We were well briefed about Saints' quick back to front/long ball game but the biggest problem proved to be the floodlights as Saints 'keeper launched huge up and unders into the glare - Chippy finished the game 3 inches shorter with no neck.
Unusually for us we settled into the game from the beginning and had good attacking possession on our right but on our left we were more under pressure as they continued to work the ball out to that side and from where they had several long range shots - none of which troubled an in form Gary.
In the early stages Sam hung far left but saw little possession as we struggled to move the ball laterally across a wide pitch. Kyle worked the right hand and central areas well and was proving a handful - 15 minutes in, his 18 yard driven half volley dipped just too late and thudded the bar.
Minutes later the referee, unable to keep up with a fast paced game, wrongly awarded a penalty against Joel when he'd won the ball cleanly. Gary got a hand to the penalty but was just unable to keep it out. Five minutes later Olli brought us level only for his cool equaliser to be wrongly ruled offside again by officials well begind the line of play. We had two "inactive" players in offside positions but Olli was clearly onside and the Saints bench thought the decision hilarious. After being isolated on the left and before we could get instructions out to switch with Olli, Sam dropped into a central midfield area hunting the ball. A routine ariel challenge resulted in a broken hooter and Sam had to be withdrawn 10 minutes before the break. Bill came on at right back, Joel shuffled across and Ryan moved higher up the pitch.
At half time 1-0 down we knew we had the edge once we'd refuelled on Jaffas and Ryan had switched from moulded to studs. Less than 5 minutes into the second period Kyle was withdrawn after suffering a heavy blow in the first half and a deep cut above the knee in a sliding 50/50 with their 'keeper. George, not fully recovered from his ligament injury, was brought on in a like for like replacement. In the 63rd minute we conceded a second as a fluke rebound left them 1 on 1 with Gary. Just a minute later we conceded a third fluke goal as a cruel deflection saw the ball run under Gary who otherwise had it covered.
Three Nil down with 25 minutes to go all around were beginning to question the wisdom of two left backs up top and there were calls to change the shape and throw a third player forward but we believed from the first kick to the last that we were going to win this game, this way, the hard way, the only way, The Association way.
Thinking the game was over their captain and main right hand threat, Kevin Hampton, was withdrawn. This was a big mistake, without his threat Joel took the opportunity to press forward and Ryan and Jack took the opportunity to switch positions.Saints were unable to withstand the left sided onslaught which followed. 7 minutes later with just 20 left on the clock Joel overlapped Ryan, played a 1-2 with Jack and Joel's driven cross was slotted home from close range by Kim at the end of a lung busting run. 3-1 down game on!
Olli's workload was increased following Kyle's withdrawal and Joel's switch but his quality in possession and on the ball gave us time to recover on our weakened right hand side. In the 80th minute he crossed the field to deliver a trademark quality corner. Chris who had spent most of the game under seige between Chippy and the midfield ghosted in unnoticed to slot home from close range. 3-2 and less than 10 minutes left here we go!
Three minutes later another corner begging for a quality delivery and Olli didn't disappoint. Jack filled the space left by Kyle and rose at the edge of the 6 yard box to head home superbly when it looked like the ball was beyond him. 3-3 who's laughing now? Two minutes later in the 85th minute a sweeping end to end passing move was finished of clinically by Jack as he drove into the 18 yard box - two goals in two minutes ripped the heart out of Saints.
In the 89th minute with Saints pressing for an equaliser George picked up the ball on the edge our area drove towards the halfway line and slid a pass through to Kim who continued his lungbusting run, muscled through two players and rounded the 'keeper to condemn Saints to Cup Final Hell. Here endeth the lesson.
This was a huge team performance and every player should be proud of the way they submitted to the team ethic - thats the way to win games. There were some exceptional performances starting at the back with Gary who could do nothing about the three that got past him and who kept us in the game on several occassions not least with (another) a fantastic 1 on 1 save late in the game. Every player deserves a mention and across the 90 minutes Joel, Jack, Harry or Kim could have nicked MOM. In the second half any single player could have won the vote but the deciding factor was the bravery shown by Chippy (in wearing that suit - I'll have a flake in mine).
Bans and injuries will leave us with bare minumum numbers in the coming 3 or 4 weeks so it will be down to those still standing to make sure we make history never to be repeated (except by us!) We are The Association and we love it.
