Hashtag United needed penalties to eventually get past Sawbridgeworth Town on a freezing cold night at Chadfields and set up an Errington Challenge Cup Quarter Final at West Essex.
The hosts, who sat top of the Essex Senior League, were big favourites for this tie against the team currently propping up the table, but Sawbo had improved slightly over the last few weeks so were keen to try and show that they weren’t here to just make up the numbers.
The opening half hour yielded very little, with an early chance from the hosts when Neil Richmond fired wide the only real attempt on goal, although Richmond had also volleyed home on the half hour, only to be flagged offside, but it hadn’t been a classic thus far that was for sure.
The final fifteen minutes of the half saw a few more chances, and the visitors almost got in down the left after a nice move but the ball was overrun and the chance went, before poor defending allowed the hosts in through Osude but keeper Clarke managed to come and save his effort.
Sawbo then sent a cross into the hosts box which was punched clear by Pitman, but straight to the visitors who attempted to lob back over the keeper, but it was too high and went over the bar, before hesitant defending from the visitors allowed the hosts an opening, but the effort was poor and was blocked.
The visitors then nearly got in but saw the ball failed to be controlled meaning the ball ran through to keeper Clarke, and it meant the half time break came with the contest goalless. It hadn’t been a classic and both teams’ final ball was poor, so both were hoping for better in the second period.
Half Time Hashtag United 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 0
Hashtag had the first chance of the second period when Neil Richmond hooked over the bar, before the hosts attacked again but saw a left footed effort go straight at keeper Clarke, and then Hashtag then got in down the right through Osude whose pace was causing the visitors some alarm, but the ball flashed across almost saw Neil Richmond get on the end of it but a covering defender put him off and the chance went.
Hashtag were looking like they were warming up to the task finally and saw a first time effort sent wide after the ball had been cut back, although the visitors almost pounced on a hosts defensive slip as Webster found himself with a sight of goal, but he could only fire over from the left hand side of the box.
Sawbo then burst forward soon after but fired way over the bar, and then the hosts should really have broken the deadlock when a ball to the back-post saw Luke Wilson head back across goal but the ball was somehow put over from close range.
The visitors then fired another effort over the bar from outside the box before a long ball from Hashtag keeper Pitman was flicked on, allowing Osude in down the right but the ball flashed across goal eluded all and the ball went away from danger.
The final chances of the game saw a long-range effort from the hosts which was easy for keeper Clarke, before a ball fired at goal was blocked by the visitors, and it meant the tie went to penalties as the contest ended goalless.
Hashtag managed to win the shootout though meaning they went through to the Last Eight of the competition and set up an away quarter final at West Essex who also won on penalties against Woodford Town. A good honest battle this one, but the hosts held their nerve better in the shootout to prevail.
Full Time Hashtag United 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 0 (Hashtag United won 3-1 on penalties)
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