Massey Ferguson 5 – 5 The Mikes Reserves (aet, 4-2 pens)
The Mikes Reserves suffered penalty heartbreak as they went out of the Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup in a quite amazing tie at Banner Lane. The Mikes produced a brave performance and twice led their Midland Combination Premier Division hosts by two goals. However, the home fought back and won the 12-yard lottery to secure a home time against Gornal athletic in the semi-final.
The Mikes showed three changes from the win over Racing Club Warwick in the previous round, which took place six days previously. Jamel Fuller, Tom Law and Ramarlo Barrett came into the side, while Mark Mason, Jorma Seabourne and Cam Fowler can all count themselves unlucky to have reverted to the bench.
On a glue pot pitch on in freezing conditions, the Mikes kicked up the slope. They started like a train, totally dominating the hosts and not letting them get a foothold in the game. They fashioned the game’s first clear chance, with Jamel Fuller being sent clear on goal by Andy Lewis' perfectly weighted through ball. However, home keeper Richard Morgan started the night as he finished it, saving brilliantly from the Mikes winger.
The Mikes continues to press, having all the play and forcing the home side to turn over possession frequently thanks to their intelligent closing down. It was a shock to all in the ground when the home side took the lead totally against the run of play. Mikes keeper Fenney punched a long diagonal ball into the visitors’ box as home striker Ashley Pringle challenged. The ball fell to Oli Manoocheri, who fired home the opener past covering defenders.
The young Mikes, who had only two players in the starting line up out of their teens, were undaunted. They continued to drive forward and quickly hit back with a fine equaliser. The ball was fed into the box, but was only half cleared. Tom Law picked up the loose ball, steadied himself, and then coolly picked his spot from 12 yards to take his tally for the season into double figures.
It was soon two as the Mikes produced the goal of the game, slicing through the home defence with an incisive passing move. Ceiran McLean won possession in midfield before feeding Jamel Fuller, who advanced down the left before laying the ball into Tom Law. His deft first time lay off released Adam Morton on goal and the tenacious Mikes striker kept his head to slot home a measured left foot finish into the bottom corner of Morgan’s net.
The Mikes looked like scoring every time they went forward, but were let down by their final ball and sometimes over playing in the final third. They were almost made to pay as Massey twice went close just before half time. A left wing corner flashed across the face of goal when all it needed was a touch, before Oli Manoocheri should have done better with a far post header.
Half Time: 1-2
With a half time roasting ringing in their ears, the home side started the second half at a furious pace. Lewis Fenney was called upon to make three fine saves in succession, including a top class stop low to his right to keep out Ashley Pringle’s superbly struck half-volley.
The home side was well on top as the Mikes battled manfully to weather the storm, but they were rocked back on their heels when the Mikes converted their first corner of the game.
From a well rehearsed training ground move, Jamel Fuller’s well flighted right wing delivery was met by Jack Stone who gleefully volleyed home from six yards with the home defence in disarray.
The home side kept attacking, but seemed to have lost some impetus. It was the Mikes who looked more likely to score again as they sensed a clinching goal. A sweeping counter-attacking move akin to their opening goal saw Tom Law again release Morton on goal. His fierce drive beat Morgan all ends up, but crashed back off the angle of post and bar. Jamel Fuller was first to the rebound, but was crowded out and the chance was gone.
Lewis Fenney was being kept busy, bravely blocking at the feet of Pringle as the striker looked to force the ball home. Tom Law then went close at the other end, with his delightfully flighted 20-yard effort just clearing the goal frame.
With the Mikes looking fairly comfortable, the game was turned on its head as controversy reigned for a mad few minutes. Former Barwell man Shane Brassington turned the ball goalwards from close range. Fenney half blocked his effort then grabbed the ball at the second attempt. The assistant referee signalled that the ball had crossed the line amongst the bodies in the crowded goalmouth, sparking furious protests from the outraged Mikes players who claimed the ball was on the line.
The home side sensed a way back into the game and pressed forward. Pringle flicked on a cross, but Fenney conformably gathered the looping ball. As he advanced to clear downfield from the corner of the penalty, he inexplicably made a comment to the assistant and was penalised with a yellow card and an indirect free kick. The Mikes protested furiously as the ball was placed in much more central position, but the officials ignored their claims. It seemed somewhat inevitable that Lloyd Wright’s low shot would find it’s way through the wall for the equaliser, and courtesy of a couple of deflections the scores were level. The home side now sensed blood and looked more likely to win the game in normal time. However, the Mikes steadied themselves to hold on for the extra 30 minutes.
