Cockfosters are into
the Semi Finals of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy after they won their Quarter
Final tie at Cricklefield’s against Ilford on penalties to set up a Last Four encounter
at either Tower Hamlets or Saffron Walden Town.
Ilford, who this week announced a new management headed by
Jonny Fowell, volleyed a decent effort just over the bar early on, but as
Fowell looked on from the stands (he wasn’t taking today’s game and was just observing)
he watched his new side get pushed back as the visitors started to take
control.
And in the 22nd minute they took the lead when a
ball squared to Harley Haag saw him side foot across goal and into the bottom
corner, and Cockfosters could of gone further in front when firstly Haag went
clean through but saw his effort saved by Hugo Rossetti, before another
visitors effort thumped against the bar.
The visitors then saw Billy Healey head over under a challenge
from keeper Rossetti, and then they fired two decent efforts wide and over the hosts
goal, and although Ilford did see a late first half header blocked, it had certainly
been the visitors half as they went into the break a goal to the good.
Half Time Ilford 0
Cockfosters 1
Cockfosters nearly doubled their lead in the opening minutes
of the second period when a header at goal was kept out by Rossetti, before a scramble ended with the visitors lifting
over from six yards out, but thereafter the hosts began to get on top of their
opponents.
And just before the hour mark, they won a penalty after a
foul just inside the box, and centre half Steve Sylvester stepped up to convert
the spot-kick, and Ilford were now back on level terms.
Ilford were now looking to take the lead in this one and saw
a chance on the stretch weak and easy for visiting keeper Bradley Robinson, and
then a free kick from twenty yards or so was whipped wide of the visitor’s
goal.
As the game entered it’s final stages though, Cockfosters
had chances to win it as they glanced a header wide of the hosts goal before
having a shout for a penalty after a late challenge following a cross into the danger
zone, but the referee waved away the hosts claims.
Ilford then fired a very dangerous ball across the visitors
area which just went past the far post, and then Ilford keeper Rossetti made a
wonderful point blank save to deny the visitors what surely would have been a
winning goal, and it meant the tie would go to penalties.
And when the visitors missed their second penalty, Ilford
had the chance to go 3-1 up in the shootout, but the penalty went into orbit,
meaning Cockfosters tied it up at 2-2 with three penalties taken each.
Both then failed with their fourth and then Ilford saw their
fifth one saved, leaving Cockfosters to net their fifth and final kick to win
the shootout 3-2 and progress into the Last Four of the competition.
Full Time Ilford 1
Cockfosters 1 (Cockfosters won 3-2 on
penalties)
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