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Ryan Bayliss 2
Graham Jones
Ryan Dawkins
AETThrussington Team:
1. Erez, 2. J Farley, 3. K Carter, 4. Hickling, 5. Jones, 6. Herbert, 7. Dawkins, 8. Morgan,
9. C Carter, 10. Bayliss, 11. KnightSubs:
12. Bowerman (on for K Carter 65 mins)
14. R Farley (on for Herbert 58 mins)
15. Hillsdon (un-used)Hopes of cup glory dashed as Fosse can't cope with Cyril Sneer and his army of Farmers
The spirit was high on the morning of the 23rd, with the prospect of Christmas booze and a chance to reach a semi-final for the first time in the clubs history. Even a partially frozen pitch could not deter the Fosse as they waited for it to thaw a little before kicking off.
The game started as a fairly even contest, not much football being played possibly due to the bobbly nature of the pitch, however, the game was quite end to end. With the first real moment of quality, Fosse managed to create an opportunity, good work by Dawkins, Herbert and Bayliss led to a shot from Dawkins being saved by the keeper. Fosse didn't manage to capitalise on this first bit of good play however and a few minutes later, only a great last ditch tackle by K Carter saved them from possibly going behind.
The game remained a scrappy affair for the first 20 minutes with neither side really creating a clear goal scoring chance. this changed however just as the game reached the 20 minute mark when a through ball from the Thrussington midfield seemed to split open up the Fosse back four and the Thrussington striker placed the ball passed Erez to make it 1-0 to the visting side.
Even though Fosse would feel that they were not playing at their full potential at this point, the match was still a very even contest. This was proved when good work by knight on the left wing led to his low cross being met by Bayliss before the opposition keeper and the Fosse number 10 finding the back of the net to make the game all square after 25 minutes.
This seemed to lift Fosse, albeit momentarily as a powerful run by Knight down the left led to the big man firing a powerful effort that unluckily hit the top of the bar and flew over for a goal kick. That was what Fosse had come to love seeing from the big man who was out for a long time with an injury earlier in the season. Unfortunately, the pressure was not kept on the Thrussington goal and just a few minutes after nearly taking the lead, Thrussington skipped passed some Fosse challenges and had a clear shot on goal, fortunately this was hit straight at Erez who did well to save and keep the scores level. As the game neared half time, both teams were only capable of creating half chances with Morgan slicing an opportunity wide from 20 yards on 40 minutes and Fosse's back 4 keeping Thrussington at bay with a well oiled offside trap.
As the game entered the final moments of the first half, Fosse looked to apply pressure to the Thrussington goal. It was, however, the visitors who would entre half time on the ascendancy as a breakaway by them led to a good save being made by Erez but Fosse failing to clear the ball effectively and following a good cross from the right, Thrussington scored a header into the roof of the net even if Jones did appear to be pushed in the process, with the referee waving away the protests of some crippled Fosse supporter.
Fosse entered half time 2-1 behind.
After a half time rallying cry by the whole team, Fosse came out into the second half looking much brighter with 10 minutes of good pressure insude the Thrussington half but no real efforts being made on goal except for a Dawkins cross-cum-shot nearly sneaking in being the closest they came to an equaliser. On 57 minutes, Thrussington carved out one very good opportunity for themselves, only a brilliantly save by Erez onto his own crossbar saved Fosse from going 3-1 behind. The resulting rebound was scrambled in by Thrussington, only for the linesman's flag to deny them. R Farley then came on for Herbert into the centre of midfield.
With the game fortunately still in the balance, Fosse again looked to apply some pressure on the Thrussington goal. After a fine break by Hickling on 65 minutes (ok, Chicko then) Fosse earned a corner, and after a great delivery from Dawkins, Jones muscled in to head the ball into the back of the net, the defenders 8th goal this campaign. Fosse supporters were elated and could now see their team going onto win the game. Bowerman then replaced K Carter, the latter nursing a wrist injury (yes, we try to tell him to give it a rest the night before games but there's no telling him).
Fosse supporters' new found hope was sadly misplaced as only minutes later, Thrussington gained a corner of their own and following a missed punch by Erez, Thrussington scored another header to regain the lead for the third time in the match.
With only 20 minutes left now, Fosse would have to look to turn the game around quicky. The players certainly knew this and moments later two strikes by Morgan and C Carter forced the thrussington keeper into action, producing a spectacular save to deny Carter from equalising. He was, however, powerless to stop a 25 yard screamer from Bayliss moments later (75th minute), the striker picking the ball up in the inside right channel, cutting in field onto his favoured left foot and powering the ball into the top corner. Fosse fans were once again ecstatic at pulling from behind.
This time, it appeared that this would not be shortlived, as 5 minutes later a free kick from Chicko on half way, led to a scramble that saw C Carter have a shot blocked, the rebound falling to Dawkins on the right who powered a right footed strike into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 15 yards, the keeper having no chance. Fosse, finally, were ahead, 4-3.
Now it was Fosse's turn to absorb some pressure, having 10 minutes to see out until the final whistle. Thrussington really looked to turn the screw and after Fosse losing the ball on half way, they broke away and only a good save by Erez and then clearance by Chicko prevented them from pulling level. Unfortunately, the pressure was kept on by Thrussington and after a missed interception by goal scorer Jones, the Thrussington striker ran onto the ball, rounded Erez and made it 4 each with only 4 minutes remaining.
Neither side could create any clear chances before the 90 minutes and so the game went to extra time with the scores at 4-4.
In the first 15 minutes, neither side really created much with Bayliss going close from a corner and R Farley denying Thrussington with a cracking last ditch challenge.
In the second period, Dean had two shots well saved by the Thrussington goalkeeper, one opening being created well by R Farley who had broken from midfield. As it looked like the game would be heading for penalties, Thrussington were awarded a free kick 35 yards out following a foul by R Farley. The free kick was knocked into the box, where it found an un marked Thrussington player who scored with a header, their third in the game itself. There was not enough time for Fosse to com back this time and the final whistle went with Fosse players and supporters feeling dejected. Fosse never really got going throughout and will know that they can perform much better, they will certainly look to rid the memory of this game in their next fixture with a win.
