BRFC o-30's drop in the State Cup on penalties - by Martin

NY Polet 1 BRFC o30's 1 (pk 5-4)

The 0-30's Rovers just don't seem to have the State Cup touch. It is now two years in a row that we have dropped out on penalty kicks, and many more years since anyone can remember advancing to the 2nd round.

NY Polet was a solid opponent who took advantage of an early break down on our touch line that allowed them an easy push pass goal. They had the better of us on the ball control side and opened us up through the middle, but they did not often get through the defense. We created numerous chances on our own, largely through crosses and corners to the far post. Jason found Pat there more than once. After several futile attempts, Pat managed to nod one in.

The rest of the match was a good clean battle back and forth. Again, perhaps with them controlling a little more than us, but we offered our own push backs, not the least of which was Patricks break away from midfield one on one with the goalie. Pat will no doubt blame the swine flu for his miscalculation as to how long it takes a goalie to get from the end line to the 40 yd line, but when he looked back up from his first touch, the goalie was there to make a kick save as Pat tried to lumber around him.

The game went to penalties.

1) Pete curved the first one smack onto the right post, they converted.

2) Pat popped his in, then collapsed from the flu, Jean Marc saved one, banking it off a post.

3) Ben converted, they slotted another 2-2

4) Jason easily netted, they missed 3-2

5) Mike went for the winner and instead did an impression of Gumby, flubbing the ball to the keeper - they tied it.

6) Danny netted, they did too

7) Sven cracked it, they scored

8) Roger slammed it in, so did they.

9) Gary got caught by a guessing Goalie, and then to top it off, their goalie scored the winning penalty.......