Right boys, in Baz's absence it has been left to the parsiminous Jew to write the match report.
On a wintry morning at Hydes Road, with Baz away, Groomy (no show) and with half team feeling worse for wear after a messy night out it was left to myself, Kenny and Gaz Holder to deal with affairs on and off the pitch. With the game confirmed by the ref and a few late comers arriving it was finally down to business. With Mitchell dropped to the bench for Campbell (Vaughan) it was much the same side that triumphed last time out.
With our opponents looking spritely and the Darlo boys looking far from up for this game we had no idea of the tightly contested game that would follow. Malthouse started very well and looked the brighter team playing some good football through their 3 man midfield and they deservedly took the lead as their striker/winger burst through and tucked the ball into the bottom corner. 0-1 This spurred on the Malthouse boys and looked likely to add to their early lead but on a rare Junction attack the ball was played out to Campbell to swung a cross over to the far post for yours truly to nod back across goal (mostly as a pass) into the bottom corner. 1-1
This seems to give the Junction boys the lift they needed and there was a bit of an improvment in the following minutes only for us to be hit again and their striker was put through again for him to finish unconvisiingly. 2-1 After this our performance definately picked up a little and we were'nt behind for long as the ball fell to Colin who lofted a lovely cross into the box for again yours truly to meet it on the half volley and flash it past the helpless keeper. 2-2 After this we had our best spell of the game but could of gone behind again as Dean Wilkes brought down their tricky right winger in the box, penalty given. There number 4 stepped confidently and put the ball to the bottom left hand corner only for Dan to get down well and save with this knees.
At half time Kenny pointed out the problems with our first half display and urged us to keep the ball more, unforutnately this was not heeded and Malthouse had the better of the early exchanges and again went ahead in shocking fashion as Ben Lawley juggled and lost the ball to their big striker who went through on goal and finished well past an on rushing Dan Elwell. 2-3
Soon after this proved too much for Kenny who rang the changes bringing on "General" Gaz Holder in place of a pissed up piss taking squirell moving Gaz Wilkes to Centre forward in squirrels place. This change paid dividends soon after as Gaz Wilkes was slotted through by Gaz Holder for Gaz W to round a defender and then fire into the bottom corner. 3-3 At this point we started to take control of the game and Gaz W upfront certainly started to unsettle there stoutly back four. From a Malthouse corner the ball dropped to Hickerman who fed Colin to hit them on the break, with a great first touch Colin raced away (yes raced) and slotted the ball away with great composure to make it 4-3 and give us the lead for the first time. Colin after his burst was clearly knackered and was replaced by young Mitchell Lawley After this our visitors started throwing more men forward and spaces opened up and it wasnt long before chances started to come and tempers began to fray.
Young Mitch Lawley then picked up the ball on the break and raced towards goal only to be challenged fairly on the edge of the box, the youngster kept his composure and played in Gaz Wilkes, who's loose first touch almost saw the chance gone only for the hapless keeper to slam the ball into his toned chest to fall at his feet for without a doubt his easiest goal of the season. 5-3
With seconds on the clock Malthouse threw the kitchen sink at us and scored a very late consulation goal from a corner with there big striker nipping in at the front post. 5-4 This proved to be the last action of the game as seconds after the restart the full time whistle blew.
Overall we made hard work of what was a tricky cup tie but we came out on top and Baz can return to the cold dark Midlands happy in the knowledge progression in the cup was in the bag.
WELL DONE BOYS!
