In what was yet another dramatic cup tie The Warden have made it through to the last 16 of The Intermediate Cup beating Cardinal Newman, but it took penalty kicks to decide the outcome at a very cold Jericho Lane. We got off to the perfect start when Dean Judge netted his 7th of the season after 5 minutes keeping his cool to slot past the keeper after a superb ball over the top from Paul Langley, but a defensive mix up by Phil Founds & James Davies brought the home side level after 10 minutes. We regained the lead on 35 minutes, Langley again was provider swinging in a dangerous free kick which was guided into the net by James Gregory who got the slightest of touches. The home side were dangerous from set pieces and had one or two very good chances to draw level but we were our own worst enemies giving away careless fouls thanfully we ended the first half on top (half time 2-1).
We were much improved in the opening stages of the 2nd half making better use of the width of the pitch which enabled Langley & Anthony Moore to get at the full backs. A great switch ball by Judge found Moore on 50 minutes and he done well to beat the left back and fire in a cross which flew across the face of goal towards Langley who slid in just failinh to make any contact with the ball, tempers flared on the pitch and at one point we'd turned into Man City it certainly lifted Newman who continued to push forward sensing there was one last chance in it for them, and with just 6 minutes left Gregory conceeded a penalty and Founds could only watch as the ball was smashed to his left leaving him rooted to the spot. Extra time was looking inevitable but just 60 seconds later Judge found space on the right and drilled the ball into the box which found substitute Wes Pitchford at the back post who tapped in to make it 3-2. The game should have been dead & buried in the final minute when Pitchford played a sublime ball which left Langley running onto the ball with just the keeper to beat only one outcome was expected but the fella in the snack van having to duck wasn't it and we were left to rue the missed chance when Gregory again pulled down a Newman player in the box and up stepped their number 15 who struck the ball past Phil Founds who got closer but failed to keep it out, it was just like Liobians all over again but unfortunately our number 1 couldn't repeat his heroics. (3-3)
It meant 10 minutes each way of extra time and when the home side's pacey substitute netted in their first attack we were now trailing for the first time in the game. We created wave after wave of attack but just couldn't find a way past the Newman keeper, Moore & Gregory had the best of the chances and Brian Kerwin who'd replaced Neil Hunter at left back was unlucky when he struck a brilliant shot which cannoned off the post. With the clock now ticking down it was all out attack and even Phil Founds played his part dribbling the ball out like a FIFA goalie, he got as far as the halfway line and could run no further who knows maybe it was the weight of the chain round his neck which prevented him getting any further or was it a nose bleed either way although it had arses twitching it was comedy gold. Anthony Moore who'd switched flanks had one last run down the wing and his looping cross decieved the keeper and found the far corner which made it 4-4. It meant the first pen shoot out in Warden history, and an opportunity for some to make themselves heroes and for others to get a part in a Pizza Hut advert. Wes Pitchford missed the first scewing his effort wide, but both Dean Judge and Paul Langley kept their cool and scored and when Cardinal Newman missed their 3rd blazing over the bar and Founds saved the 4th either side of Kieran Dolan's which was slotted it meant Wesley Davies could seccure our place in the last 16 and he made no mistake, it wasn't quite our Istanbul moment as there were no trophy just yet but we seem to have luck very much on our side in this competition so long may it continue.
Man Of The Match: John Marsh: best performance since the opening game of the season by far, defended superbly and even got forward as an attacking option on a number of occassions
Subs not used: John Davies, Netran Dolan, Shaun Kent
