St Johns Bowling Eagles (Cup)

Date: Saturday 24th February '07         
Time: 10:30                                             
Competition: National Christian Cup
Location: Home (Boggymead Springs)


St Albans Romans                                                1 (1)
  Gray

St Johns Bowling Eagles FC (Bradford)         1 (1)
  


Match Report

Given that St Johns had just knocked out last years winners and were the only team left in the competition who had been this far before, nothing less than a very hard afternoons work was expected and that was exactly what we got.

With 3 players missing including our captain this was going to be a very difficult match.

From the off it soon became clear that the teams were closely matched in all areas of the pitch. After a cagey opening, highlighted by an overhead kick and air shot from the boy Whittaker, Romans took the lead on the 13' mark after a long throw from Zoltan caught the Eagles defence unawares and Wyatt played in Gray who finished in clinical style (unlike last week when he hit the bar from an identical position).

The game was briefly interrupted when a stray photographer was order from behind the goal by the referee (do digital cameras make a noise?).

On 22 minutes Eagles equalised when the otherwise solid defence were caught in two (maybe one and a half) minds and an easy chance was put away.

1-1   Half time and both sides knew the game was there for the taking as neither team had dominated for any real length of time.

The second half was a bit disappointing although Romans probably edged it and were unlucky on a couple of occasions. The first when Kendal hit the post after a great run down the left and the second when the same player, shortly before he left the pitch in the style of a man with a shotgun concealed in his shorts, had a very good penalty shout waved away.

So extra time it was and the asst. referee correctly predicted that this was going to go to penalties although in the dying seconds Romans got a break when one of Eagles two best players was clean through on goal but his powerful effort soared over the bar.

The lottery of a penalty shoot out was upon us and 10 very tired players took their kicks.

Romans ended up winning 4-3 after two good saves by Konkoly the Goalie and 4 well placed kicks.

A semi final now awaits on March 24th against Rhondda Royals so tell all your friends and family to come along and cheer us on.