One of the most amazing and exciting games we have ever been involved in and our first taste of penalties, and penalties taste REAL GOOD !
West Wickham from Division B started the stronger but the Colts took the lead on 12 minutes when Stuart raced through to drill home, after Jack Organ chipped the ball over the top for him. 2 minutes later Remy found Stuart from a free-kick that beat their off side trap. 2 nil and we were giving the Wickham lads a lesson in finishing.
Wickham got back into the game on 17 minutes after some good work down the right led to a cross and a neat finish. Wickham then hit the post from a free kick before we hit the post from a Scott 30 yard screamer. Stuart then completed his hat trick on 26 minutes after an intelligent quick free kick by Jack O. Half time Colts ahead 3-1.
No changes were made this week, as we were down to a bare 11. JJ fitted in at centre back with Remy, David and George alongside him. Scott and Jack played centre midfield with Nathan wide right and Michael wide left. Stuart and James played up front. Wickham started proceedings in the second half with a lob over Rhys. 2-3. Jack O then set up James straight from the kick off with his typical classy through ball 2-4, just before James heard Nathan’s shout and laid the ball nicely for him to slot it home 2-5 and only 34 minutes on the clock. Things were going to plan.
West Wickham literally pulled themselves back in to the game by pulling shirts! It was one-way traffic and back to the wall defending for 25 minutes. A mix up in defence led to 3-5. A nice chip over our defence made it 4-5 and with the last kick of the game a cross/shot found it’s way into the top corner 5-5 and heartache for the Colts lads who had really grafted in the second half. Extra Time: Stuart dropped into midfield to ensure the run of Wickham goals subsided and we kept ourselves in the game. Nathan and James both had chances to win it for us before it went to penalties.
Wickham won the toss and went first. They scored, Remy equalized. They scored, Stuart equalized. They scored (Rhys got a hand to it), James equalized. They scored (Rhys had it and lost it), Jack Organ equalized. They scored (Rhys almost had it-he was getting closer), Scott equalized. 5-5 and now sudden death penalties. Rhys finally got one and kept it out, advantage Colts. Up stepped David Alger who marched up, placed the ball and confidently sent the keeper the wrong way to win the game for the lads. Superb David. Superb Rhys, who’s mum couldn't watch the penalties!
Amazing team performance, a real gutsy display in extra time after Wickham drew level. We were never behind at any point in this game. We deserved the victory and can look forward to the next round. MoM nominations and winners were Rhys, George, JJ, Remy, David, Jack O, Scott, Nathan, Michael, Stuart and James.