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Lonsdale 5 - Woodhurst 6 (after extra time)
Essex Sunday Junior Cup - Round Three
Barking Park, Sunday 24th November 02
An epic 11-goal thriller ended with the Hurst snatching a late winner to take their place in round four.
Still without McShea and with Bashford missing also, Woodham was forced to play himself in the central defensive role alongside Fullerton and it seemed to be
working wonders as Lonsdale were limited to little possession in the attacking third as the visitors looked to stamp their authority on the game early.
However, some great, if not fortunate, goalkeeping from the Lonsdale number 1 kept Woodhurst at bay and gave the home side some hope of a surprise as they gained the lead in controversial circumstances. Over ruling the linesman
flag to gift Lonsdale the opener.
But Woodhurst, wearing their dazzling new change 'Brazil-like' kit, were not going to be robbed and a purposeful run from Simon Probert goalward saw him profit from a goalkeeper's block and rolled neatly in to level.
After the break it was all Woodhurst as Houlton and Souleyman began to tie the defence in knots. Soon after they were in front. Only two minutes before, Houlton's inswinging corner posed questions in the Lonsdale box, but the ball went out. But with his next attempt, the flame-haired wonder-boy delivered a similar centre
and this time Roy Lawley was on hand to finish.
Leevan Rogers done well on the right to supply Damion Spriggs with a chance to make it three, and the big centre forward picked his spot in the top corner and headed Woodhurst ahead further.
But the game was not over, and with 10 minutes left, an Andrew Norton spill from a free-kick allowed a straight forward tap in and the home side were almost back. Two minutes later they were and levelled in a similar defensive mix-up.
So extra-time it was, but when it looked like Woodhurst were going to up the tempo, Lonsdale took the lead.
Woodham then decided it was time to bring on Jamie Bradbury, and within minutes the Hurst were 5-3 down when the Lonsdale forward was quickest to react from a shot off the bar.
But in the second period of extra-time, the Woodhurst spirit came out once again to put them into the next round. Jan Souleyman's crossed started the fight back as it took a well placed deflection off a defender and into the net. 5-4. Then Rogers picked up a through ball from a surging Bradbury run. As the little Harold Wood genius waited for support
he was unceremoniously up-ended inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Up stepped player manager Woodham to tuck in the spot kick and the Hurst were level.
With a penalty shoot-out looking on the cards, Woodhurst snatched it. Lonsdale, under pressure, failed to clear and Bradbury was on to the loose ball in the right-hand corner. His drag back inside the defender gave him space to send in a spectulative effort. This time the goalkeeper was caught stranded and the ball floated over his head and nestled sweetly
in the tape-covered net to the delight of the men in yellow.
Team
Andrew Norton
Steve Hughes
Tony Taylor
Roy Lawley
Jason Fullerton
Jimmy Woodham
Leevan Rogers
Simon Probert
Damion Spriggs (Jamie Bradbury, 100)
Jan Souleyman (c)
Ryan Houlton
Subs
Steve Norton (not used)
Jamie Bradbury
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