Hucknall Sports U16's 1 Attenborough Colts 1

(Sports win 3-2 on penalties)

Saturday 1st May 2004

On a day in which drama was rife through football, with relegations and promotions secured in the professional leagues, it would have been hard to find a more exciting venue than Wigwam Playing Fields today.

This President's Cup Quarter Final had its fair share of everything - goals, fraying tempers, questionable tactical decisions and saved penalties, not to mention pushing, shoving, and, in parts, some attractive football.

Both sides were fairly even when the game commenced, and for the first ten or so minutes neither side really created any clear cut chances. Sports though began to assert a little more control on the game after this, with Attenborough clearly shaken by the physical approach of the home side. Sports looked especially dangerous down the left hand side, with Cheeseman and White both showing some good touches.

Sports received another huge boost as half time drew close, with one of the 'Borough players limping off injured. As  the visitors only had 11 players they were effectively  were down to 10 for the rest of the game. Sports had a glorious chance to sneak ahead nigh on the break. After neat link up play from Dhiri and Cheeseman, Waldron found himself in the box, beat his man, but sadly his cross was far too powerful for the encroaching Cheeseman.

After the turn around it was really more of the same and extra time resulted. Sports were positive and dominating, with Moore and Dhiri both going close during the opening stages of the additional time, during which Sports perhaps played their best football of the afternoon. However, it was the  visitors who pinched the lead when they finally defeated the Sports offside trap, which had worked admirably throughout the game.

One could have forgiven Sports for folding and crumbling, but showing remarkable resolve and fortitude they roared back and no-one could begrudge them the equaliser a great Cheeseman strike gave them. With time running out, Sports keeper Raynor brought down an attacker in the box, and a penalty to the visitors was awarded  but he dived low to save it. 

Penalties it was then, and with the usual penalty taker not on the pitch, Captain Anderson asked for five volunteers. The first brave lad was Luke Del Rosso, but sadly his bravery wasn't matched by his penalty, which was saved at a comfortable height.

Attenborough buried their first penalty. Next up was Cheeseman, and most people were confident he would slot home. He didn't though as it was an almost identical save to Del Rosso's penalty.

Attenborough buried their second penalty and things were  looking grim for Sports. This maybe in a sense  helped lift the pressure from Hallam as he stepped up to take the third, with defeat staring Sports slap bang in the face. He restored a glimmer of hope though with a thunderous drive.

Attenborough hit their third penalty straight into the arms of Raynor and all of a sudden Sports were right back in it when Olly Moore produced the best penalty so far, lacing the ball into the top corner.

Attenborough blasted their fourth penalty into the crossbar and with the pressure really mounting on Collins,Sport's last penalty taker, he stepped up to take the most difficult spot-kick so far. He used all of the goal, as the ball sliced off the underside of the crossbar and in.

And so the game hinged on a repeat of the confrontation at the end of extra-time. Sports keeper Raynor against Attenboroughs  number 6. The Attenborough player must be given credit for having the bottle to take such a pressurized penalty. History repeated itself however, and Raynor saved well to send Sports into the Semi-Final.