Quarter Final Chaos

After winning our first piece of silverware 3 weeks ago we were wondering whether there would be some sort of football related 'hangover'. This morning we probably found our answer.

There were no signs of this early on as we raced into a 3-0 lead inside 10 minutes against a 10 man Worplesdon Rangers outfit, but in the end it became a chaotic goalfest that we were thankful to come through by the odd goal in 11.

We were ahead after 2 minutes. Dan Wicks's throw in was flicked on by Ashley Britton and then Alex Zammit, finding Tom Frost in space and his left foot volley flicked off Joey Stevens and deceived the keeper.

After 6 minutes it was 2. Elliott Jones intercepted a cross and sent an intelligent long through ball in behind for Ash who coolly rounded the keeper and tapped in to the empty net.

Barely 2 minutes later and it looked like the game was over. Simon Grout did well down our right and cut the ball inside for Luca Mortellaro who was fouled in the area. Despite slipping, Joey tucked home the penalty.

At this stage Worplesdon looked there for the taking, but they soon won their own penalty and got one back.

On 22 minutes we got our 4th and restored the breathing space. Frosty's accurate free kick was headed into the roof of the net by Ash for his second of the morning.

10 Minutes later Worplesdon fought back again as their striker smashed past Ryan Pardo-Roques from 6 yards out.

A crazy first half finished with us 5-2 ahead and this one on 41 minutes was the pick of the goals. Grouty passed to Frosty on the edge of the area and he danced his way past a couple of players before playing a one-two with Joey. He then cut inside his man and fired past the keeper from close range. A slick goal. Frosty often threatens to finish off a weaving run and this was the time it came off.

We had been good going forward, but a couple of sloppy moments had given Worplesdon some encouragement.

The second half was the worst we have played all season bar the Lightwater defeat and Worplesdon really upped their game to take full advantage.

By the 52nd minute it was 5-4 after an incredibly flat start to the half from our point of view. We failed to get out of neutral and Worplesdon had their tails up. They were outworking us and were now pressing for the equaliser.

We did have some chances to kill the game, namely a penalty with 8 minutes to go that Joey unfortunately fired over the bar and eventually we were punished deep into injury time. Rangers won a corner, sent their keeper up and a good delivery found a man free and he did the rest to take the game to extra time.

Despite the numerical advantage extra time was finely balanced, but with 8 minutes to go we edged in front again. Ryan claimed a dead ball and sent a cracking long kick forward which beat Worplesdon's last man and Ash met the bouncing ball with a looping header over the keeper who was stranded. Ash has now scored 9 goals in his last 5 appearances including two hat-tricks.

Worplesdon kept trying, but the energy finally seemed to have been sucked from them after a fine effort and we held on to reach another 1/2 final.

From the second half onwards this was old school WWFC, but thankfully we didn't go full old school WWFC by completely throwing it away. Never go full old school WWFC.

Anyway we are through and have a big game to look forward to against either W&M or Abbey Rangers.

MoM: Frosty - quality in possession, 2 assists and a lovely goal. Obvious mention for Ash here for his hat-trick too.

Huge thanks to those who ran the line and to those who came down to support.