A late winner by Paul Langley has seccured our place in the 3rd round of The Intermediate Cup in an entertaining game at Adlam Park. The home side who adopted a long ball style of play looked the most likely to open the scoring in the opening stages and we never seemed to get going and keep possesion. Not until 14 minutes when Anthony Moore hit a right foot shot straight at the keeper did we cause any threat. Paul Langley made a great run down the left moments later skipping past a number of sliding challenges before his cross which was headed by Wes Pitchford was easily saved. It was from a long ball in on 20 minutes that Adlam Park took the lead, Jamie Gregory challenged the forward but the ball was flicked on past Phil Founds who couldn't react quick enough to keep the ball out (1-0). The response from going a goal down was good and some excellent wing play from Moore on 26 minutes nearly drew us level but his low shoot was pushed round the post. The equaliser finally came just before the half hour mark when Kieran Dolan picked up the ball in his own half and charged forward with pace and strength into the box before slotting the ball under the on-rushing keeper (1-1). Liam Geordeson was unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when he appeared to be clipped in the box but he stayed on his feet which meant the referee was not interested in the appeals from the line. Sloppy play from Langley who lost possesion on the left then led to Adlam's 2nd goal, Brian Kerwin was caught out of position which resulted in the ball being played down the flank and a dangerous cross was struck into the ground and the ball looped over Founds (2-1). Captain Kieran Dolan grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck once again from the resulting kick off and played a delicate ball over the top which found Liam Geordeson who made no mistake to draw us level again and net his fourth of the season (2-2). We certainly ended the half on top and the only other real danger from Adlam came from the goalkeepers long kicks with one of them very nearly embarrassing Phil Founds who mis-timed the flight of the ball and required an out stretched hand to tip over, Founds redeemed himself however with some excellent catching from the resulting two corner kicks, (half time 2-2).
We failed to start the 2nd half with the same intensity that we ended the first period and the game was now turning into a classic cup tie with a number of tasty challenges going in from both sides. Paul Langley made another mazy run down the left on 71 minutes and as he got into the box although the angle appeared to be a tight one you almost expected him to go himself and drill the ball far post, however he chose to pull the ball across to the face of the goal which found Wes Pitchford but he failed to get any real contact on the ball which meant a very good chance went astray. It prooved to be the big strikers last piece of action as he was replaced a minute later by Dean Judge who won the free kick which resulted in us taking the lead for the first time in the game. Wesso Davies fired the ball in hard & low and Kieran Dolan slid in to rebound the ball into the back of the net. Adlam hit back just minutes later when Wesso Davies conceeded a free kick on the edge of the box and the kick was smashed in past Founds who got nowhere near it. As the game entered the final stages it was the home side who had 2 or 3 very good chances to win it on the counter but they lacked conviction in the final third and James Davies was putting his whole body on the line with some top class defending. Substitute Netran Dolan should have put the game beyond Adlam on the 88th minute when a Langley free kick was headed down by Gregory fell into his path on the right and although his first touch was excellent his shot was struck low and straight at the keeper, extra time now looked inevitable until it was Kieran Dolan's never say die attitude yet again which made the difference, his through ball on 90 minutes put Langley in who was 1 against 1 with the keeper and he kept his composure to knock the ball in to open his account for the season, we left it very late but it meant no way back for the home side and it meant our name would be in the hat for the 3rd round draw next week.
Man of the match: Kieran Dolan superb performance from the captain who tonight Matthew was Roy Keane
Subs not used: John Davies, Shaun Kent, Arran Langley
