PENALTY DECIDER FOR VILLA

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Junior Cup: Semi Final

AWSWORTH VILLA RESERVES 2 WEST BRIDGFORD AFC 2

Awsworth Villa Reserves win 6-5 on penalties

Att: 58

For the third time in a week, I was at Calverton MW FC, last week I was watching Calverton MW and last Saturday Gedling Southbank, but this time it was for the second semi final of the League Cup Junior Cup.

The game began at a fairly slow pace, with both sides sizing each other, Awsworth a team that had been together for a while, whilst Bridgford in their first season and the eldest player aged only 20 years old.

Only a couple of chances in the first half, saw the 2 sides go in level at 0-0.

The second half I joined local legend Malc Storer on the halfway line to watch the game, which began to pick up pace and a few chances cut out by both sides. After 82 minutes, West Bridgford went ahead through JACK GRAY and it looked to be the winner, as the clock was ticking down.

Awsworth pushed everyone forward and after a scramble in the area in the final seconds of the game, GEORGE COOPER got his foot to a ball to steer it in to the net to take the game in to extra time.

The game went from end to end, wiith players pulling up with cramp, so you thought this match may be a matter of who was going to make a mistake, but after 103 minutes, GEORGE COOPER broke through again and fired Awsworth in front for the first time of the tie.

All credit to the young lads of Bridgford as they fought back and JACK GRAY was bought down and he dusted himself down and fred home the equaliser from the spot.

The game went to penalties, with Awsworth taking the first and it being 5-5 after both sides had taken 5 good pens each, so we was to sudden death. Awsworth score and thhen their keeper saved the next Bridgford pen to send them through to the Final at Sandiacre Town FC on Saturday 6th May where they face local rivals Kimberley MW Reserves.

On behalf of Hazel and my mum who did the Charity raffle for Maggies Cancer Centre, may they thank everyone for their kind donations, where the raffle raised £37.10 and also for the kind donation of £10 from Malc Storer and Kev Goodman, which takes the running total including the four goals to £464.15p