Robin Hood Colts 5 Sherwood 3 (after extra-time)
Cup day at Sherwood Fields proved to be a fiery affair!
Robin Hood started with a 4-4-2 formation and took the lead on two minutes, following a flowing move (off the training ground) involving Luke, Conor and a sweet Kingy finish. Seven minutes later, the home support was in ecstasy as Reggie went on a trademark surge from right back and smashed in a 20 yarder from the right side of the box. The Sherwood keeper had no chance. It could have been more as Kian fired in another 20 yarder just wide and Ronnie sent a 30 yard free-kick goalwards, only for the Sherwood keeper to leap like a salmon and palm the ball to safety away from the top corner.
For 20 minutes Robin Hood controlled the game. Calm and controlled defence kept the Sherwood strikers to long range punts. Keeping it simple was paying dividends. So a Sherwood goal was a surprise, as the striker ran through and won the 1 on 1 to slide the ball into the Robin Hood net. 2-1. Nerves? No time for nerves as Ronnie received the ball in midfield, beat two opponents and smashed in an unstoppable shot from 25 yards. That’s where he got that nickname! 3-1. Further chances followed, as Conor put one just wide over the keeper from the right and Kian had another shot from distance well-saved. When Jack CC burst forward from left back on a mazy run that Ashley Cole would have enjoyed, he fed Luke whose shot was saved well.
Half-time came for a welcome breather. Special mention for the defence in the first half. Reggie, Dec, James Mac and Jack CC were excellent throughout, supported by the tireless midfield, led by Ronnie and Kian. Behind them Kieran was increasingly solid. The half ended with James H and Jack CC playing the ball out of defence and away. That’s what training was all about.
The second half started with Jacob replacing Jack CC, who took a welcome breather, and with Sherwood fired up by their manager. James Mac made an important clearance and a Sherwood freekick cleared the bar. In response, a good attack involving Conor and Kian came to nothing and Luke fired over from the edge of the box, The excellent Kian was replaced by Tomo with 25 minutes to go. A Robin Hood freekick looked dangerous, but a foul on the Sherwood keeper frustrated the fans. In the next five minutes, Kieran twice saved the day, first punching out a dangerous corner and then smothering a breakaway.
The 19th minute of the second half was dramatic. First Conor had a goal that would have sealed the game wrongly disallowed for offside; then Sherwood scored from a neat through ball. Instead of being three up Robin Hood were only one up. In the next five minutes, a 20 yard freekick was saved by Kieran, Kingy had an 18 yarder saved and Conor’s 25 yard left foot shot was also held by the Sherwood keeper. Sherwood pressed desperately, but Kieran came out to deflect a shot wide, but the defence held firm from the six-yard box pinball from the corner that followed. Kian replaced Luke with five minutes to go, as Sherwood piled forward to be frustrated by a brilliant Dec interception. Sadly, from the corner the ball missed everyone and ended up in the back of the net. 3-3.
The final whistle brought extra time – 20 extra energy-sapping minutes. Who wanted the victory more? Robin Hood. After Kingy had a header saved, James H sent in a perfect cross, Conor rose high and planted his header in the top corner – one of the best headers ever seen at Sherwood Fields. Kieran stayed alert to close down another 1 on 1 and then the killer moment – James H again the provider and Conor the clinical finisher. 5-3. At the beginning of the second half of extra time Jack CC returned for Jacob and Maddo, who said “It was a great game to watch”, came on for Kingy who had run himself into the ground. In a period with little action, but high on emotion, the highlight was when a Sherwood player smashed the ball away in temper straight into his team mate’s face. The home crowd’s chuckles were well-deserved.
A 5-3 victory was well-deserved. There had been many good passing moves, strong, committed defence, fiery battling and excellent finishing. A fantastic performance! Well done to all.
