All Saints' triumph in football

Margaret Beaufort (Northamptonshire)   1 (Smith) -   2   (Attwood, Makowiecki) All Saints’ Academy

In this final 16 tie the travelling side had to first dispose of their previous away fixture jinx! After 2 ½ hours on the road the team arrived to find themselves with a very small pitch and goals to match, the expansive cultured football they had been coached and encouraged to play would not be an option, it was going to be a day of hard graft and direct football, how would they cope?

The game started with the hosts driving through the middle and fashioning a shot within the first minute. Lillis was more than up to that effort, but it would clearly be a busy day for both keepers as the ball was sent back up the field and a shot on the host’s goal hit the side netting in quick response.

All Saints soon settled and began to try and play football, bringing wingers Attwood and Roberts into the play as often as they could. Gambrell and Dix looked impressive and forced several saves from the hosting side’s keeper. Attwood was the first to score in this very open game slotting in from close in after a shot come cross from Gambrell on the left. He looked to extend the lead in a similar fashion but lifted it over the bar as he was blown up for being offside. Dix then, from almost an identical move down the left. made the net bulge with a well timed run only for his effort to be ruled offside! Gambrell, Mackowiecki, Berisha and Attwood all went close but were foiled with clearances off the line and the ball sailing just over or just wide of the junior sized goals.

The hosts were not without their own chances and a brilliant save from Lillis turned round a magnificent free kick from the edge of the box. As the clock ticked up to 36 minutes in the first half the hosts managed to keep the ball in and with some decent footwork drew it back and slipped it across for Smith to tap in from a yard out.

With the boys encouraged to look for width, instant control and to move the ball quickly at half time. The second half kicked off with a great flurry of activity from both sides going forward. Now contesting with the slope All Saints’ were being forced to play much of the opening encounters in their own half. A man of the match performance from Hitchman continued to be a key factor of the game, he dominated the backline and drove the ball forward showing his potential further up the field. Mackowieki also displayed the maturity he has developed over the last year and accepted his defensive duties well, often sweeping around and clearing the danger. Sensible defending from Fletcher and Driscoll disposed of the danger well and the positive work of Harris helped to ease the pressure and release Attwood to support the striking pair.

The game looked to be lost as Berisha made a late lunge and pulled Smith down for a penalty. Marks, replacing Lillis at half time, filled a lot of the goal and his excellent dive turned the ball around the post to keep the scores level.

This spurred All Saints’ on with Hitchman the first to drive through the heart of the hosts team. Dix gave width and put in several great crosses from the right, unfortunately his runners had already committed and were unable to latch on to the cross. It was Dix, however who made it to the bye line and lifted a beautiful cross which Mackowieki was able to head into the roof of the net.

With Harris injured and only Jones as a sub closing the game down for the last 5 minutes was now a priority and Gambrell did an excellent job at Right back, using his pace and strength well to limit the opportunities the hosts could create.

A difficult tie in which the team displayed great character and ability to adjust their play.

Next a quarter final tie to be drawn out of the hat on Monday 5^th December!