The big day was here, the semi finals of the most glamorous cup in the world, No not the World cup, No not the FA cup, , No not even the Championship play off’s or FA Vase but the East Herts Division 2 cup, the big won all the top pro’s (and Earoles) want to win.

We were up against our local rivals Broxbourne Badgers for a place in the final. We were playing at Grundy Park today whilst our changing rooms are re furbished following a huge Council grant of �£3.75, can’t wait to see what the new toilet roll holder looks like.

As you can imagine everyone wanted to play in the big game and Matt had a massive squad of 14 but not even a chance to play in a semi final could persuade Butler to fly home from Australia or Tony to miss the half term sales at Bluewater. Brooksey was due to play but pre match nerves got the better of him and he had to pull over on the A10 and give a nearby bush a battering, good advert for having a spare toilet roll in your car.

Snails was in goal, Neil right back, Darren left back with Matt and Manno in the middle. Alan, Lee and Darren Willson were in midfield with Ben, Barry and Steve up front with Ben and Steve (well Ben) dropping back to help out. Subs were Kofi, Stevie J and Tiger and Brooksey if he could stop squirting down the A10.

It was a cold day and the pitch was heavy (as were most of our back 4), Broxbourne started brightly and were keeping the ball well, they were not really making any chances and County were hitting them on the break with some nice one touch football. Manno was playing superb and the midfield was battling well. County rode their luck a few times from set pieces but overall a dull first half with no real chances for either team, 0-0.

No changes at half time and County were now starting to come into the game a bit more, Ben was having some joy down the left and put a couple of good balls into the box. We then hit the bar from a corner and immediately afterwards the keeper made a good save pushing a header from another corner onto the bar.

Then against the run of play, Broxbourne got a penalty, from a corner Manno was adjudged to push the striker in the back and the number nine slotted the penalty away giving young and agile Snails no chance, 1-0.

County were not giving up and 10 mins later we had equalised, a great run from Darren White who suddenly found an extra half a yard of pace (I think he spotted a kebab van in the car park) and he was in the area and after a fierce shot which the keeper parried, Barry was on hand to blast home from 5 yards, 1-1.

County were now having the better chances although Broxbourne had more possession but couldn’t find a way past our defence. Manno then gave away another penalty after handling in the area, the same player stepped up and hit it in the exact same spot with Snails not even diving this time, 1-2.

County were now up against it again, but continued to press and the keeper was making some great saves, it looked like it wasn’t going to be our day. But with 10 mins of normal time remaining, Darren Willson sent over a free kick which sailed into the top corner, don’t think he meant it but we will have it, 2-2 and onto extra time.

Matt was confident in his team talk and told us not to give anything silly away. Within 60 secs of extra time County were 3-2 down, Sav seemed to gain a new lease of life (possible drugs test) and rode a couple of tackles down the left and put in a great cross which the ginger striker (even though he had tried to dye it, it was clearly still ginger) knocked in at the back post, 3-2.

County now had to come back for a 3rd time; we continued to create some good chances and restricted Broxbourne to long range efforts. Sav was getting involved in a few hard tackles which the ref didn’t make easier by making some strange decisions which went both ways. Stevie J came on for the cramp riddled (and possibly crab riddled) Alan.

2nd half of extra time and County pushed forward with Stevie J trying to add some forward running and hopefully pass the ball, County had a few chances but the keeper was saving everything that came at him, Steve Martin had a good chance but scuffed it wide. Broxbourne also had a good chance to score but the player ballooned it over from 6 yards out, but with 3 mins left in the game Barry White picked up the ball, went past a defender and hit a rocket into the roof of the net, never doubted those new boots for a minute, 3-3 and onto penalties.

The match was now anyone’s and both sides could smell the taste of victory (or was that Brooksey) and with County’s record of losing practically all penalty shoot outs they have been involved in, things were on a knife edge.

BR Pen 1: Snails never got near it, 0-1
CH Pen 1: Barry, never gonna doubt those new boots again, 1-1
BR Pen 2: Snails went wrong way, 1-2
CH Pen 2: Earoles sent keeper wrong way, never any doubt, 2-2
BR Pen 3: Snails went wrong way again; come on how hard is it, 2-3
CH Pen 3: Darren Willson top corner almost took the net off, 3-3
BR Pen 4: Snails didn’t dive, come on get a bit dirty, 3-4
CH Pen 4: Manno worst penalty ever but still went in, 4-4
BR Pen 5: Great save by Snails, well OK he put it wide, 4-4
CH Pen 5: Darren white stepped up and with the ghosts of Letchworth still looming and the ball still missing, what must have been going through his mind (I think it was the post match Rose and Crown spread) , nice LOW penalty bottom right gave keeper no chance, 5-4 and we are on our way to Wembley…..well Letchworth.

Overall although Broxbourne had more possession we had much the better of the chances and didn’t need 2 penalties during the game, so on to Letchworth on the 26th March.

Didn’t goto the pub so not sure who got man of the match, but seeing as Snails let in 3 and didn’t save any of the penalties, its bound to be him :)