ANOTHER TERRIFIC CUP TIE

This week we have seen two cracking games in which we booked Quarter Final places in the two most prestigious cup competitions in the South Midlands League. On Tuesday we beat Biggleswade United 3-1 in the Premier Division Cup and repeated that score line 48 hours later against Baldock Town in the Gladwish Challenge Trophy.

With games coming thick and fast Manager Ryan Sturges and his Coaching team sensibly made 6 changes from Tuesday nights starting line-up with Jack Harvey wearing the Captain’s armband much to the joy of his proud grandparents sitting near the writer of this report. Again we had a very strong bench which Ryan emptied to good effect in the second half.

Our opponents are surprisingly down in 17th place in the table, 8 places below us, but they have had some good results drawing 3-3 at home to table toppers Real Bedford in January and just before Xmas they thrashed Biggleswade United 3-0 away.

They are a young side filled with technically gifted players who play some lovely football and they certainly enjoyed a lot of possession but they didn’t greatly trouble Dan Gould in goal although we had to thank Dave O’Connor for clearing a corner off our line in the 11th minute.

We were not at our best but we took the lead in the 29th minute when Dave O’Connor and Ben Kakembo helped on a corner and Liam Smyth was on hand to score from close range. Score 1-0.

Just before half time we were reduced to 10 players when Harry Shepherd was given a straight red card for a challenge. Harry is not a dirty player but we had to get on with it and reorganise ourselves and we kept our one goal advantage intact up to the break. HT Score 1-0.

The last thing we needed was to concede an early goal in the second half which is exactly what we did 5 minutes after the restart. It stemmed from a corner which pinged around our area until Lewis Barker levelled the scoreline from close range. Score 1-1.

We now faced an uphill battle but Ryan Sturges brought on all his subs and the decision paid dividends and we were much the better side in the second half despite being a man short. Max Hercules, Harrison Mead, Noah Butler and Jonah Howgego started cause problems for the Baldock defence.

Just after the hour mark Noah Butler and Max Hercules linked up superbly with the latter being denied by the keeper’s legs. With 15 minutes of normal time left Harrison Mead went mighty close when he smashed a shot against the bar. We looked the more likely to score and a minute later Club Captain George Carbery was fouled in the area and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. We have been on the receiving end of a number of penalties lately so it was nice to get one ourselves for a change. Carbs was coolness personified as he converted the pen to put us ahead again. Score 2-1.

Jonah Howgego has missed a few games recently through illness so it was great to see the teenager back in action and he didn’t hang around before soring our crucial 3rd goal – just 4 minutes after coming on as a sub. Seizing on a miss placed pass he kept his head to slot the ball past the keeper and defender on the line. Score 3-1.

Baldock to their credit kept pressing forward but we defended so well and restricted then to very few chances and when they did sling in the odd cross or two keeper Dan Gould was able to show off his safe handling skills. Before the referee blew the final whistle he had to flash a red card again to Baldock’s Max Ryan after getting a second yellow for what was described on “X” as a theatrical dive.

A very good and fully deserved win after a terrific second half performance and in the quarter final we visit Potton United (date to be determined) who of course beat us 2-1 at the Michael Anthony Stadium back in February. But before then we have some League matches coming up starting on Saturday with a difficult trip to in-form Harpenden Town on Saturday.

Team:

TA: Dan Gould, Harry Jones (Greg Deer 64), Adam Sawyer, Harrison Cornick, Dave O’Connor (George Carbery 55), Jack Harvey (Capt) (Harrison Mead 68), Harry Shepherd, Noah Butler, Frankie Hercules, Liam Smyth (Max Hercules 55), Ben Kakembo (Jonah Howgego 79).

Scorers:

TA: Liam Smyth (29), George Carbery (Pen 76), Jonah Howgego (83)

BT: Lewis Barker(50)

Crowd: 52