Tonbridge Invicta Under 16's v Orpington Colts in the Shield

NO LUCK AT ALL !

ORPINGTON COLTS 2 TONBRIDGE INVICTA 2 (AET)

Orpington won 3-1 on penalties

19.01.03

For the neutral observer this was an enthralling Shield Cup Tie that went right to the wire. For the winners of the lottery of a penalty shoot out that eventually settled the match the hard graft of the previous 100 minutes probably seemed worth it. For us it didn't!

Both sides showed equal determination throughout the game and it was always fiercely contested. In a goalless first half we created the better of the chances, but a level scoreline was a fair reflection to that point.

We suddenly lost concentration and shape in the first five minutes of the second half and disastrously conceded two goals. It looked like we had a mountain to climb. Colts were clearly buoyed up by their success and the conditions were making it very hard indeed to play our football.

Slowly but surely however, showing great spirit, we got a grip on the second half and created opening after opening. The ball just would not run for us, though, and for a long time it seemed like we would never score.

Then finally with about 15 minutes to go, Daniel Powell shrugged off two defenders and the goalkeeper inside their box to slot the ball home from a prone position. Game on!!

Now the home side looked nervous and we pressed forward despite the energy sapping pitch. With just 5 minutes left on the clock we got our just deserts when Daniel Howse was released inside the Colts area and he fired the ball into the net from an acute angle.

The game now went into "Golden Goal" extra time. This meant digging deep into our reserves of fitness. The additional 20 minutes were very tense and both sides had chances to finish the game. Once again we created the better of these and with just a little "rub of the green" we might have grabbed a deserved winner.

But it was not to be and eventually the game came to its conclusion with a penalty shoot out. Trying to strike a dead ball from a bog of a penalty spot with tired legs was extremely difficult and Colts ran out winners.

In truth they hardly merited it. In quite awful conditions where the middle of the pitch resembled the "Somme" we had played some exquisite football at times. Apart from a 5 minute period we had defended well too, so this outcome was a most disappointing and undeserved reward for a fantastic effort.

Every member of the 13 man squad that took part contributed to a great team performance and, despite the ultimate result, we can take some good things out of this game.

We look forward to the opportunity to play Orpington Colts on a decent pitch before the end of the season. Then I'm sure our superiority will shine through!

We must now concentrate on pushing for the League Title.