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Wooton St George 0 v Earls Barton 1
League Cup Semi Final 7th March 2009 |
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Earls Barton were at near full strength for the league cup semi final, conditions were difficult for both sides, on an un even surface, and high winds meaning that good quality high tempo was limited. Both sides started brightly, and Barton were put under pressure from 4 consecutive corners, Wooton were playing with the wind at there backs for the 1st half, and this meant the Barton defence had to hold firm from in swinging corners. Barton could have and should have been a goal up on 27 minutes when Kris Hall beat the off side trap as Hall managed to get his shot away it appeared he was brought down from behind, the referee waved play on. On 37 minutes Lee Saving was booked for a cynical challenge on the half way line after being left exposed by the quick winger. Barton played some decent stuff at times, and playing against the wind actually looked the better side, and the side more likely to go ahead. The 2nd half started differently, as Wooton had clearly had a half time roasting, and began the half much brighter, Barton struggled to impose themselves, and make any real advantage of the wind. On 54 minutes Mat Rees, had to be taken to hospital after a nasty cut above his eye, Big Kev Edwards replacing him. On 77 minutes Lee Saving received his marching orders, for a 2nd yellow card, after a clumsy challenge. On 79 minutes Nathan Daverson, received a straight Red card after a penalty area fracas, Barton down to 9 men for the remainder of the game.
Barton re shaped and the sending offs galvanised the side, who chased everything, Barton held on to take the game into extra time. A cagey affair during the 1st period of extra time, the 2nd period was full of controversy, an altercation between Tony Abbot, and the Wooton Centre half saw Abbot receive a yellow card, and the Wooton player his marching orders. Now the game was 10 vs 9. As the game drew nearer to penalties, Kyle Morgan latched onto a ball, and was through on goal, as he ran into the box, it appeared that the central defender hauled Morgan down, but the ref waved played on, only for the linesman to flag. The team and crowd waited in suspence, and finally the ref signalled to the spot, with the Wooton player not even receiving a card, for a professional foul. Barton with stood 5 minutes of intense pressure but held on for a dramatic win. Afterwards Rich Ellson was understandably delighted. There wasn’t much to chose between the two sides today, the conditions did not help either side, we dominated the 1st half, and they dominated the 2nd, today we showed the characteristics of a side that can go on and win things, we have a massive squad and they must all show me now until the final they warrant a starting position, this club needs success, and has been starved of it for some time, hopefully we can get some decent support in the final, and give the village something to cheer about.
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