Report

It was the biggest game of County Hall’s season, the semi-final of the Div 2 cup and we were playing against a bunch of Div’s from Harlow who for some strange reason had the name Roydon Spartan’s, Well I suppose you don’t want to admit your from Harlow do you.

With Roydon unbeaten this season and County un beaten since last Saturday it was going to be a tough game.

Funnily enough a few players were back for this game but we were still missing our talisman, Brooksey who has gone MIA in 2012, maybe he is secretly training for the Olympics, although I didn’t think there was a pie eating contest this year.  Fluff was also missing, I think he was injured or may have also been secretly training for the same event aswell as hoping to win double gold whilst competing in the Mr Angry event.  Darren Willson was working and hoping to get here before the end or was he training for the Paralympics in the Height impaired event.

So the team was Mikey in goal, Ben was right back, Darren White left back with Neil and Manno in the middle.  Left midfield was Steve with Adie who was playing his first game in ages on the right, with Lee and Alan in the middle.  Up front was Barry and Evitt.  Subs were Pag, Kofi Crooks and Darren when he gets here.

County were up for this game and from the off we didn’t give Roydon a second on the ball with some great challenges to spice things up.  It didn’t take long for them to start getting trappy with Darren White bearing the brunt of it from the mouthy number 10.  I think he was told he was too old, too fat with a dodgy left foot, which is a bit harsh as there is nothing wrong with his left foot.

We continued to restrict Roydon from playing their normal bullying game as the defence were first to everything which some hard tackles, this was winding the number 10 up more which was great entertainment.  He was getting boring so Neil mentioned to him that we may be old and fat and but you are in your prime playing div 2 football, where do you think we were at your age, OK I was playing div 2 football for County Hall but the rest of you were playing real football, this S**T him up for about 5 mins.

We tried to play football but it was hard against a young good team, we had the best of it but after 25 mins Alan pulled up injured and was replaced by Pag who dropped in at left back with Darren moving up top and Evitt dropping in centre mid.

With 10 mins of the half left County incredibly took the lead, Manno played a great ball down the right, Barry beat his man and with the keeper to beat scuffed his shot which rolled past the keeper and into the net, 0-1.  I always said nobody scuffs a ball better than Bazza.

Lee took a knock on his knee and Steve was struggling with his calf, we made it to half time, 1-0.

With only Kofi as a sub we had to try and last as long as possible with our injured, so no changes were made.

County continued the 2^nd half as we finished the first with everyone giving 100%, Evitt was making some great tackles in the middle of the pitch but Roydon were pushing forward and causing us some real problems.

10 mins into the 2^nd half, Lee had to go off and was replaced by Kofi who went up front, Darren dropped back into left back and pushed Pag into midfield.

Roydon continued to pressure but Neil and Manno were giving the two front players a real game and not giving them an inch.  Then half way through the 2^nd half Roydon equalised, the ball was on the left by the touchline and the Roydon midfielder hit a speculative 35 yarder which flew into the top corner, deffo fluke, 1-1.

Roydon could sense victory but we continued to battle and if started to carve out some chances of our own, Kofi was holding the ball up well and playing some good passes, Barry had a couple of chances but we were more than holding our own.

Steve Martin was really struggling and luckily Darren Willson turned up 5 mins before the end of the 90.  We started extra time well and with Ben on the right we started to make some good chances.

The game continued to be very even until 5 mins from the end of extra time, we got a free kick on the edge of the box and Darren White said to me I fancy this, Darren Willson whipped the ball from the right to the back post where Darren had somehow sneaked up unmarked and headed the ball back across the keeper and into the net, 2-1 and cue the wild celebrations.

We managed to hang on for 5 mins and we had reached our 2^nd final in 3 years.  It was well deserved and just shows how good we can play if we are up for it.  Everyone was outstanding today, yes Kofi even you.