Galacticos travelled away to New Angel Bradford Street in the Quarter Finals of the league cup and only had a bare 11?! Jamie Adams moved back to right back and Stoneham returned upfront after being cup tied. Thumbs up Vicarage was missing so Lawes and Yeo dropped in to cover the holding role and Orr sat behind the lone striker.
The Galacticos began well keeping the ball and creating some early pressure with McCormack, Yeo and Stoneham all going close. The deadlock was nearly broke on 30 minutes when some good play between McCormack and Adams realised Orr who swung in a superb cross that was met by Stoneham and the ball look destined to fly into the top corner but the home sides keeper pulled off a brilliant save to keep the game 0-0, 2 minutes later Stoneham went past one defender and then the goalkeeper who hauled him down but for the ref to wave off the Galacticos appeals. Finally on 38 minutes the deadlock was broken when Yeo went round two players and squared the ball to Orr who slotted home.
HALF TIME NEW ANGEL BRADFORD STREET 0 WITHAM GALACTICOS 1
The Galacticos extended their lead a minute into the second half after some good work by McCormack found Stoneham who blasted home from 12 yards. The Galacticos where playing some good football from the back and creating a handful of chances with Ratcliffe and Stoneham nearly rounding off some good moves. On 57 minutes Ratcliffe got on the scoresheet to extend his goalscoring run. Ratcliffe picked up the ball on the left hand side played it into Lawes who turned his man and drove to the byline and picked out a pass to Ratcliffe who blasted home from 4 yards. 2 minutes later it was 4-0 when a shot/pass (god knows what it was!) from Ratcliffe 20 yards out fell kindly to Stoneham inside the box who placed the ball to keepers right to get his 2nd of the game and his 7th in 2 games!. The home team desperately were trying to force a consolation goal but the centre back pairing of Murphy and Clark were in complete control and the full backs of Humphrys and Adams where having superb games notably creating many of the Galacticos plays from deep. Sadly on 62 minutes Clark conceded a penalty that New Angel converted. It was harsh on the back four after such a disciplined performance. On 70 minutes Galacticos conceded again when Clark misjudged a long ball and the home teams striker lobed the ball over Cannock from 18 yards to give them a glimmer of hope, but 2 minutes later the game was over when Yeo delivered a superb corner that Lawes headed in from 4 yards to end the tie and put Glacticos in the draw for the next round.
An all round good performance and some very good football played. We created alot of chances and the score could have been 10+. Some very good performances from everyone but particularly Jamie Adams, Jack Murphy, Charlie Humphrys and Kane Orr who all raised their game and deserve a big pat on the back as they performed superbly, but it was Jamie Lawes who stole the show with a superb all round performance of work rate, creativity and a goal towards the end to finalise a great performance from him.
Panfield Bell in the semi finals next and a big league game Sunday against Frontline...a must win boys!
