FA County Youth Cup Round 2 Match at the County Ground, Letchworth
Saturday 3rd November 2007
Suffolk, having received a bye in round 1, started their journey in this National competition in round 2 away to Herts. The visitors had the better of the first half, and Dawson had an early goal attempt from long range go well wide. A right-wing cross from Ward found Lorimer, but the striker was beaten in the air by 2 defenders. However, after 20 minutes Herts had the ball in the net - against the run of play. Squires-Adams took advantage of a defensive mistake to net from close range, but the referee had spotted the striker’s use of the arm to control the ball and disallowed the goal. Shortly afterwards, Suffolk returned to the attack, and a good movement involving 3 players released Douglas in the box, but a defender did well to shield the winger from a sight at goal.
Although Suffolk dominated, and a mazy run by Douglas took him past 2 defenders into the box and into third defender, they had failed to trouble the home keeper. Herts then had a short period of pressure on the Suffolk defence, but again the keeper was hardly called into action. Young had the best chance for Herts, but his header from a right wing cross went wide. Suffolk ended the half on the attack and came closest to scoring through Henderson whose fine header from another cross by Ward beat keeper Plumb but scraped the top of the bar.
Suffolk had an early scare in the second period, when Waryszniuk met a free-kick from Myles at the far post and saw his looping header going just over the bar. As the second half wore on it was the home team who took the initiative and Young came close when he attacked a low cross, only to find a defender’s leg divert his shot over the bar for a corner. Brumwell then drove forward, after a defender slipped, but shot straight at keeper Ross. Suffolk did have opportunities on the break, and a fine move between Manning and Douglas set up Sargeant for a shot which was well wide. Bailey delivered a hanging cross which was dropped by Plumb, but the keeper quickly recovered and no chance was given.
As Suffolk returned to defensive duties, striker Lorimer defended a Herts free-kick and his long clearance found Henderson in space behind the Herts defence - but the cut-back was short and again the threat was extinguished. Although Herts were finishing strongly, the spectators had all resigned themselves to extra-time. Squires-Adams attacked a good cross from Evans, but his header was just over the bar. Having waited a long time for a turning point in the game, it came with only 4 minutes left. Another good cross from Evans deceived Ross, and the ball dropped over his head only 5 yards from the goal line – and everyone stood still. It was as if the players could not believe after all this time in a match with few opportunities, here was the golden chance. Eventually Brumwell reacted and tried to knock the ball over the line to put Herts into Round 3, but he failed to make good contact on the ball and Sargeant kicked off the line. The match turned and was well into injury time when a goal was scored – at the other end. Read started the move with a surging run into the heart of the home defence. He slipped it to Douglas, but his shot was beaten out by a desperate defender and Henderson collected it on the goal line, to the left of the goal. He looked up and delivered a short cross for Read to head over the line from 5 yards.
Suffolk’s performance was workmanlike, but the midfield lacked the guile to unlock the Herts defence, and there was a lack of a cutting edge up front. Now, for the second successive match, they have scored right at the end – reaping the reward for never stopping to work and believe. The result is an away tie in Durham on the 8th December.