I was on FA Cup duty at the weekend and saw me make my first visit to Brickfield Lane inArkley, just outside Boreham Wood, for a match between hosts Hadley and visitors Kings Langley.
Hadley are managed by ex Chelsea and Spurs midfielder Micky Hazard and he would of no doubt have used all of his cup pedigree and experience to help his side this season as the club were enjoying their best run inn the competition in their history, having dispatched Brantham Athletic,Hertford Town and Colney Heath to reach this stage.
However in opponents Kings Langley they were up against a side two levels above and had smashed Sporting Bengal United 6-1 in the last round. The Southern Premier League outfit, who had enjoyed three promotions in as many years, were on a good winning run in the league so this was going to prove tough for the Spartan South Midlands Premier hosts and understandably started as underdogs in this one.
But this is the FA Cup and it’s not been short of a giant-killing or two over the years and the hosts began by trying to take the game to their higher level opponents and saw skipper Sam Lyon loop an early header a foot wide of the goal. However the visitors then went close themselves after flashing a ball across the six yard box. It had been a decent start to this contest.
The visitors went close again when Sean Coughlan volleyed a Josh Chamberlain cross inches over the bar before the hosts responded in kind when a brilliant one two on the edge of the area released Ivan Machado but keeper Danny Boness managed to block the strikers effort.
And then on 18 minutes came the opening goal, and it went to the visitors, as a good pacey run down the left from Immanuelson Duku saw him burst into the box and be taken out inside the box for a penalty. Duku duly picked himself up and converted the spot kick and the Evo-Stik side had an early lead.
This understandably got the away sides tails up and they went searching for a quick second to try and totally stamp their authority on this contest. Connor Toomey fired just over from range for the visitors after a free kick wasn’t properly cleared by the hosts and then Toomey again fired another long range effort just off target as the visitors were now the better side since going in front.
However Hadley were no where near out of this contest and they saw a cross from the right almost falls to Machado in front of goal but the defence managed to block well and as the half was coming to a conclusion it was the home side who were coming on strong again but the visitors still lead 1-0.
Just before half time both sides tested each others goal, firstly when Zane Gangadeen struck an effort straight at Langley keeper Boness as they continued to look for a leveller, and secondly when Duku nearly got a second for the visitors after the ball had dropped to him inside the box but the hosts keeper Charlie Mann saved well to keep his side in the tie. It was a tie that was tight and still very much in the balance as the teams left the field for the half time break despite the visitors slender lead.
Half Time Hadley 0 Kings Langley 1
The next goal was always going to prove crucial in this tie and eight minutes into the second period came that second goal of the game, and it went to the hosts, in spectacular style. Dom Petrucci had only just come on as a substitute for an injured player when he received a pass and duly flicked the ball up and volleyed first time into the far corner of the goal. It really was a great piece of skill and it really fired up the hosts for a crack at a shock win.
However the visitors were the next to attack and they were screaming for a second spot kick after they felt Duku had been hauled down trying to get an effort in on goal but no penalty was given although it had now developed into a great cup tie.
The hosts then should really have taken the lead on the hour mark as a ball into the box found Machado totally free about eight yards out but he saw his effort blocked somehow and the chance went away. Hadley were doing a lot of the pressing and have been better side in this half but the scoreline remained 1-1 with just over twenty left.
The hosts then missed another wonderful chance when Machado beat visiting keeper Boness to a ball played into the area but saw his poked effort bounce just wide of the goal and you felt that they needed to have taken one of these chances if they were going to have any chance of causing an upset.
Langley spent the majority of the half on the back foot but they gave Hadley a couple of warnings that they could still pinch the tie, firstly when they missed a great chance to go back in front with thirteen minutes to go but Kyle Anthony could only head over a corner from point blank range, and then secondly moments later Oran Swailes got in behind the defence but miskicked his effort wide.
As the game entered its final few minutes Machado missed another great chance for the hosts but saw keeper Boness thwart him again and up the other end Duku forced a save from Mann as both sides were looking to find a winner and prevent a replay in the week.
Hadley then missed another great chance as Nick Chryanthou saw an effort blocked after getting in behind but as the clock ticked into stoppage time at the end of the ninety minutes the hosts finally took one of their chances as Machado looped a header beyond Boness and into the corner of the net to send the hosts wild with delight.
The forthcoming stoppage time period saw the hosts easily hold out and take their place in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history as they caused an upset today, and on their second half showing more than deserved their victory. The draw is tomorrow, and the Step Five outfit will be in the hat, eagerly awaiting who they get in the next chapter in their cup run.
Full Time Hadley 2 Kings Langley 1
No comments:
Post a Comment