The Quarter final of the cup was originally scheduled over 2 legs, but weather a few weeks ago meant that the NELECL lost a week, meaning the first leg was sacrificed to maintain the league programme. Nothing like an added bite to a cup tie!
It was winner take all for the teams at the bottom of the league. Both had beaten the other already this season and both knew to keep their season alive victory was a must.
The Gaffer took a new approach to the build up - naming the starting team on Thursday to make sure all were ready to go at 9:30am - and for the first time in history, the vast majority were!
But it wasn't without a hiccup or two on the way - Paul Howard, replacing the travelling Steve, was called away by work on Friday, and Darryl had a struggle to make the 9:30am meet time. Dave Hambridge stepped into his utility suit and wore the goalkeeper greens, with a returning Dwayne stepping in a right back.
The warm up was thorough and new skipper Arsan - along with the usual suspects - rallied the troops. However, he was to lose his first coin-toss, allowing Ecclesia to take the 12th man of the wind in the first half.
But this didn't stop TP camping in the Ecclesia half for most of the game. With the exception of a break-away goal.
Confidence surged through the Ecclesian's, and they must have thought it was going to be their day when Nick and Ferris - partnering for now the 3rd time - read each others minds and simultaneously swung at the same through ball, taking each other out and leaving the ball for the grateful goalie.
But a deficit of 1 at the interval would remain. The team talk was positive, and so much so the Ecclesia re-start was hounded down until TP were in possession. a spell of triangular passes on the left gave Dan Spin space to unleash a beauty with his left foot that left the goalkeeper stranded.
TP again set up camp in the Ecclesia half and, making use of the wind, Nick beat the offside trap and latched onto an almighty kick from Dave, only to mis-time his lob attempt into the goalkeepers hands.
However, it was soon to be 2-1 to the Oranges. Sorry - don't remember how that one happened though. Answers on a post-card - but, I think someone scored for the first time in 29 games?
The third was not far behind. Nick took a quick-throw on the left to Dan Spinola, exploiting the lack of an offside rule and drawing out the defence and goalkeeper, who found substitute Greg for him to slide into an all but empty net.
Knowing that it was now all or nothing, Ecclesia flooded forward and got an unlikely second, before Darryl and Greg combined to set up Dan Spin for his second of the game and TP's forth.
The result could have been a wider margin, but goal difference doesn't count in the cup - a win is a win and we are in the Semi's.
On this performance, Blackhorse Road, Springfield or Tower Hamlets could be in for a shock.
Team:
D. Hambridge;
D. Mitchell, S. Balogun, I. Howard, J. Middleweek;
A. Aryanpour (c), C. Lindsay (D. Passfield), T. Lindsay (G. Perkins (1)), D. Spinola (2);
F. Lindsay, N. Speroni (1);
Subs Not Used:
O. Lindsay
S. Ranthe
Blog Writers Men of the Match:
All 15 and the fans! A day for all to come together to get the performance and result everyone needed.
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