SPELTHORNE SPARTANS WIN PENALTY SHOOT-OUT
The first round of this season’s Middlesex Sunday Intermediate Cup was played on Sunday, 22nd October and your roving team chose to visit the tie between Brentford St Georges and Spelthorne Spartans. Brentford St Georges are members of the Middlesex County League (Sunday Section) while Spelthorne Spartans play in the North Surrey and Middlesex Border Sunday League.
The tie was contested on a bright sunny morning on the 4G pitch of Spartans’ home ground at Springwest Academy in Feltham. The teams were evenly matched and produced a good interesting cup tie, played in an excellent spirit. However, goals did not come easily and the first half was scoreless. The visitors went ahead 16 minutes into the second period but Brentford St Georges equalised 11 minutes later, to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out. Only four sets of spot kicks were necessary, due two saves by the Spartans’ keeper, which gave his side a 4-2 shoot-out victory.
At the other end, St Georges’ Thierry St John was fouled outside the penalty area by Charlie Buchmann. Jeele Modinho’s freekick was headed for a corner by a member of the defensive wall.
Jeele Modinho then had two more shots at the Spartans’ goal. The first, from 25 yards, cleared the crossbar. Then his low drive was saved by keeper Finley Purtill.
The St Georges’ keeper saved at Spartans’ Jordan Harts’ feet, at the expense of a corner kick, which he punched away.
Spartans’ Georgie Birch cleared the crossbar with a shot from around 30 yards. Then Asimika Berete, in front of goal, just failed to connect with a cross from the left.
St Georges’ Jeele Modinho was just wide with a shot across goal and his captain, Joshua Osborne made ground through the middle but shot too high.
Jordan Harts was prominent for Spartans. He shot narrowly wide after collecting a dropped ball and then won a corner after dispossessing a defender.
Half time score: Brentford St Georges 0 Spelthorne Spartans 0
Jordan Harts continued the attack after the break, with a shot past the upright.
Spartans’ keeper, Finley Purtill left his area to thwart St Geor’s Josh Maynard and then saved Billy Hall’s low shot.
Billy Hall cleared the Spelthorne Spartans’ crossbar from close range.
Spartans’ Nathan Williams tried a long-range shot, which Joe Louis Nurden fielded easily and then he fired a shot across the goalmouth.
The first goal of the match arrived unexpectedly in the 61st minute. Spartans’ Adam Ellis won the ball from a defender and found himself well placed to slot his shot home.
Spartans stayed on the offensive. Nathan Williams’ shot, following a corner, was charged down. Jordan Harts fed Charlie Buchmann, who went close.
A St Georges’ freekick, taken from wide on the left by Jeele Modinho, was headed over by Rayed Adam.
A long ball into the St Georges’ box, from Nathan Williams, was netted by Jordan Harts but the score was disallowed for a foul on the keeper.
Finley Purtill saved high up from Josh Maynard.
In the 72nd minute, Josh released Aaron Espirit, who was felled by Finley. The goalkeeper saved Josh Maynard’s penalty but the ball ran loose and was netted by Thierry St John, to level the scores.
Adam Ellis hit the St Georges’ post with his corner kick and Jordan Harts worked through and shot over, before time ran out and the tie went to a penalty shoot-out.
Score after 90 minutes: Brentford St Georges 1 Spelthorne Sports 1
Spelthorne Spartans went first in the shoot-out. Nathan Williams’ low shot crashed against the upright to the goalkeepers’ right and travelled across the goal to finish in the net, just behind the opposite upright. Finley Purtill then dived to his right to save Jeele Modinho’s kick and give his side the advantage.
The second pair of kickers, Lee Marsh and Billy Hall (with a retake after the keeper had saved his first effort) both scored.
The third pair, Jake Bazely and Rayed Adam, were also both successful.
Dunnell King netted Spartans’ 4th kick but Finley saved from Samin Kharas, to win the tie for his side.
Penalty shoot-out score: Spelthorne Sports 4 Brentford St Georges 2
TEAM SQUADS (Rolling substitutes were used)
Brentford St Georges: Joe Louis Nurden, Ahmed Isman, Joshua Osborne (capt), Rayed Adam, Justin B’Tuin, Jeele Modinho, Dominick Magloire, Billy Hall, Khan Osborne, Josh Maynard, Scott Osborne, Ryan Espirit, Aaron Espirit, Thierry St John, Larrone Magloire and Samin Kharas.
Spelthorne Spartans: Finley Purtill, Stuart Rossow, Harry Maycock (capt), Dylan Parr, Jake Bazely, Asimika Berete, Dunnell King, Adam Ellis, Jordan Harts, Georgie Birch and Charlie Buchmann, Nathan Williams, Lee Marsh, Hasan Akar, Eric Windows and Connor Parr.
Referee: Lewis Rescorla, who controlled the match admirably
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