Croston dumped Garstang out of the Lancashire Amateur Shield in the First Round after a penalty shoot out decided the winner.
Croston started very well and had a couple of early chance to start stronger, but in third minute a long clearance from The Garstang had caught the home defence back pedalling, and a perfectly misplaced touch put the ball into the path of the Garstang no.10 who hammered the ball home, 0–1.
Croston carried on playing the football, but the defence were having difficulties coping with Garstang’s long ball over the top tactic! Matt Davison went close when it and Masterson was terrorisng the back four and creating chances. Croston deservedly equalised in the 30th minute when Masterson ran through the Garstang defence with ease before smashing the ball past the Garstang keeper from a tight angle. 1-1 game on..
Garstang had a few good chances, with Mike tipping a 30 yarder over the bar, a dipping shot crashed against the crossbar, then a shot was cleared off the line by Brook.Both teams carried on attacking, Croston playing the football and Garstang hitting the long diagonal ball. Then a crazy 5 minutes saw Garstang regain the lead after a smart interchange of passes and then in the 44th minute Garstang converted a precise cross field ball to make it 3-1. Against the run of play and it looked like the Premier League side were going to have a good lead at half time. Croston didn't lie down and immediatley got the ball upfield and were given a free kick 25 yards out (maybe 30). Alty stepped up and carressed the ball into the top corner making it 4 free kicks out of 5! 2–3.
The management made a change at half time, bringing the injured Dan Mc off and replacing him with Matty Golder. This meant a reshuffle and this lead to a slower first half. The goal mouth action in the second half all but dried up with chances at a premium. Croston continued to play the football, but didn't really create and clear cut chances. Garstang had a few long range efforts and Mike wasn't really trobuled. Jordan came on for Laney on 65 minutes and continued his good form, but it was looking like Croston wouldn't get the equaliser.
With just over 12 minutes left, Croston put on Ash for Austin and switched to a 4-3-3. Ash had an immediate impact scaring a defender after giving him a 20 yard head start and getting to the ball in the orner and whipping in a good cross. It brought Croston back to life again and with 10 minutes left Croston got a free kick to the right hand side of Garstangs goal, but unfortunately not in Alty's range. Set pieces had been worked on and this was the time to deliver! Alty put in a superb cross for Hoggy to smash home on the volley! 3-3! Could the game now be won in normal time??? Garstang had a shot that wnet narrowly wide, but it was to go to penalties. Croston deserved something out of the game and showed that they could compete with a Premier League team. The difference between the 2 sides was probably the clinical finishing of Garstang with 3 from much fewer chance, but football wise, Garstang we no match for the tidy passing and pace of Austin, Matty M and Matt D.
The lottery of penalties began!
Garstang went first and scored, with Alty stepping up and calmy beating the keeper, 1-1.
Garstang stepped up and Mike savved, could Brook score to gove Croston and early advantage? No, it landed in the tennis court and the only 1 of the 10 to miss the target! Still a better connection thatn his last one in pre-season. Still 1-1 after 2 each.
Garstang scored their third and Jordan calmly stpped up and made it 2-2.
Garstange converted their 4th easily and Matty M steeped up and put the ball right in the corner 3-3! Sudden death now.
Mike pulled off another save leaving it up to Hoggy to finish the shoot out! He stepped up and slammed it home, Croston win 4-3 on penalties!!
A well deserved win for Croston and now its Walney Island in the next round at home on the 4th October.
