Smugglers Inn Fc travelled to leven today to take on a high flying side Fc Brig, With them only drawn 1 league game and winning the rest.
This saw the Smugglers Inn face another tough test.
Both teams started off very sloopy with not very much happening and both teams creating half chances.
Alan Flinn soon found himself in the referees book only 8mintues in with an off ball offence with also saw Fc Brig defender booked also.
Fc brig soon started to pick up the pace and cause Smugglers Inn Problems which saw us 2nd to every ball.
Stuart Blake soon found himself joining Alan Flinn in the referees book after a studs up tackle which was lucky only to see him recieve a yellow card.
The Break through came for Fc Brig in the 20th minute as they broke down the left hand side to cut in and see a shot hit the cross bar and landed to an unmarked man at the back post just to fire it home 1-0.
Fc brig seemed to keep the pressure on as they looked to try extend there lead.
Smugglers Inn then came close to grabbing a goal back as alan flinn lacked on the end of a ball in but saw the keeper saw well.
Both teams went in at half time with the scoreline only 1-0.
Smugglers Inn knew this game was'nt over and had to up the pace the 2nd half.
Smugglers Inn came back out the 2nd half and looked more lively as they went to try find a goal to bring this tie back level.
But in the 50th minute Smugglers soon found themselves 2-0 down as a missed pas header from Stuart Blake went to a Fc Brig striker who managed to get a shot away from a tight angel and put it in the far side 2-0.
Smugglers Inn manager then decided he had to change something, So he introduced new comer Conor Hay to replace Jordan Sammutt.
Smugglers Inn then started to look interested as they starting seeing more of the ball and soon found a goal back on the 55th minute as Neil Paylor got a head onto the ball and hit off a defender in scrambled over the line 2-1.
This goal then gave Smugglers Inn a wee bit more belief and started playing a lot better football.
Fc Brig soon managed to open the gap to 2 as they managed to get a 3rd, The ball came in and they managed to get a shot away which saw the keeper save only for the striker to lach onto the rebound and stick it away 3-1.
Smugglers Inn kepted the pressure on as they looked to try get back in this and it paid off as Phil Bryson who was having a great game on the right managed to get away from 2 players to swing in a cross which met Conor Hay at the front post to knock in 3-2.
With time running out Smugglers knew they had to change things and go more attacking
So they decided to change formation to a 4-3-3 and brung on Derrie Duffy to replace Mark James who looked to be struggling.
Smugglers Inn saw more of the ball and looked to try grab an equaliser.
And after all the hard work and pressure they were soon back on level terms as Phil Byrson once again burst down the right hand side looked to play the ball into the middle which found its way to Conor Hay who managed to control it and turn it brillantly to fire it into the net 3-3.
With only 4 mintues left in the match both teams tryed to find a winner and Smugglers saw the final chance of the game as Conor Hay was fouled just next to the corner flag.
A whipped ball in bounced around the area which Conor Hay managed to get to and got a shot away only to see the keeper save and the ball was cleared FULL TIME 3-3
This soon saw Smugglers Inn go into yet another penalty shoot out.
Norman Black - GOAL
Derrie Duffy - MISS
Lyle Fowle - GOAL
Ben Couper - GOAL
Phil Bryson - MISS
after 5 penalties each it was still level as Fc Brig also failed to score all 5.
Smugglers Inn team Captain Dean Richardson stepped up to the plate to take the first penalty of Sudden Death.
Conor Hay - GOAL
Dean Richardson - GOAL
This when saw Fc Brig player step up to try and keep them in it and he failed to do so as he saw his effort hit the cross bar bounce onto the line and away.
4-3 To Smugglers Inn Fc.
