Vaders win 5-4 on penalties

Match stats:

Lee Isaac
Steve Boydell

The Vader’s progressed to the next round of the open cup with a win over Hunters FC on penalties after what was a really disappointing performance. The 9 man team of Hunters FC showed how football should be played and used every man on the field at their disposal, while The Vader’s saw the fact that there were only 9 on the field as a distinct advantage and didn’t pick up their men or play using the obvious advantage of 2 extra players.

The team fielded was a bid disjointed due to key players missing, mainly that of Jimbob Jones in goals who had partied so hard from Friday onwards that he couldn’t pick his head up by Sunday to play. Richard Boydell deputised and did an outstanding job in Jimbob’s absence and made the result actually feel a little more deserved than the 120 minutes of rubbish before the shootout.

It was only around 10 minutes into the game when the Vader’s struck first with a through ball being played from the back and a first (rather rubbish) touch from Rob Boydell through to Lee Isaac who made the most of it and put it in the back of the net.

In all fairness the Vader’s were trying hard to capitalise on the 2 man advantage in the first half and Blackie went through a few times (when he wasn’t off-side) and was challenged well, although there was the open goal scenario which we won’t go into.

Just before half time the Hunters were given a dubious penalty and made it 1-1 before the break.
The second half saw the Vader’s lose their shape and crumble under some heavy offensive moves from the Hunters. Around the 70 minute mark one of the long balls paid off and Steve Boydell converted with good composure under pressure from two defenders and the goalkeeper.

The Hunters though didn’t give in and a corner on the 85th minute saw the score pulled back to 2-2 and extra time would be needed, much to the disappointment of the referee who thought it was a league game – what a dohnut!

The Vader’s actually started to play a little more football in extra time and looked the most likely to score but it wasn’t to be and Penalties loomed.

Penalty takers were Hambone, Allan Thomas, Titch, Gouldy, and Blackie. 3 of the five penalties were brilliantly converted, Gouldy took his well but the keeper was equal to it and lost out only because of the power behind the shot. Blackie however missed his penalty as it wasn’t quite far enough away from the keeper and he pulled off a good save.

None of this mattered however as Rich Boydell pulled off probably the save of the season for the Vader’s and go right down low as far as he could to the post and tipped away the Hunters penalty. The pressure was too much for the last kick taker and he hit the bar for the Vader’s to progress into the ¼ finals. Nanty Rugby or Llantwit Lions in the next round so this will proably be a local derby…

Man of the Match: Richard Boydell
Cock of the Week: Gareth Blackwell
Quote of the Day: Can’t remember but it was Hambone yet again!