Carr nets deciding penalty as Hall gain revenge for last year’s cup final defeat
Intra Mural Football Wednesday Cup 2nd Round
Henderson Hall (won on pens) 1-1 Newcastle Medics 1sts
Having been defeated 5-4 by Henderson Hall only two weeks ago in the Wednesday League, the Medics were keen to exact revenge in this second round cup match at Cochrane Park, in what was a rematch of last year’s final. However, it was Henderson who took the spoils again by holding their nerve in a tense penalty shoot-out.
The match itself could hardly have been more balanced between the two sides and it was going to take something like penalties to separate them on the day. Despite the bitterly cold conditions, both teams did their part to make it an entertaining game with the prize of a place in the next round at stake.
It was the Medics who made the brighter start, keeping possession and spraying the ball around well while also creating one or two chances. Despite their promising opening, however, it was Henderson who took the lead with their first real attack after ten minutes.
With the wind playing no small part, the ball came over from a corner and it seemed to cause havoc in the Medics defence before being hacked out to Armani Zafar who blasted home a left-footed volley from the edge of the box.
The goal seemed to give Henderson a real lift and they had a glorious opportunity to go two up – Liam McAllister appeared to have the simplest of tasks to score, having rounded the keeper, but instead of using his left foot he pivoted 360 degrees to use his right and the chance was gone.
The Medics needed a response in the second half and they got exactly that. Joel English missed an opportunity from a tight angle after rounding the keeper, but their goal eventually came on the hour mark. The two Henderson Hall centre halves made a hash of a simple ball over the top and Theo Adjeti was allowed to stroke the ball past the helpless keeper.
The Medics then went close to going ahead themselves. Josh Davison was unlucky not to score from a viscous free-kick but Rory Davies made a good save to tip it on to the crossbar.
With only 10 minutes left, the most contentious moment of the match came. Having made a few somewhat dubious calls throughout the match, the referee was very harsh to disallow a Henderson goal for a foul on the keeper from a free kick.
If anything, it appeared to be his own man who knocked him over. Henderson continued to press and Captain Matty Allsop’s crossing was now causing the Medics all sorts of problems, nearly setting up Liam McAllister with the winner, but his header went just past the post. 1-1 it finished and the match went straight to penalties to decide the winner.
Having progressed to this round by beating Ecosoccer on penalties, the practice seemed to give Henderson the upper hand as they scored their first three. On the other hand, Davidson and Adjeti missed both of the Medics opening two before Joel English pulled one back. That meant that Toby Carr was left with the responsibility for Henderson Hall and he didn’t disappoint, smashing his penalty just under the crossbar.
Henderson will be very pleased with their current form and they take their place in the draw for the next round while the Medics will have to pick themselves up and face up to what is increasingly looking like a trophy-less Wednesday campaign.
