Jubilee FC arrived at the Presdales to take on AC Hertford in the quarter finals of the league challenge cup. Manager Elton Marks made a few changes to the team and went with an interchangeable 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation. Luke ‘Bosnich’ Lloyd started in goal with Nigel ‘50pence head’ Agyekumhene and Luke ‘De Jong’ Kennedy at right and left back. Dean Powell and Alexi Kennedy started at centre back. Johnny ‘leftpeg’ Heather and Josh Rogers were on the left and right wings with Nick Lapite, Matthew ‘mad-dog’ Brown (captain) and Samuel Brown in the centre of midfield. Joe Benbow spearheaded the Jubilee attack. Marc ‘Barnes’ Farrell, Max Charalambos, David Binder, Michael Richardson and Piers ‘livewire’ Short were warming the bench today.
Jubilee FC won the toss and kicked off the first half. The opening 20 minutes were very scrappy with very little passing for either side. The majority of the ball was in the middle of the pitch with no team winning the midfield battle. Debutant Nick Lepite was breaking up play well and getting the ball wide but neither Johhny nor Josh could make the break through down the wings. Nigel was proving tough opposition for AC Hertfords left winger and on the rare occasion he has beaten both Dean Powell and Alexi Kennedy stopped the oncoming AC Hertford forwards from getting the ball.
As the half went on a few chances were created. Sam Brown had a mazy run down the right side of the pitch before being chopped down by the defenders and Matt Brown came close from the resulting free-kick. Luke Kennedy and Johnny Heather were struggling to get into the game but created a chance for Joe Benbow but the shot was wide. Luke Lloyd had yet to make a save but was quick off his line to collect any long balls over the top. Just as the half was coming to a close Matt Brown won the ball off the full back and stormed towards goal, lacing the ball into the near post. 1-0 to Jubilee FC.
At half time Jubilee FC were leading AC Hertford 1-0 due to some great hassling from Matt Brown in combination with poor goalkeeping. Manager Elton Marks reminded the players not to get sloppy and try and press for another goal.
AC Hertford kicked off and Jubilee immediately pressed the ball. They had not changed their tactics and played the ball from deep into the channels. Jubilee were sloppy and a ball whipped in from the right side of midfield was controlled and volley into the Jubilee net. 1 – 1.
Jubilee realised the game wasn’t over and started to recover their game. Sam Brown was interlinking well with Johnny Heather but Johnny was unable to really get going down the left channel for Jubilee. There were no real chances with the game becoming very scrappy the majority of the game was being played in the midfield third.
Just when it looked like the game would pass by a corner won by Josh Rogers was floated in by Johnny Heather. The AC Hertford goalkeeper flapped and Matt Brown was able to head the ball back into the path of Joe Benbow who side volleyed into the roof of the net. 2 – 1 to Jubilee FC.
With 20 minutes left to play Elton Marks made a few tactical changes with Nigel Agyekumhene replaced by Michael Richardson and Josh Rogers replaced by Piers Short.
Jubilee were playing on the counter attack and some brilliant tackles were flying in from Nick Lapite and forward runs being made by Sam Brown. The wingers Piers and Johnny just couldn’t get round their full backs. A deep ball from AC Hertford down their right channel was latched onto by their winger and crossed into the box. Their striker met the ball at the near post and equalised for 2-2.
The full time whistle blew at 2-2 which bought the game into extra time. Elton Marks tried to motivate the troops to work past the fatigue and run on the adrenaline of the cup game.
Jubilee kicked off the first half of extra time and tried to pass it around. AC Hertford were going in hard with the tackles to try and agitate the Jubilee players but they were not rising to it. Elton Marks made his final change of the game by taking off Nick Lapite for David Binder.
David Binder played the ball to Sam Brown who beat his man and turned. Sam then backheeled the ball into the path of johnny heather but was unable to beat the full back. Just as the half was coming to the end AC Hertford scored to make the game 3-2.
AC Hertford kicked off the second half of extra time and immediately went backwards. They were digging in their heels and it was up to Jubilee to press. However, Jubilee were struggling to break through the backline and many tired passes were being made. But a foul on Luke Kennedy on the half way line swung the game in Jubilee FCs favour. A deep ball from Sam Brown into the box was misjudged by the goalkeeper and flicked in by Joe Benbow. 3-3.
The whistle blew to indicate full time of extra time and the game went to penalties:
AC Hertford – Scored (1-0)
Sam Brown – Miss (1-0)
AC Hertford – Scored (2-0)
David Binder – Miss (2-0)
AC Hertford – Saved (2-0)
Alexi Kennedy – Scored (2-1)
AC Hertford - Saved (2-1)
Michael Richardson – Scored (2-2)
AC Hertford – Scored (3-2)
Matt Brown – Saved (3-2)
whole shootout available: http://youtu.be/eenmO5mIx7E
Jubilee FC lost on penalties to AC Hertford and were very unlucky to be knocked out of the League Cup. The players can take a lot of pride from their performance as they worked right to the final whistle only to be denied by the lottery of penalties. Alexi Kennedy was voted MoTm for his fine performance at centre back. Jubilee FC will look to get back to winning ways this coming weekend at home against Sun and Harrow.
