boo Boys attention to the FA Respect Scheme, this applies to players as well as officials. When asked after the game whether this affects his game Sharred, close to tears, responded, “Of course it hurts, I am made of the same stuff as everyone else. I can take the stick that the fans dish out but your own players……that’s a bit much!” Come on boys let’s get behind the Blonde Bombshell!!
It was good to see George back on the sidelines, wrapped in his warm weather gear and Maria’s kinky boots and he gave a spirited team talk ,in fact so spirited, that despite dominating the early exchanges, Cringleford found themselves two nil down within the first 20 minutes. Poringland, the visitors, worked the ball about well for their first, with the two forwards drawing Mark and Phil out of position and a killer cross to the far post was well-finished past Alan with Jennings helpless to intervene. If that goal was well worked then the second was cheap. A short corner was fed to the edge of the box, the player not closed down and his powerful shot evading Alan’s hand. “Och aye Jimmy, I should have had it, I got my hand to it” Alan commented– yes, a cheap shot at the Scottish contingent within our ranks.
As he restarted the game two-nil down Richard pointed out that we had been here before, probably too often, but nevertheless we have been here before, having dominated the first twenty minutes and two down Cringleford started to play their best football and enjoyed their best spell in the game.
After a great move down the left Fairman squared the ball to Pyne who from six yards out hit the on-rushing keeper who closed him down well. Cringleford had lots of the play with Scott and Mick dominating the midfield and the defence looking more solid. It didn’t take Cringleford long to reply when Fairman got the first back. He found space on the edge of the edge of the box turned well and placed the ball in the corner. Cringleford’s second was a spectacular finish, a long through ball from Howie into the channel was met by Mike Pyne who lashed the ball home past the keeper. It looked like it was going to be a creditable two - two at half-time but Shaul had something to say about that. Yes, you did read it correctly, that said “Shaul!” All good things and bad things must come to an end at some point and in a run that has lasted longer than the Mouse Trap’s stay in the London Theatre, after two years and ninety one days, one hour and thirty seven seconds Phil Shaul scored. It wasn’t the volley from the edge of the box that he had dreamt of, or the winner in the last minute of the Cup Final that he could have scored, but it was a goal, albeit a simple tap in. But he is off and running and now the flood gates will open……watch this space! When asked about the goal afterwards, he said, “It was an acute angle and it was on my less favoured left and these are exactly the sort of chances I have been missing, I am just glad that the boys have had faith in me and not started booing me as well as poor Dave!”
The second half was a battle and either team could have grabbed victory. The heavy pitch started to take its toll and Mick falling awkwardly was carried off and looked to be sidelined for some time. On came Nick Skipper to provide us with a much needed post-match food review and in addition, he chipped in with a few decent crosses into the box which caused Poringland problems. Masoud and Kevin also made substitution appearances in the second half with Kevin looking to build on his goals against Hellesdon. With about fifteen minutes to go and Cringleford defending well, the ball broke free to Poringland on the edge of the box and it was sliced home in off the post. A cruel blow! Cringleford held on well and nearly sneaked victory when Richard Fairman produced a great save from the Poringland keeperwith a couple of minutes to go. In the dying seconds another dangerous Poringland cross evaded the Cringleford defence and Alan pushed the ensuing header onto the crossbar before the ball was hacked away by Dennis (hacked being the operative word if you have seen him play golf!).
Extra time failed to separate the two teams despite a cameo from Pyne-o and to everyone’s relief the reappearance of Mick. And so for the second time this season it was penalties. Not a good start, the ever reliable Fairmain hit the crossbar with the opener. Things were evened up when Poringland missed their third penalty. It looked like it was going to go to sudden death but unfortunately he could not repeat his Cup Final glory moment and Dave Sharred shot over the bar leaving Poringland to take victory with the last penalty. There was no shame in the loss, the game could have gone either way at any time and Cringleford never disgraced themselves against Premier opposition.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
In last week’s report, we printed that Mark Dennis had won MOTM when in fact we meant to say it went to the Blonde Bombshell, Dave Sharred. Our apologies go to Dave and his family for this error.
