If ever I wanted to use old clichés this is the time - a real game of two halves (or four to be precise).
The opening exchanges gave no indication of what was to follow. We had started well and had slightly had the better of the first twenty five minutes without converting the chances that had fallen to us. Simla though were looking very dangerous on the break and their centre forward Troy Cooper was giving our back four its toughest test so far. On twenty seven minutes Simla were awarded a free kick outside our box and the cross was flighted over our defence to the unmarked Karl Mitchell who nodded home. Worst was to follow a minute later when we gave away possession and Simla broke through the heart of our defence to go two up. Having been relatively comfortable we were now under the cosh, struggling to compete and under real pressure just to stay in the game. On thirty three minutes we fell further behind when following a good chance for us at their end they again broke with a two on two situation and finished well. There looked to be no way back. Simla were well on top, our heads were down and we had lost our shape and belief. Fortunately, we managed to hold out without further damage until half time.
After some strong words about passion, belief and the basics we set out for the second half to restore some pride. We honestly didn't expect what was to follow but we had spoken about reducing the deficit and seeing what happened. We started the half reasonably well but had not created the openings we needed. However, on fifty five minutes Simla gave away a needless penalty when Matt Lawrence was held back at a corner. This was too strongly disputed by the Simla captain and led to him being given a straight red. Wardy duly coverted to reduce the deficit to two. There was an immediate change in emphasis, we started to believe we could win and Simla were suddenly on the back foot. We scored our second on the hour when the ball fell to substitute Gary Manser in the box at a corner and he forced the ball home. From then on we totally dominated, using the spare man and the width of the pitch very well. Although it now appeared only a matter of time Simla held on well and it wasn't until the eightieth minute that we managed to equalise. It was a well worked goal with Mark Lester breaking through and passing into Peter Bukovec whose great dummy enabled the ball to reach an unmarked Marc Wood to slot home.
Extra time followed and was one way traffic as Simla tired and we used the space to great effect. We took the lead five minutes into the first period with a great header from Nick Coxon from a corner. Three further goals followed in the second period, two from Woody to complete his hat-trick and jug and the other from Danny McGahan.
In summary, probably our worst half of the season was followed by our best. It's a funny old game!
Team:
L.Baker
A.Lindsey
M. Boorman
N.Coxon
I.Ward
P.Bukovec
M. Lester
M.Lawrence
D. McGahan
M. Millins
C.Mearing
Subs:
M.Wood (for Mearing)
G. Manser (for Lawrence)