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Football - West Yorkshire League Cup: Shoot out win for Old Boys
BRIGHOUSE Old Boys pulled off a shock second round win at Premier Division Ossett Common Rovers, winning a penalty shoot out 4-3 after the sides had been locked at 1-1 at the end of extra time.
A heavy, energy-sapping pitch tested the strength and stamina of both teams to the limit.
But playing up the slope in the first half, Brighouse began the brighter with several excellent passing moves, especially up the right involving full back Steven Tuite and winger Rob Kenny, but their dominance of possession was not piercing the Ossett defensive line leading to many of the moves fizzling out before testing the 'keeper.
As expected, Ossett gradually began to get into their game and the Old Boys back four of Tuite, Adie Kelly, Andy Pearson and Luke Johnson did well to restrict the home side's chances.
On the half hour, Brighouse, having already been forced into making several personnel and positional changes due to the unavailability of three key players, were forced to make another change when striker Neil Butcher had to come off with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Martin Newham, making only his third first team appearance of the season.
As the half was drawing to a close, a 25 yard thunderbolt of a shot from the Ossett winger appeared to be heading for the top corner of the net until Old Boys keeper Gareth Betts made a great save with a full length dive to tip the ball around his post and leave the game goalless at the break.
In the second half, the Brighouse centre midfield pairing of Reece Bray and Glen Lee really began to boss the game, breaking down many of the Ossett plays and then creating much of the play themselves, but the atrocious conditions were beginning to take their toll and chances for both teams were few and far between.
Old Boys introduced 17 year old Alex Bembridge on the left, with skipper James Fletcher moving up front to replace Adam Bedford who was beginning to tire after putting in an excellent, hard working performance.
With just a few minutes left on the clock, the plan seemed to have worked when Bray fed a through ball to Fletcher, but his goal-bound shot on the turn struck Newham and bounced wide of the post to leave the game still goalless after 90 minutes.
Brighouse made their last substitution at the start of extra time with Neil Fitzjohn coming on at centre-back to replace Adie Kelly who was suffering with cramp.
Glen Lee, who was struggling with a knee injury, went up front, with Fletcher dropping back into mid-field.
Just before the break, another superb through ball from Bray found Kenny on the right who hit a low cross to Lee. The latter then expertly turned his marker before breaking the deadlock by coolly slotting the ball past the Ossett keeper.
The second period of extra time was then dominated by the Old Boys, but in the last minute an innocuous looking shot from an Ossett player was cruelly deflected into his own net by Pearson as he tried to block, leaving the Old Boys stunned.
The penalty shoot-out seemed to be going in Ossett’s favour with Brighouse missing their first three attempts, but with the home team not capitalising, it was left to Johnson to fire home the winner for the Old Boys.
Every single one of the 14 Old Boys players played their part in the victory, showing great skills, fitness and team spirit with a never say die attitude that was second to none.
Credit must also go the Ossett players who put in some sterling performances to help create a pulsating match.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
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Light snow
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