Report by Club Secretary Matt Eagles:
tie of the round saw Mary Dendy come from behind three times to beat Winnington Avenue Reserves 3-1 on penalties in a tie switched to Winnington after Dendy’s pitch was closed due to impending weather conditions.
It was a shocking start for Chris Shepherd’s side as Winnington threatened to over run them going 2-0 up inside half an hour thanks to two goals from Mark Robson. A tactical substitution then turned the game on its head . Shepherd brought off Shaun Cunningham and brought on captain Steve Rowlands for only his second appearance of the season . His impact was immediate .He injected a sense of urgency and commitment and with his first touch he put a ball over the top of the Winnington defence that sent Paul Richardson scampering down the right wing and his cross was side footed home by Danny Vickers with Dendy’s first attempt on goal. Adam Taylor equalised ten minutes into the second half but twelve minutes from time following a corner Tom Carney’s shot through a crowded box found the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-2 . Straight from the restart Dan Vickers was played straight through the middle and he flicked the ball over Craig Edmondson to make it 3-3. A far post header from Matt Edmondson gave Winnington the lead for a third time in extra time but so even are these two sides Dendy fought back to equalise again,Paul Richardson finding the net three minutes from the end of extra time to send the tie to penalty kicks .
Tom Carney converted the first for Winnington but that was as good as it got as despite Matt Stott’s penalty hitting the post the next three penalties were all converted with Dendy keeper Mat Robinson saving two in between. Fittingly it was man of the match Steve Rowlands who nonchalantly converted the winning spot kick sending Edmondson the wrong way and then turned to shake referee Rick Bradfield’s hand- no histrionics just coolness personified !
Report by Assistant Manager David Vickers:
DENDY WIN PENALTY SHOOT OUT 3-1 to go through.
Dendy's decision to switch their home cup game to Winningtons pitch just about paid off after a close game.
Looking at the players we had to chose from before the game i expected a comfortable win but how wrong i was.
A poor start from Dendy where the lack of legs in midfield and Winnington's desire to get the ball forward quickly saw Dendy 2-0 behi...nd and a shock seemed to be on the cards. Dendy didn't seem to be able to get the ball forward to Dan and PJ and it looked like the Dendy of old and not the new battling Dendy was back. The change in midfield seemed to kick start the Dendy game and bringing on sub Steve seemed to change the game. It wasn't long before a PJ pass, yes PJ pass was taped in by Dan to make it 2-1 at half time.
Dendy were better the second half but there was always the worry of the dead ball or quick counter attack catching out Dendy. Dendy made it 2-2 with a goal from Adam and it looked like Dendy would go on to win comfortably but that wasn't to be as Winnington scored again and at 3-2 it looked like it wasn't going to be Dendy's day. A great pass by Man of the Match Steve was taken down by Dan's chest and despite the Winnington effort to keep it out was stuck in well by Dan. This brought on extra time where again Winnington took the lead before a good move and finish from PJ made it 4-4 and penalty's. I wasn't confident on us Winning a shoot out but apart from missing the first one great keeping and good finishing saw Steve step up and finish off Winnington to win 3-1 .
So WINNINGTON RES 4 MARY DENDY 4 after extra time.
Dendy win 3-1 on penalty's.
Man of the match was Steve. Him coming on made Dendy more competitive.
Mentions for good games for Mono Adam and Dan and not to forget the penalty saves from Matty.
Biggest smile of the day and winner of the donkey was baby face Matty Martin for getting asked for ID at the pub and having to have coke. Nice one Matty.
