Report

'BROOMS PAY THE PENALTY'

The football wheel of fortune spun against unlucky Broomfield for a second week running, allowing another local rival the enjoyment of serendipitous victory against the general run of play. 'Seven' penalties proved to be Brooms downfall, 'six' well struck ones that ended up in the Brooms’ net, and ‘one’ inaccurate one, that sailed over Old Owens’ crossbar; thus, enabling the visitors to progress to the Semi-Finals of the AFA County Cup, after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Brooms started brightly, attacking with verve, which had Owens looking extremely troubled to contain. Following a series of dangerous attacks, Brooms deservedly took an early lead after an incisive passing moved left the visitors defence ‘awry’ and James Winchester free to fire home.

As Brooms continued with their menacing football, Owens broke away too score with their first serious attack of the match; an unnecessary tackle on the edge of the area gave the visitors a soft penalty, that they gratefully dispatched to level the score.

Easy access back into the game inspired Owens to their most positive period in the match, and for the remainder of the first half they were the equal of ‘deflated’ Brooms, who were displaying a certain shyness in the penalty area.

The second half proved to be a frustrating affair for determined Brooms, whist they produced a purposeful attacking performance, dominating their opponents for long spells, with Winchester in particular giving the Owens defence a torrid time; Brooms inability to convert the good number of chances on offer, only served to remind that they were missing their two main strikers.

With the game drifting towards extra time, Brooms appeared to have snatched victory in the final minutes of normal time when the 'ever dangerous' Floyd Nelson scored with a fine low drive from the edge of the area. Brooms joy was short-lived however; as, a last gasp corner gave resilient Owens the equaliser after a bout of head tennis.

Extra time was a repeat of previous game action, with Brooms looking dominant, creating plenty of opportunity, but frustratingly displaying bluntness in the penalty area, whilst Owens best chances continued to come from set-plays won by a somewhat ‘jelly-legged’ attack. The final whistle went with neither side able clinch a fair victory; so, unfortunately requiring the ‘terminal lottery’ of a penalty shoot-out.

In a 'nail-biting' display of accurate penalty taking, it was hapless Brooms who cracked. Tom Givens so often the Brooms hero turned villain by ballooning his penalty over the bar, to see his side agonisingly lose the shoot-out by the slim margin of 5 goals to 4.

THE BLUE ONLOOKER