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REVENGE......!!
After Notts' recent bad run, we came into
this game as underdogs (as mentioned by Colin Spencer in
the team talk). The referee came into the changing room
before the match and said it was a big game, and that it
was the players who were the most important factor in the
game, not the referee.
Ironically, the referee would play
a big part in deciding the outcome of the game.....
The 1st half was a non-event with both
teams battling hard and cancelling each other out. The 1st
chance of the game fell to Bracken from a corner. Jay Culligan's
man had too much time and space to head the ball into the
net. Unfortunately (for Bracken) he couldn't head a ball
to save his life—and missed.
Notts' 1st chance came when the ball went
into the mixer in front of Bracken's goal and ended up near
Jay Culligan who punched the ball into the back of the net,
after numerous unsuccessful attempts to kick it in. EVERYBODY
on the pitch, and on the sidelines (including Stevie Wonder
and Ray Charles) saw it was handball. The Ref did not. 1-0
Notts.
2nd Half—Bracken started the brighter
of the 2 teams, having nothing to lose. Notts did a good
job of soaking up the pressure until Bracken were awarded
a free kick just outside the box. The
ball was delivered in fast and low, and Captain Chaos (Darren
Spencer) toed the ball past an outstretched Dave Edwards
into the back of his own net. 1-1.
Notts rallied & came close to scoring
on a couple of occasions, namely a Chris Westerby shot just
high and wide - and Jay Culligan hitting the post. Bracken's
only chance came when their striker headed the ball, and
Dave Edwards made a world class save. After
90 minutes the scores were level at 1-1 and on to extra
time. The first period only gave Notts one chance with Darren
Spencer heading the ball wide of the post.
With 15 minutes to go, Notts stepped into
another gear. Jason Page put a slide rule ball through to
Marcus Hall, who then cut inside and along the goal line
to see an unmarked Chris Buckland - and gifted him with
an easy tap into an empty net. 2-1 Notts.Brackens'
heads went down and a few minor skirmishes took place (both
on and off the pitch).
Eventually Marco Stasic was clear through
on goal and shot towards the keepers left. The ball ended
up in the back of the net making it 3-1 Notts.
We look forward to a challenging final
against Cavs at Dunkirk’s ground in April.
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