F.A. Vase
Second Round Qualifying
Littlehampton Town 1 Hillingdon Borough 1
Saturday, 01 October 2005
After the exhilarating game against Oxford, this fixture brought everyone down to earth with both teams producing performances that were well below par.
The home team started much the brighter and moved the ball to the flanks at every given opportunity. Hillingdon's players seemed to be content in the opening encounters to be second best at everything. In goal for Boro, Ben Harris made an early claim for the 'Man of the Match' award with several good saves whilst his team mates took their time to get to grips with the task at hand.
As the game progressed, Boro finally woke up and started to play football that we know they are capable of. Unfortunately, the final ball seemed to always go astray or the wrong pass option was taken, and Hillingdon ended up relying on a ball over the top to the front men.
The second half faired no better for either team as still no-one took a grip on the game. Littlehampton broke the deadlock in the 52nd minutes, when a ball was clipped in to the back post, for Town striker Steve DAVIS ; he was allowed far too much time and headed home unchallenged.
Thankfully this goal galvanised Hillingdon somewhat, and within 120 seconds they scored their equalising goal: A long throw from Joe Lyons caused panic and confusion in the penalty area, Danny TILBURY kept his wits and shot Boro back into the fixture.
Hillingdon were really now starting to play with much more purpose than their opponents. Unfortunately, as much as Boro tried, they could not score the second that would have surely won them the game. With the seconds ticking by, it was Littlehampton who almost won this Qualifying round, but the cross-bar saved Boro's blushes.
Extra time had Boro looking as the team most likely to win. Unfortunately, despite all the substitutions being made, Hillingdon could not find a way to score a second. Perhaps the best chance came by way of a strong penalty appeal for a handball ? but the referee Mr. Collins waived the Boro players away.
The replay is on Tuesday 4th October and if Boro wish to continue in this competition then the 'right' Boro must emerge from the dressing room and play from the off.
Boro Team; Ben HARRIS, Adrian O'GRADY, Nick RUNDELL [Paul JOHNSON], Matt KIDSON, Joe LYONS Joe SPARROWHAWK [Tom LEWIS[, Daryl CRAFT, [Alec GEDIKING], James DUNCAN, Danny TILBURY, Blaise O'BRIEN, Ryan WHARTON
Goal-scorers Boro; Tilbury 54rd
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