Another cup game against 1st division opposition which gave us a chance to show how far we have come.
the Ipswich pitch looked big and to be fair wasn't the levelest one we have played on but the weather was good and not too cold.
Kyle won the toss and decided to choose ends and so giving Athletic the KO. We started well and soon had Athletic on the back foot and we won a free kick in the 2nd minute which was put into the box the ball eventually came to Fish who later agreed that he could have done better as he put the ball wide when he was through on goal. Athletic were soon on the attack and had a shot go just wide on 4 mins and looking dangerous coming forward. The defence were going to have to work hard all game to keep our winning streek going. The next few minutes were played in midfield with both teams cancelling each other out and the Sax defence working hard to keep Athletic out. on 15 mins Ed and Rossi who was making his debut for the season clashed in to each other the collision left Ed on the ground in pain and he came off we later found out that he had fractured his wrist and he will be missed for the few weeks he is out and we all wish him a speedy recovery.Athletic finished the half strongly and the Sax defence had to work as hard as they have all season to keep them out. The half finished with the Athletic Captain Nile going in to a challenge and falling awkwardly and immediately calling out that he had broken his arm he was taken off to hospital and we have heard that he was having an operation and we all wish him a speedy recovery as well.
Half time 0 v 0
2nd half
the 2nd half started with Sax putting Athletic under pressure and unlucky not to get anything for the constant pressure. Athletic got a soft corner in the 43rd minute and the ball was put in to the box the shot hit Finchy on the arm and the ref pointed at the spot, Jack tried to use gamesmanship to put the striker off but he stuck it past Jack to make it 1 v 0. The goal woke the Sax boys up and we put them under pressure and looked like we were going to get back into the game,Andy was through on Goal and was brought down in the box with everyone thinking it was going to be a Penalty except the ref who gave a goal kick. we carried on pushing for the equaliser and when we got a free kick just inside the Athletic half Finchy stepped up to put the ball into the box the ball fell to Tom and he stuck it into the back of the net to make it 1 v 1. We had other oppurtunities to finish the game but James Garnham in goal for Athletic done well to deny Rossi to take the game into extra time.
full time 1 v 1
Extra Time
Both teams were looking tired as we started and neither wanted to lose so the game was played mainly in midfield with not any clear cut shots on goal until the last 10 seconds when Kyle tried a cheeky shot that the keeper done well to watch all the way and save, the whistle went and the boys swapped around to play the next 10 mins of ET before the dreaded penalty Shootout.
with Sax putting Athletic under early pressure and looking the fitter of the 2 teams John got the ball about 30 yards out and ran at the defence and let a shot go from 20 yards that went past the stretching keeper to settle in the corner of the net. We played the remaining 7 mins with the boys all getting behind the ball and dealing with all that Athletic could throw at us when the whistle went we felt that we deserved the win and have shown that we can live with some of the teams from the 1st division even if we feel we didn't play as well as we can.
A good win marred slightly by the 2 boys going off to Hospital with broken arms thankfully this is a rare occasion and I hope the boys soon recover. We wait to see who we get in the next round and are happy to keep our unbeaten run going.
David
