An exceptional display from stand in keeper Adam Timms took Sinclair to the brink of a cup upset before bowing out on penalties.
Off the back of last week’s great performance against Diverse, Sinclair produced a perfect defensive display against a tough side from the league above in the Coronation Cup.
With a few players missing the changes were rung and with Ciballi absent and other keeper Toby Jones sporting a nice bandage protecting his broken fingers it was Adam Timms who stepped up to the plate and volunteered to offer his services between the sticks.
Ben Washington came in at centre back, Toby and David Wiles occupied the wings, Luke Butterworth was tasked with the lone strikers role while Josh Nash started on the bench and Paul Rogers was brought in to the centre of midfield.
Abba started the brighter of the two sides and retained possession along the back lines but Sinclair were well organised without the ball and making it hard for the home side to find their way through.
Sinclair were under pressure without any real conviction for the remainder of the first half but struggled to retain possession or make any real surges forward when they did recover the ball.
Abba were getting frustrated at the start of the second half and Sinclair were beginning to get a hold of the ball more particularly on the counter attack with Butterworth’s link up play instrumental in this.
Josh Nash came on to replace Rogers midway through the second half and used his fresh legs and extra pace to stretch the Abba defence and soon after Sinclair had their first chance of the game as a string of passes in the home sides penalty area teed up Luke Whitehead who smashed his shot onto the post and across goal for Abba to clear.
Clearly rattled by this Abba soon stepped up their work rate but Sinclair were still standing strong, Washington in particular looking calm and assured at the back and stand in keeper Timms giving the look of a seasoned pro in his new found position.
Another breakaway from Sinclair later in the second half saw Nash through on goal, he took his shot early and perhaps connected too well as he powered it over the keeper and on to the middle of the bar!
The second half then drew to a close with Sinclair having had the two best chances of the game despite being without the ball for large periods of the game.
Extra time started along a similar vein until the deadlock was broken, a shot from 25 yards by Abba’s midfielder was deflected into the corner past the stranded Timms, Sinclair upped their work rate afterwards and began to retain possession in the oppositions half but were unable to fashion any real chances.
As extra time drew to a close and both sets of players were tiring a corner for Sinclair by Riley was met at the front post by a leaping Butterworth and Sinclair were back in the game, they held out for the remaining five minutes with ease and the game headed for penalties.
After last year’s semi-final shocker it was Luke Whitehead who stepped up first and buried his penalty sending the keeper the wrong way, Abba’s first was scored easily as well to level at 1-1
David, Toby and Karl were the next takers for Sinclair and all somehow managed to hit the same post but some miraculous saves from Timms had kept them in it behind at 1-2.
Captain Riley stepped up for the last kick and slotted it away comfortably but unfortunately so did Abba’s keeper to give them a 3-2 win on penalties.
United are back in league action next week as they travel to Bodicote Sports.
UNITED: A Timms, W Jones, B Washington, L Jarvis, L Whitehead, T Jones, B Riley, P Rogers (J Nash 65), K Woodcock, D Wiles, L Butterworth
