Units win 4-1 on penalties
The UNITS took on Snooks in the semi final of the Bromsgrove cup on a cold Sunday morning at Borrington. The UNITS were dealt a blow early morning when regular centre half Kirbs was up all night with the threpenny bits and was unable to make the squad so Eggy came into the 16 as we lined up as follows
Mala, Chinner, Penna, Darbs, Barney, Jim, Ashton, Baker, Pountney, Jonah & Taylor. The bench was Marcus, Ross, Turner, Eggy and Coco
As expected Snooks rolled out the big guns leaving out some of their hero’s from last weeks excellent win and bringing back the big names for the fixture against us however it was the UNITS who started the brightest and on 5 minutes some slick play released Taylor who crossed low for Jonah who was in a position to sidefoot home and the stretching defender diverted the ball towards goal only for their keeper to make a fine reflex save pushing the ball wide for a corner.
We kept up the lively tempo and Ashton was put through shortly after and hacked down on the edge of the box by two Snooks defenders, from the resulting free kick Pountney bent a low free kick around the wall and again the Snooks keeper pulled off a fine save low down to his left to push the ball wide
25 in it was all UNITS yet Snooks started to edge into the game and Mala had to be alert to save low down at his near post from an angled drive as things started to level up
However Jonah came within a whisker of putting us ahead on 40 minutes when Pountney skinned the full back before whipping in a delightful cross which Jonah headed inches wide from 8 yards out with the keeper rooted to the spot
Snooks best chance of the half fell to their goal machine Hazeldine who was set up by Burgess but he managed to spoon wide from 15 yards with Mala out of position as we came in at HT all square
HT UNITS 0 v Snooks 0
Cuzer asked the boys for more of the same in the 2nd half, we had just got a little depp, inviting some Snooks pressure as the half wore on but that apart we had created the better chances in the first 45
The first 10 of the 2nd half was scrappy with both midfields cancelling each other out yet on the hour mark we took the lead when Ashton picked up the ball in the midfield and released Taylor who stroked home past the advancing keeper from 15 yards
Snooks responded and Mala made two sharp saves from shots within the 18 yard box as they pushed hard for an equaliser. The UNITS were happy to play on the break now and Ashton was close to adding to our lead from a header which their keeper did well to tip over, shortly after an audacious attempt from 30 yards by Taylor was plucked out the top corner as we came close to extending the lead
On the hour mark Marcus replaced Jim who was harshly booked in the first half and was clearly walking a tightrope with the inconsistent officials
Snooks then brought on Holty and Seekings and went 4-3-3 and were happy to lump the ball on us at every opportunity yet the back four of Chinner, Penna, Darbs and Barney were holding firm and putting their bodies on the line
The game was now very stretched and end to end and from one of numerous long throws into our box the ball found it’s way to Burgess on the back stick who looked like he would level things up only for Mala to expertly get down low to his left and tip the effort wide from all of 5 yards
On the 70 minute mark Coco replaced Jonah who again had put a great shift in. Snooks continued to ask questions of our back four and Mala again was called to tip over after a goalmouth scramble as the UNITS dug in the best they could
We were next to threaten when from a cross shot by Ashton, Marcus was inches away from tapping home at the back stick before the keeper scrambled clear
With time running out Turner entered the fray for the tiring Ashton.
The UNITS suffered last gasp agony when amazingly with 52 minutes on the clock and the referee still playing time added on Webby drilled in a free kick from wide and Hazeldine bulleted a fine header into the top corner from 15 yards
The referee finally blew with 54 minutes on the clock as the UNITS came in disappointed to have been pegged back so late
Full time UNITS 1 v Snooks 1
Credit to the UNITS as the momentum was obviously now with Snooks but the majority of the 30 minutes of extra time passed incident and chance free, Burgess forced another fine save out of Mala where at the other end Turner got in behind their back four before setting up Marcus who’s shot was blocked by the defender
So the game went into penalties and Pountney scored our first with ease before Mala made a fine save from Carrington to put us 1-0 up. Taylor stroked home our 2nd only for Holty who wanted to shoot from everywhere in the game yet didn’t fancy it from 12 yards much as he only managed to scuff one low to Mala’s right who comfortably saved the shot
Marcus again scored our 3rd with a well placed penalty and Tonksey did the same for Snooks with a good low penalty into the corner so it was all down to centre half Barney to put the UNITS into the final and he also made no mistake before we all piled on Mala who was the hero of the day both in the shoot out & during normal time
Man of the match went to Mala who was excellent throughout but also a special mention to Darbs, Barney, Chinner, Ashton & Taylor who were all excellent on the day
