Who
would join GHSFC in the Plate Final? The two
teams set to do battle were AFC Basemen and
Gosham Rangers.
Both
teams were bidding to reach a first eurofootballfives.com
final and to then go on and collect some silverware
for their flight back home. It was AFC Basemen
who made the initial breakthrough thanks to
an Anthony Lenihan strike. In the second half,
Mark Sanders earned himself a place on the top
scorer's leaderboard with his fourth of the
tournament. More importantly, it earned his
team a draw and a shot at the Plate Final via
a penalty shoot-out.
Momentum
continued with Gosham Rangers as goalkeeper
Luke Attrill saved the opening penalty from
AFC Basemen. Michael Burton then put Gosham
1-0 up. When Luke Attrill stuck out a trailing
leg to save Jack Utting's penalty it looked
like that place in the final was going to Gosham.
They had two bites at the proverbial cherry
to score. Mike Smith placed his penalty agonizingly
wide of the top right corner and AFC Basemen
had a lifeline.
There
was still a lot to do for AFC Basemen but Michal
Woyton kept their hopes alive as he made it
1-1. Mark Sanders stepped up to win it for Gosham
Rangers but he saw his penalty hit the post
and rebound clear. We were into sudden death!
Anthony
Lenihan went high to the left to make it 2-1
in the shoot-out. Chris Baker then levelled
it up instantly for 2-2. Robbie Heywood would
have had his heart in his mouth as his strike
hit Luke Attrill but had enough power to rebound
into the roof of the net off the ‘keeper. Luke
Attrill was then charged with taking penalties
rather than saving them but he saw his opposite
number Patrick Gildersleve get down and push
the ball away to safety. A fine save and AFC
Basemen were through!
It
was a tough exit of Gosham Rangers and particularly
tough on Luke Attrill who had made two good
saves in the shoot-out.
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