this match was one for the records.
And you thought Reading v Arsenal was a classic... After this week's Capital One cup drama (with Norwich reaching the quarter-finals amongst some other games), Stow Town produced a great cup tie for themselves. Having swept Elmswell aside in the first round, the Hornets travelled to Walsham le Willows on a wet, bitterly cold Sunday morning, where the pitch was nigh-on abandonment. However the game went ahead, and what a relief it did, as this match was one for the records.
The big selection ahead of the game was the decision to play versatile, ever-reliable Swanny in midfield, as Cookie and Ryan formed the centre-half partnership. Josh was part of a midfield four, consisting of himself, Liam, Henry, and Harvey, while unorthodox Jack and Jamie filled the roles up front.
The first chance of the encounter fell to Jack, weaving his way into the area, and shooting straight at the keeper. After a series of Walsham corners, Town regained the ball, and Harvey played a great ball through to Henry, who looked offside. However, the flag stayed down, but Henry put a golden chance wide.
Stow began to pile on the pressure: down the right flank particularly. Liam sent a low cross back across the box only for his cousin Swanny to miskick it in a good position. Walsham came back into the game though and took the lead to the Hornets' horror halfway through the first period. A tame goal kick from Harvey landed straight at the feet of the Willows' centre forward, who blasted it past Dan. Once the goal arrived, the rest of the half fizzled out, and the home side went in at the break one up, after Stow scufed some good chances, and made a crucial error that was harshly capitalised on.
No changes were made at half-time, and Stow re-emerged determined, and struck back early. Harvey made up for his previous error as forward-thinking Henry won a free kick in a corner of the Walsham half. Harvey delivered a deep, perfect ball to the back post, where Swanny was gladly waiting to tap in his first goal for Stow Town.
After the goal, manager Neil made a triple change, as Matty, James and Jacob replaced Ellis, Liam and Jamie respectively. Little did anyone know how important their contributions would be later on in the game. Five minutes later though, perhaps against the run of play, Walsham re-took the lead, a ball through to their striker who slammed it in at the near post. Dan got a hand to it, but unfortunately not strong enough.
Stow were to respond instantly though, a great goal from Jack, after he once again went on a mazy run forward down the right, and slotted it into the far corner. He almost had another, as a blueprint of the goal looked to be created. Having defended a Walsham attack, George gave the ball to the influential James on the half-way line, who sprayed a great ball wide to Jack who cut in and that time sent it just over the bar. Another throughball looked to cause danger in the Town defence, but Cookie was floored and won a free kick in the process.
Moments later, James and Jack linked up again. A long pass from the midfield dynamo was anticipated by the tall goalkeeper, but he spilt it in the direction of Jack only for the ball to go behind for a goal kick. After opportunities for both sides, the game went to extra-time, and seconds in the heroic Jack picked up a knock whilst attacking and Jamie re-entered the fray in his place. The first real chance of extra time fell to the substitute too, as Henry played a chipped a ball over the Walsham defence, only for the goalie to save majestically from a strong shot from Jamie.
Minutes later, he had another attempt, as Stow Town broke from a corner, although as Jamie was running through he overhit it. And then, as the second half arrived, Stow's winning goal arrived. Jacob, who had been incredible at holding the ball up since his arrival on the now soggy field, squared the ball to Jamie who couldn't miss this time, sparking bedlam amongst Stow players, supporters and the manager.
In a real test of Stow's character they pulled through magnificently, as the subs contributed well to the starting eleven's performance. Confidence was low after a few negative results, but this result shows the team still has steel. Their reward is a tie with Thurston in the third round, and my souvenir from the match is a very wet notebook
