St Marks OB V Sparta Moshdock ...County Cup Final

AET 2-2
Saints win 4/2 on penalties


What can I say ...

Phew what a game this was !!!!

Two very good teams going at each other for 120 minutes  of football, and could only be separated in the end by penalties.

we started as the underdogs last night , But all credit to Moshdock they gave us the respect due.
it was nil nil at halftime with both teams having their  fair share of the game and chances .
we came out in second half,  and took the lead through a shot from the 18 yard box by Shane Birt, Moshdock  capitalized in the 84th min after what seemed like a ping pong game in our six yard box , to take the game into ET.

we seemed to be getting on top in the first 15 , But Moshdock took the lead in the second half of et .
They then seemed to have it won as they kept the ball well and game looked over for us!! But with seconds remaining we won a free kick in our own half and shoved everyone up for one final push and a fine ball into the channel was flicked on and Mitchell Birt ,  who was our man of match didn't give it up and whipped it in from the by line ,  it was met by kyle Williams, who smashed it goal bound, But their keeper made a great save ,but he could only parry it into the path of our left back Aaron Coley who was following in and he slotted it home to make it 2-2.

O my god the scenes on the pitch and benches had to be seem to be believed . we were dead and buried but showed some character and desire to come back with the final kick of the game.

 So penalties it was  

The penalties had every thing, Goals , misses and a fine save by our keeper Shailho ,  Who was immense for the whole game. it was 3 -2 to us and up stepped Jake Glover for our fifth spot kick and to win the cup final ? by this time my heart and nerves couldn't take anymore....  He ran up and seemed to slip,  but kept his feet to smash it straight down middle past their keeper and win the cup for us..................
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I want to congratulate all of my players and staff for winning the county cup and  for their attitudes and desire to win football matches and its a privilege to be their manager , also a thank you to Glen the physio from premier sports massage's who kept my boys going for 120 ..

What a cup final by two very good sides who fought for well over 120 minutes of a great game, which no side deserved to lose .

I just want to thank the Sparta Moshdock players and staff, for a great game played in the right spirit throughout  who must have been heart broken, the very best for the future from all the players and management at st marks as they were a great bunch and clapped my boys all way up to lifting the cup .

That's a pretty fair reflection mate.

We knew we were favourites but certainly didn't think it was a given and rightly gave you the respect you deserved and have earnt this season with your performances - and you didn't disappoint.

We felt we had the better chances overall to win it but your keeper was immense all night. But full credit to your boys for never giving up when we were leading in extra time - they showed proper team spirit.

It was completely heart breaking to lose - especially on penalties - I don't think we've ever felt so deflated as a squad. But full respect to you boys and thanks for a highly competitive match that was played in the right way. And again, the respect was clear between both teams at the end.

So a massive congratulations again on the win and lifting the cup and good luck for the rest of the season.

As for us, our attention now turns to trying to win the Division 1 title.