|
No.32 - Sat 14th January 2012; Norfolk Junior Cup Q-F; 1.45pm at Belton Playing Fields, New Road, Belton, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; IP26 5LF. |
|
Matchday images (44) https://picasaweb.google.com/footballgroundsinfocus/BeltonFC02
Belton (1) 3 Scole United (1) 3 Final score: 4-4 AET A most compelling cup tie...
In the days following our abandoned game at Belton (last Saturday) I was faced with a bit of a dilemna. Being a compulsive type (like some other hoppers I know) my immediate reaction was to go back and watch the replayed game to see it out to a conclusion in just under a week's time. I really couldn't count my initial visit as a proper tick no matter how much I tried to, could I? Surely other hoppers would react in the same way, wouldn't they? Or perhaps I should go back at some later stage in the season for another game instead. No, the more I thought about it the more I was determined to go back and that was that!! Well I did go back to Hucknall to watch that rearranged Vase game the following week after all! Fellow hoppers please let me know what you would have done in this situation? In fact it turned out to be a cracking decision. Compared to last week the conditions today were perfect for playing football; the strong easterly (end to end) wind had dropped completely and the temperature was definitely a few degrees higher. A larger than expected crowd (including a few local neutrals and of course secretary Nathan Brown who had kindly confirmed the match details for me once againe) had gathered pitchside as the players came onto the field. Our erstwhile officiating hero Brian Russell had made a full recovery (incredibly without hospital treatment as it happens) and was back at the helm for today's eagerly awaited quarter-final tie. It was great to see him looking so well. So all that remained was a quick press photo with the bruised but smiling referee and Dean Pretlove (the unlucky Belton player whose boot it was that had inflicted the damage) posing for FGIF (oh, and the Eastern Daily Press as well) before kick-off!! The hosts had larger than life keeper Dean Chilvers to thank when he made two terrific point blank saves denying United striker Jim Edwards from close range within the opening five minutes. After weathering the storm it was Belton's pacey young forward and GY&DL leading hotshot Liam Fuller (13) who opened the scoring following a strong run into the box and a low shot which caught United keeper Jack Buckmaster completely off-guard allowing the ball to pass through his fingers and over the line at his near post. United equalised just before the break when David Bloomfield crossed for the industrious Jim Edwards (41) who met the ball with a powerful header inside the six yard box.
The hosts, dressed in their Newcastle United look-a-like strip, regained the lead ten minutes after the break when Fuller grabbed his second after cheekily lobbing the advancing Buckminster from 20 yards making it 2-1. Just before the hour mark Belton's captain Adam Secker extended his side's lead when his fierce shot from outside the box rebounded off the underside of the bar and over the line. Standing within spitting distance of the goal I can confirm (using my very own FGIF goal line technology) that the ball did cross the line!! United quickly pulled one back as Edwards latched on to a loose ball following a goal-mouth scamble to make it 3-2. As the game entered stoppage time United pushed forward relentlessly in search of an equaliser but Chilvers made several fine saves to keep them out. With only a few seconds remaining the ball was pumped high once again into the box and as the hosts failed to clear it was left to Bloomfield (90+1) to stab the ball home through a group of players to make it 3-3 and send the game into thirty minutes of extra-time. Phew!!
Within three minutes of the re-start United took the lead for the first time in the game when Edwards (93) stepped up to convert from the penalty spot (and claim his hat-trick) after team mate Luke Ashford had been pulled down inside the area. As the hosts pressed forward they left themselves vulnerable at the back and the well-toned Edwards almost grabbed another goal on the counter when his strike from distance shaved the outside of a post. With time running out Belton pulled off a master stroke when substitute Jason Smith who had only been on the field a matter of minutes rose perfectly at the far post to head home beating an outstretched Buckmaster from close range. The home fans went wild as the game ended with the scores level at 4-4. It had been a superb game of football. More importantly it was great to see referee Brian Russell back in action and come through the game in one piece!
Many fans thought that the game would immediately enter penalties. However despite the game being replayed this was still the first meeting between the clubs and the match will be decided next week when the teams have to do it all over again as they meet at Ransome Avenue, Scole (kick-off 13:45). After this spectacle it looked likely to be another tight, hard-fought encounter.
For interested hoppers the draw for the Semi-Final of the NJC (to be played on 18/02/12) has now been made by the Norfolk FA with last year's beaten finalist Reffley Royals (North West Norfolk League) hosting the eventual winners of this game. In the other match Harleston (Anglian Combination League) will welcome Catfield (also members of the Great Yarmouth & District League) at Wilderness Lane. The joys of the Norfolk Junior Cup ties (like this one) never fail to whet the hopping appetite. Have fun wherever you are compelled to go...
FGIF Match Stats Scorers: (H) L Fuller (13; 54); A Secker (59); J Smith (117) and (A) J Edwards (38; 64; 93pen); D Bloomfield (90+1) Attendance: 78; Admission and Programme: None; Match rating: 5/5; Ground rating: 2/5. Links http://www.norfolkfa.com/splash.aspx http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=1378480 |
|
edited on 15/01/12 |
