First cup game of the season, first penalty shootout in Lions' history, yet another early cup exit. This was the first of three consecutive cup games and it's a case of 1 down, two to win.
Line-up as follows:
GK: Phil A
Defence: Julian (RB), Simon (CB), Brett (CB), Gary (LB)
Midfield: Richard (RM), JP (CM), Danny (CM), Mike H(LM)
Forwards Darren, Lee
A big welcome back to Matt "Forest" Power who has returned from his travels halfway round the world.
The opposition was a team in the division below us which means very little in this league . The pitch was spongy (perfect playing surface according to manager Dave) and the cold reminded us that winter's just round the corner.
For the second week in a row, we were lucky not to concede in the first few minutes when I missed a corner ball and their header came back off the crossbar right to my feet.
They went ahead when we failed to clear a long ball to the right and their player managed to cut it back as I went out to him for his mate to slam the ball into the roof of the net. From then on, it was the all too familiar story of us having a lot of possession, a lot of shots, but few on target and even fewer forcing the keeper to make a decent save. We went into half time, frustrated at not having gotten the equaliser that we deserved for all our positive play
The second half was more of the same, until we got the break we needed. Lee found himself able to turn in front of goal and get a shot away that got a big deflection that landed the ball at Darren's feet. He buried the goal past the keeper and we breathed a sigh of relief.
Matt Power came on for his season debut in place of Richard on the right and then we went ahead through Gary who had been moved to left midfield, getting onto a pass from Darren and shooting home.
Unfortunately we didn't hold the lead too long and our inability to close down their midfield cost us dearly. Their forward ran onto a cross field ball and finished first time. 2-2 it stayed to take us into extra time. We got a great start when Brett headed home from Darren's free kick and although they had some long range shots, we seemed to be hanging on ok.
Then in the last few minutes of the game, once again, too much time was given to their midfield to cross a ball into the area where their forward managed to get his head to the ball between two defenders. His header came off the post and traveleld halfway across the goal along the line, before agonisingly turning the wrong way. Darren could still have won it with literally the last kick of extra time, but his effort spun wide of the goal.
So to penalties and the chance to be a hero..or a villain. We took ours first and Simon stepped up to set the standard. Unfortunately, he spooned his spot kick well over the bar. Thankfully, their first taker while not putting it quite as high still hit the wrong side of the cross bar.
After that, the penalties went in low, hard and nowhere near me from them and worryingly close to the keeper from them (he got hands on three of the kicks) but still in. The first five rounds came and went with it all square so Mike was the one who didn't step back to volunteer for the next kick. He put his effort low but wide of the post and their next penalty clinched it for them.
Yes we came back from a goal down and we played well, but we lost the lead twice and at the end of the day, we need to convert more of our chances into goals. And we need to practice taking penalties.
