With Kyle filling in for AWOL Gary we showed no sign of nerves and settled from the off into a high tempo game.Within minutes bright passing saw Kim find space in the 6 yard box only for his smart volley on the turn to be saved by a 'keeper who was much better than he looked. Within 15 minutes we had spurned three further openings, failing to even test the 'keeper from good one on one positions.
Inevitably, with our failure to turn possession and chances into the 2 or 3 goal lead our play warranted, Real grew in confidence and started to pin us back stretching us with good lateral movement. Harry, Dan, Chippy and Jack dug in to stem the tide and on the occassions when Real did get through Chris, Joel and Ryan were in outstanding form. Chris's composure breeds confidence and with Joel and Ryan letting nothing thro' Kyle wasn't really tested until the 30 min mark when we conceded a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box and even then it took an in off the post to get Real on the score sheet.
At 1-0 down 15 mins to half time Ollie was overrun on the right leaving Joel exposed time and again. This was down to Kim and Sam favouring (our) the left leaving us lop-sided and allowing their left back to press on. We decided to ride our luck 'til the break as re-shaping at times of intense pressure can sometimes be counter-productive.
At half time we reshaped to a notional 4-5-1/3-5-2 bringing Sam across right to give us a more balanced shape and to give their left back something to think about. At half time we re-grouped with the message that we should have already put the game to bed and that we could still raise our game whereas Real were already flat out and didnt look like they could stretch us any further.
From the restart we were at it but again we spurned three clear early one on one chances to kill the game. When Real then broke through with a hopeful punt we were in danger of going 2 down but Kyle bravely saved at the feet on the onrushing striker. I resisted the invitation to check Kyle's nuts as that's Harry's job. We continued to hang together as only a good side can and eventually 20 mins in (as in an earlier round) Kim was finally rewarded for his determination when he was flattened by their 'keeper and rightly awarded a penalty which he sweetly converted himself.
Real couldn't cope with our non stop effort during this period and within 5 minutes we were 2-1 up as a sweeping end to end move saw Sam finish a diagonal right to left run with a low cross for Ollie to slot home from close range. With Real shaken we took further advantage and another slick passing move was brought to a close when Kim's mis-hit cross was scrambled through for Sam to slot home. At 3-1 a fantastic through ball from Harry saw Olli approach the 'keeper one on one but just to keep things interesting Ollie passed back to their 'keeper to give them another chance! Sure enough with Kyle tempting fate singing "semi final here we come" we gifted Real a second in a messy goalmouth scramble.
At 3-2 with five minutes to go Real were looking for a way back in and left themselves exposed to a breakaway, Sam duly obliged by clinically finishing his own solo run 4-2 game over.
Score more and concede fewer than the opposition and you win games - we did this again today. Although we seemed to struggle up top we still created 12 chances from open play and converted 4 from 3 different strikers At the other end we conceded 2, one in off the post from a direct free kick and one in a scramble when we switched off thinking the ref. was about to blow upfor time - we simply dont lie down.In between we had some passages of top quality football and at all times maintained 100% commitment and belief. Every player today, including Joe who gave us the fallback of sub. cover, was crutial in todays victory and Jack just shaded MOM for his quality and commitment across the whole 90 mins - he was run close today by half a dozen team mates. We are The Association, lets have it.
