GREG KEEPS OUR HOPES ALIVE IN FA CUP

The start of another FA Cup campaign, with our 35th game in the competition stretching back to the 2005/06 season, saw us entertain Barking from the Premier Division of the Essex Senior League. We have met Barking once before at their ground and at the same stage of this competition back in the 2009/10 season in which we ran out 3-2 winners with a brace from Neil Roberts and a penalty from Mark Burfoot. Unfortunately we lost 4-0 at home to Slough Town in the next round.

However any encouragement we got from this past result may have been outweighed by the fact that our recent record in the world’s oldest competition, which dates back to 1871, has been poor having only progressed twice to the next round in the last 10 seasons.

Both teams have had a similar start to the season, with 2 League games played with one victory and one draw under their belts and perhaps it was not unexpected that the first half was tight and scrappy with little to choose between the two teams.

The visitors produced a couple of dangerous crosses which came to nothing whilst our best moment came in the 40th minute when some fine link up play between Lee Stobbs and Harry Jones set up Ben Kakembo whose shot went just past the far post just out of the reach of Harry Shepherd.

The first half ended with neither goal keeper being called into action and so it was unsurprisingly that it was score-less. HT Score 0-0.

We started the second period brightly and within 5 minutes of the restart we put together our best move of the game with Dylan Fitzpatrick and Harry Jones setting up Harry Shepherd with a sight of goal but unfortunately his effort cleared the bar. Six minutes later Ben Kakembo did the same also from a similar promising position.

Despite this promising start to the second half it was our opponents who took the lead two minutes before the hour mark when Sam Edwards struck a superb free kick from around 30 yards out which gave Luke Midwinter no chance in our goal. Score 0-1.

In an attempt to get an equaliser we left gaps at the back and we had a lucky escape in 67th minute when Marcel McDonald smashed a shot off the underside of the bar and then a few minutes later Kye Mitchell was through on goal but his shot was saved by Luke Midwinter.

We pushed forward without creating any real chances mainly because our final passes in and around the opposition area lacked precision. But we kept gong and three minutes into added time we were rewarded for our effort and commitment when the Referee awarded a penalty for hand ball. Greg Deer stepped up and kept his cool to despatch the spot kick and keep our hopes alive in the competition and rightfully claim the Man of the Match Award. FT Score 1-1.

This was not one of our better performances but hopefully we will have some key players back for the replay which will probably take place on Tuesday 6 August.

Team: Luke Midwinter, Lee Stobbs (Mason Clarke 73), Harrison Cornick (Charlie Bradshaw 84), George Carbery (Capt) (Ryan Sharkey 90), Harry Beaumont, Greg Deer, Dylan Fitzpatrick, Jack Harvey (Tom Browne 80), Harry Shepherd, Ben Kakembo, Harry Jones (Adam Sawyer 90+10). Sub not used: Luke Peerless.

Man of the Match: Greg Deer

Goals:

TA: Greg Deer Pen (90+3)

B: Sam Edwards (58)

Crowd: 194