This Plumstead Challenge cup match was definitely one for neutrals. 10 goals scored in the 120 minutes played and finished by the lottery that is penalties. Both sides are flying high in their respective divisions and this was always going to be a close contest.
Rovers nearly started the game with nine men due to the disappointing late arrival of a large number of the squad due to late night revelling. This caused Rich to be dragged from his sick bed to play when he had hoped for a week off to recuperate. Joe came on to make the full 11 ten minutes in, the match luckily still at 0-0. The Reds went 1-0 up midway through the first half and held on to the lead until half time.
It took until the 52nd minute for the blues to finally wake up from a direct free kick. Deji keenly grabbed the ball making it his. His superb right footed strike from the left hand side on the 18 yard box flew round the wall and nearly burst the net and made it 1-1.
Not long after, it was 2-1. A long clearance from Ben made its way to Teejay, who rounded the defence to cross on the dead ball line, for Deji to tap in. Five minutes later, it was 3-1 and the blues thought they were cruising to victory. Robbie slipped the ball to Deji to finish brilliantly, bought his hat-trick, on the tightest of angles.
A casual attitude and tiredness then nearly cost Rovers dearly as Junior Reds pulled it back to 3-3. There was still, however, plenty of time for the late drama that was to follow. Deji thought he had hit the winner, with his fourth of the match, to make it 4-3, with only two minutes left on the clock.
Then in the 89th minute, a scramble in the Rovers box resulted in a penalty being awarded for handball. Disaster was averted, but only temporarily, as Ben flung himself full length to his left, to keep out a well struck penalty. With G&S counting their chickens and looking forward to the next round, disaster struck again as Ben brought down the onrushing forward for yet another penalty. 4-4.
The game went into extra time and the ebb and flow continued as the reds went 4-5 up in the first period. One minute into the second period, it was 5-5 and you needn’t guess who scored. Jo put a delightful ball through to our own ‘Didier’ Deji Kolawole who calmly lobbed the keeper to bag his 5th!
Then to penalties after 120 minutes of action. Cool finishes from Russ, Chris and Teejay, who scored the winner, made it a 3-1 shoot out victory!!
