Harold Wood2 (A) Cup

Harold Wood 2 Epping 1 aet

Epping got the perfect start with a fantastic Andy Mavin goal. Picking the ball up in his own half he went past nearly all of the home side (the keeper twice) and put the ball in the net. A truly great goal. He then went to sleep!. The game was a game of different styles a neat footballing side relying on skill and ability against one who relied on brute force and the long ball but they played the style effectively. They had two dangerous forwards who worked our young defence hard. It is pleasing to note that the three young lads and Tony Whiteway stood up to the test very well. Despite playing good football the visitors lacked the killin instinct in front of goal. They paid for this when the home side scored with a stunning shot from twenty five yards out to draw level after 25 mins. After that Epping become unsettled and were being too hasty in passing the ball and taking free kicks forcing themselves into silly errors.

Second half was much the same with Epping playing the football but towards the end of the half the visitors began to play the long ball themselves. This played right into the hands of Wood who ate the long balls up and only sound defending by Epping kept them in touch.

If Epping needed a motivation it came when Harold Wood asked for ten minutes each way extra time, Manager Phil Hernon refused. Knowing their opponents did not fancy it should have been a catalyst to a motivated onslaught from the visitors. It started but it was stopped in its tracks by a thirty five yard effort from the home side that hit the back of the net with Kev Christou static. It was a true gut wrencher as Epping at the time were dominating the game and looked the likely winners. Epping were unable to drag themselves back into the game and rather stupidily began to play the long ball.

It was cruel and hard to take but the side will learn from it . We fell victims to a side that knew how to win ugly. We need to be prepared to match that ugliness and brute force. Role on next season!....the best side lost ...but I have said that before after an extra time defeat we need to convert our chances.

Team: Christou, Harper, Whiteway, Scriven, Webster, Mavin, Shepherd, Benn, Geraghty, Bailey, Kelly.

Subs: Turpin, Dainton, Beaumont.