This week Oatlands were up against Emmanuel in the competition that saw us go desperately close to silverware last year. This week we were yet again going to be fielding an extremely young team as regular starters Jim, Ross and Furno were all away.

Our team; Sam in goal. Pete H, Fraz, Sonny and Tom P at the back. Bayne, Gravy Mike and Joe in midfield and Pod and Butler up front. Harps and Jiz made up a rather empty looking bench.

I didn’t see last weeks game but apparently we got off to a slow start. Not so this week. From the off our lads seemed up for the fight and started by setting about winning their individual battles. Their no7 had been earmarked as the danger player for Emmanuel but it wasn’t long before he was plying his trade on the other side of the pitch after a great start for our right back Tom Pryce.

The first 20 minutes were fought out in the midfield area where Mike and Gravy did a great job of winning the ball and seeking to move it on to a fellow white shirt but chances on goal were few and far between with Fraz going the closest from a Pete Butler corner.

We looked very strong down both flanks especially going forward. On the right hand side Bayne and Tom looked like a great combination, with both players taking it in turns to make overlapping runs and down the left hand side, we may not have had quite as much pace, but we were extremely solid and interchanged passes with the central midfield very nicely.

Although neither team really threatened the others goal, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that Oatlands probably enjoyed the better of the first half action and could be pleased about the way they had played going into half time.

Unlike when we played AFC Hersham the other week and decided to provide the sort of collapse that you would more commonly associate with the tail end of the English batting line up, we seemed to grow in stature and increase our grip on the game in the early part of the second half.

In the 55 th minute of the game we got the goal our efforts deserved. It was a great piece of passing football in the centre of midfield and then a perfectly weighted pass to Joe Spoon out on the left. Joe took a touch, carried the ball ten yards and the squared it low across the box. Although the ball evaded the man at the front post, Gravy had bust a gut to make it into the box and collected his reward with a less than convincing finish from 6 yards out. 1-0 OFC

With a goal in the bank we seemed to enter the corridor of uncertainty and without Phil to manage the team, we looked unsure whether to press for a second goal or try to defend what we had. Whatever the decision was, we invited Emmanuel back into the game and after being rock solid for 60 minutes a few nervy moments started to creep in at the back.

It was in the 65 minute of the game that we conceded. It was one of the few times that we were caught in possession in midfield and it caught us off guard at the back and in the blink of an eye the ball was drilled diagonally from midfield to the left hand corner of the box. Their player took one touch and roofed it from about 12 yards out. 1-1.

Having got back into the game Emmanuel now seized the initiative and we were forced to spend long periods defending the edge of the 18 yard box and seemingly unable to create outlet to relieve the back line. Emmanuel were lively and industrious in their attempts to snatch the lead, but we were extremely resilient and the game ended at 1-1 and it was going to have to be settled by 30 minutes of extra time and possibly a penalty competition.

It was about a minute into the start of extra time that we took the lead. The ever reliable Pete Butler delivered another great ball from a corner and after Pod had missed it, substitute Jiz roofed it from close range. 2-1 Oatlands.

As the first half of extra time wore on both teams were clearly tiring after a hard fought game and the referee stopped the game for about 3 minutes while players tried to relieve the cramp that was now setting in for both sides. Again the only thing to separate the 2 sides was Jiz’s goal.

In the second half of extra time, both teams had chances as the game opened up but it was Emmanuel who crucially took the opportunity that came their way and equalised from a corner with 10 minutes left on the clock. As the game wore towards its inevitable conclusion both teams toiled away but again chances were few and far between and when the ref blew his whistle for the final time we were down to the horrible situation of a penalty competition.

After they missed their first penalty and Stew, Tom and Pete all scored for us we seemed in a strong position. Unfortunately though, Pod missed our 4 th spot kick, but was relieved to see that cancelled out when Sam stopped their 5 th. Mike now had the chance to win it, but seemed to pick the corner of the park rather than the goal, so it was down to sudden death. They went first and scored, Baynezy then had his pen saved by the keeper and we were out of the cup.

Overall it was a great performance and we certainly didn’t deserve to lose, but penalties are a bit of a lottery and had the result gone the other way, I am sure that Emmanuel would have felt the same. For us Tom Pryce picked up the Man of the Match award with another outstanding game at right back, but he was run very close but a number of other players.

It was also good to see Baynezy back in action after a lengthy lay off. According to Baynezy, we are statistically more successful when he plays and with some really tough games ahead, let’s hope that proves to be true.

Next up for us is Emmanuel in the league on March 21 st. The last 2 encounters have been incredibly close and I expect that the upcoming league game will be no different.

Got to say thanks to this weeks referee. Not only did he have the best tan on the pitch, he was also one of the best referees we’ve had this year, he barely got a decision wrong and was virtually anonymous for the whole 2 hours.

Thanks to the 25 or so supporters that came down to cheer us on. There’s no game this week (but we are practising penalties) but we play this fixture again in 2 week and it would be great to see everyone there again.