Full Time: 3-3
After a breathless 90 minutes on a heavy pitch, players from both sides were visibly tiring. The two managers tried to rouse their troops for the remaining half-hour. Somehow, the Mikes dug deep into their reserves and started the opening period at an impressive tempo kicking up the slope. After two minutes Cam Fowler replaced Jamel Wilson who was suffering from cramp. Fowler’s first contribution was to superbly clear a dangerous cross from within his own six-yard box.
Soon after, the Mikes were ahead. Morton advanced down the right flank before firing in a dangerous cross. Tom Law got across the front of his marker and flicked a delightful lob towards the far post. Morgan in the home goal stretched to collect, but was unable to gather cleanly and the ball ran to Jamel Fuller eight yards from goal. Fuller swivelled away from his marker and finished emphatically into the roof of the net.
It was all Boldmere as Fuller was running riot on the left. Mason came on for Morton who had run himself into the ground. The two-goal cushion was soon restored as Fuller again outstripped his marker before being felled in the box. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot for an obvious penalty decision. Andre Gonzales stepped up and confidently sent Morgan the wrong way.
The home side looked a spent force and the Mikes looked the more likely to add to their lead. However, the game took another twist on the stroke of half time in extra time. From nothing, Massey sub Martin Gormley spun on a loose ball some 15 yards from goal and directed a superb shot into the top corner past Fenney’s despairing dive and the deficit was back to one.
Half Time Extra Time: 4-5
There were more substitutions as cramp set in amongst a number of players. The Mikes sent on Seabourne for Hutt and soon spurned a great opportunity. Morgan spilled a left wing corner in the six-yard box, but no Mikes player was on hand and the loose ball was hacked clear. The Mikes were looking like holding on for the victory as Fowler twice cleared dangerous situations, but one could sense that there was another goal in the game. Massey summoned up the effort for a late push. A deep cross saw Pringle win the ball at the far post. Fenney blocked his header, but the ball fell straight for Gormley to fire home and spark joyous scenes amongst the home contingent.
After taking such a hammer blow for the second time in the game, the brave young Mikes came back for more. Mark Mason completely bamboozled his marker out on the left flank and cut inside. As he advanced inside to shoot, the ball sat up and his effort ballooned wide. There was time for Massey to flash a shot narrowly wide before the referee’s whistle signalled penalties.
Full Time Extra Time: 5-5
Massey went first with keeper Morgan saving the third kick to lead 3-2, but Fenney responded immediately with a save of his own. Not to be outdone, Morgan then produced the best save of the shootout to leave Shane Brassington the opportunity to send the hosts through. He coolly sent Fenney the wrong way and the Mikes' adventure was over.
Joint-Manager Rob Clarke was proud of his team “Our youthful naiivity cost us in the end, but I’m immensely proud of the lads and the performance they put in. After looking dead on our feet at 90 minutes, the way we responded in extra time was unbelievable. There are lessons to be learned and they are absolutely gutted, but they have gained valuable experience in this competition and there are so many positives to take”.
Boldmere Team:
1 Lewis Fenney;
2 Andy Lewis;
3 Will Hutt;
4 Jack Stone;
5 Ramarlo Barrett ;
6 Ceiran McLean (Captain);
7 Jamel Fuller;
8 Jamel Wilson;
9 Tom Law;
10 Adam Morton;
11 Andre Gonzales.
Subs:
12 Cam Fowler (for Wilson 92min);
14 Jorma Seabourne (for Hutt 110min);
15 Mark Mason (for Morton 95min);
16 Same Woodall (not used);
GK Louis Connor (not used).
Scorers:
Massey: Oli Manoocheri, Shane Brassington, Lloyd Wright, Martin Gormley (2).
Boldmere: Tom Law, Adam Morton, Jack Stone, Jamel Fuller, Andre Gonzales (pen).
Penalties: 4-2
Massey: Lloyd Wright, Ashley Pringle, Oli Manoocheri, Martin Gormley (saved), Shane Brassington.
Boldmere: Jorma Seabourne, Andre Gonzales, Tom Law (saved), Jamel Fuller (saved) Andy Lewis (not required)
Go to www.masseyfergusonfc.co.uk for the opposition view and a video of the penalty shoot out.
