An early start at the Ray Mac for a Monday night FA Youth Cup 3rd qualifying round match. Due to kick off at 7.30, I arrived at 7.25 as the game started but just in time to snag the last team sheet.
Salisbury started brightly and had 3 early chances cleared off the line, including one that span off the Beaconsfield keeper and almost looped in. This early pressure didn't lead to any goals and Beaconsfield came more into the game. In the absence of a large crowd (official attendance was 61, just over 1000 less than Saturday's league match), it was possible to hear the players boots pounding into the grass over the hum of the tannoy. By 20 minutes both teams had created some guilt edge chances but good blocking and a post kept the scoreline at 0.0.
Sometimes coaches get it right, sometimes they don't. As the Beaconsfield coach yelled to the left winger to take the man on, the left winger launched a long cross deep into the box and found Gavin James (one to watch, he caused the Salisbury defence problems all night long) at the far post and his volley found the back of the net. Salisbury continued to create chances and on 43 minutes created a well worked equaliser. A free kick was passed to the side and then forward, allowing Daniel Sloan to beat the offside trap and pass the ball into the back of the net.
Both teams continued to pass the ball well in the second half, especially considering the lightning, thunder and torrential rain that was passing over Salisbury. Despite a number of chances at both ends and some inventive free kick routines (5 at the back post running back onside as the freekick was played to the nearpost being one memorable one), neither team could find a winner during normal time so the match went into extra time. Gavin James had the best chance, bursting through the Salisbury defence from the halfway line and only a late blocking tackle from Fisher stopped a late winner.
The game progressed in the same way during extra time and it was difficult to see who would win. Salisbury attacked once more and found some space on the right side of the box. To try and close the Salisbury striker down, the Beaconsfield keeper rushed out and slid into the player rather than the ball, conceding a penalty which Joe Barron tucked away. I felt sorry for the keeper who was almost in tears before the kick, especially as it was difficult to see how the Salisbury player had the ball under control and could have scored given the ball was speeding across the pitch. Despite a late rally, Beaconsfield were unable to find a way past the Salisbury defence and the game finished with the home side victorious.
The next leg (1st round proper) features league clubs from Div 1 and 2 like Swindon and Yeovil. Salisbury have an away draw against either Westfield or East Grinstead and perhaps a better chance to progress further in the tournament.
A good evening's entertainment for 2 pounds!
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