First Half:
To the delight of Barnshaw, it was a cup game, against a team two divisions up. The away side started the stronger of the two, getting some balls forward and creating opportunities which failed to hit the back of the net. A lapse of concentration led to a defence splitting ball down the middle, in which their striker latched onto to provide the home side with the lead.
One cross led to a flick on by Oliver Brown, who was taken out by the goalkeeper, only for Serkan to bundle the ball home, equaliser! Or so we thought. The referee had blown up for a freekick for a push on the goalkeeper it seems, but everyone was bewildered by the decision.
It then forced Russellers to really bring the level of the game up a notch. Eventually it broke through, with some quick passing leading to a superb swinging ball in from Matthew Brittle, which reached Oliver Brown who converted a thumping header into the top corner over a despairing goalkeeper. Game on with that equaliser.
Second Half:
The wind and rain really picked up in this half, and it didn't help Grant Tugwell at all. A cross was played in by the home side, which didn't look like causing any grief, but a massive gust of wind blew the ball over Grant Tugwell's head, finding a way into the back of the net by chance. A howler surely, he looked distraught how that had managed to beat him.
He soon made amends when their striker was through on goal, had the whole goal to aim for, but was denied by a strong block to keep the game a close contest, despite New Russellers looking the better team.
Fast forward to a counter attack from New Russellers, where the ball landed perfectly by Serkan Ozdemir who slammed home a wonderful half volley to bring the visitors back on level terms.
It could have been won late on by Oliver Brown, who was found unmarked by a lovely outside of the foot pass from Conor Boud, he latched onto it with his left foot, and it looked to be going in. The keeper had other ideas though, and palmed the strike away, putting it out for a corner.
Extra Time 1st Half:
New Russellers were confident that this would be their time to take the game into their own hands. The referee produced an almighty howler in favour of the home side, as Serkan Ozdemir was fouled, which led to their winger cutting out past Michael Barnshaw to square the ball to the free striker, who couldn't miss.
The away side kept pushing on however, and the referee decided to give preference to the away side as Tom Kerby latched onto a nice ball into his stride, breaking into the penalty area and being tackled by the last man. Quite dubiously, the referee pointed to the spot, penalty to New Russellers. It was only fair that we brought Ben Dos Santos back onto the pitch to fulfil his duties as penalty taker. Stepping up, he decided he would emulate Bolo Zenden in the 2004 Carling Cup final (video below, start at 2:55) and he slipped whilst taking his penalty (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e49ogV_WxFg). Didn't even get to watch his equalising goal, but all that mattered was that New Russellers had come back from behind for the third time this game,
Moments later, a corner was swung in from Dos Santos, which met the head of Oliver Brown who hoped his flick would find a team mate, and Nathan Cross was there to provide a drilled finish past 2 players on the line and the goalkeeper to give New Russellers the lead for the first time after 105 minutes.
Extra Time 2nd Half:
Gravesend United looked beaten at this point having gone behind, and New Russellers capitalised on this. Serkan Ozdemir provided a short run after being fed the ball, and calmly placed the ball with precision into the bottom right hand corner, with the goalkeeper having no chance, providing Serkan with his second of the game. The game went on and New Russellers could've had a few more, but the full time whistle blew, giving New Russellers yet another cup match to look forward to, and another week for Barnshaw to provide his insight in the Barnshaw's Magic Of The Cup column.
