Earley Gunners were victors in this action packed game. Crown Royals started the better of the teams and took a 2-0 lead after the first twenty minutes.However, Ian Thornhill scored a goal to give Gunners some hope before Crown Royals added a third from a header. Kevin Rapley then added a goal to make it 3-2 to the opposition at half time.
The second half saw a determined effort from Gunners and they totally dominated the second half and were well rewarded when Kevin Rapley added his second to level the tie at 3-3.
Unfortunately, Kevin was sent off a short while later for his second bookable offence reducing Gunners to ten men. Gunners battled bravely and had a number of chances to win the game and had the majority of possession despite Crown Royals numerical advantage. The goalkeeper from Crown Royals was also in good form.
The final score after 90 minutes was 3-3 and extra time loomed. Gunners made the worst possible start after conceding an early corner, Crown Royals scored from a near post header to make the score 4-3 to Crown Royals. Gunners battled bravely and had a number of scoring opportunities but could not convert these whilst Gunners were occasionally being stretched at the back when they committed men forward.
With two minutes left on the clock, Gunners won a corner and threw most of their players forward. The ball came into the box and Ian Thornhill flicked it to Nick Burrows to head the ball into the net...... ……only for the referee to disallow the goal for offside!But all was not lost as in the very last minute Sean Kearns stepped up to score a goal to level the tie at 4-4. The final few seconds ran out and penalties were now required to settle this tie.
Paul Ali took the first penalty for the Gunners and coolly placed this into the corner of the goal to give Gunners a lead. Crown Royals then missed their first penalty.
Nick Burrows then stepped up and placed his shot high and wide of the goal. Crown Royals scored their penalty to level the score at 5-5. Sean Kearns took the next penalty and placed this high and wide of the goal. Crown Royals again converted to take the lead at 6-5.
Dave Owen blasted his next penalty to level the score at 6-6 and then Fraser McNaughton in goal pulled off a brilliant save only to have the referee tell him that it had to be retaken for some infringement. Fraser was upset by this decision and was booked by the referee. The penalty was retaken and scored to leave Crown Royals 7-6 ahead.
Paul Clark then took the last penalty of five and scored leaving Crown Royals needing to score to win. They missed their penalty to take it into a sudden death shoot out. Tony Poacher hammered his penalty home and then Crown Royals scored to make it 8-8. Ian Thornhill then stepped up but the keeper made a good save but Crown Royals failed to take their chance and also missed.
Darren Fry scored the next penalty but Crown Royals also converted to make it 9-9. Goalkeeper Fraser McNaughton then stepped up and coolly placed his shot into the corner of the goal to make it 10-9. The Crown Royals player then blasted his penalty off target to make Gunners the eventual winners of the game.
Despite a poor start to the game, Gunners whilst not playing their best football made up for it with a great show of character to come back and win the game despite being reduced in numbers and having to come from behind after every goal. It was a superb result for the Gunners. This was definitely "Game of the Season" for the pure excitement and drama and the great battling display after being reduced to 10 men.
Match Facts:
MOM : Team Effort
Goals : K Rapley (2), I Thornhill (1), S Kearns (1)
Team
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