Little George cause big upset (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Little George cause big upset

5:51pm Tuesday 20th February 2007 in Football By Gazette Sport Reporter

THE quarter finals of the Westernsport Trophies-sponsored WG Parr Trophy produced one major upset as Division Four high-flyers Little George defeated Division Two pace setters British Lion OC 4-2 on a muddy Leafy Lane pitch.

The match lived up to its pre-match hype and was a cup classic, as Little George proved that they are a team who look to be going places this season.

They did not panic, even when The Lion got off to the best start possible when within 90 seconds, Mark Hulland was tripped in the Little George penalty area and Mikey O'Donnell sent goalkeeper Dave Sett the wrong way from the spot to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Rob Drown burst through the George defence after six minutes but his 20-yard drive dipped over the bar.

From then on most of the first half became a cagey affair with neither side able to carve open an opportunity. However, the influential Luke Barrett was starting to make things tick in the George midfield and after 32 minutes he created a half chance for the so far quiet Nat Auckland, but perhaps with too much time to pick his spot he was thwarted by Mark Sinclair in the Lion goal.

At the other end, Hulland, who was by far the Lion's most prominent player, went on another of his surging runs and his deft pass left Andrew Webster with a half chance, but big striker's shot from 20 yards drifted wide.

Lion's Dave Crawford had so far kept Ben Husband fairly quiet but just before the break the big striker turned his marker but shot at Sinclair. With seconds left before the half time break, Webster flicked on Sinclair's clearance and gave Tom Evans a run, but the striker's shot was straight at Sett.

Little George equalised immediately after the restart. A Lion attack broke down and with frightening efficiency a slick five-man counter attack ended up with Ben Husband clipping home from eight yards.

Within eight minutes the Lion regained the lead. O'Donnell curled in a corner and the unmarked Webster headed home from six yards.

On the hour, Auckland's corner was well met by Will Halliwell and his header crashed off the Lion crossbar and over.

Little George made it 2-2 with 20 minutes left. Halliwell's cross was met by Steve Healy and although Sinclair got his fingertips to the ball he could not prevent the ball from going in. Within three minutes, the Lion nearly regained the lead as Luke Enderby set up Nathan West but his shot was comfortably saved by Sett.

The crucial third goal came after 75 minutes. O'Donnell, who had so far had a faultless performance, left his back header short of Sinclair and Auckland nipped in to volley home.

The game now opened up as the Lion threw players at a stubborn Little George defence and the home side threatened on the counter. With 12 minutes to go, Duncan Biggin's 30 yard shot dipped and bounced off Sett's crossbar and West then fired over from the edge of the box after being set up by Webster.

Going into the dying minutes, Enderby's cross was about to be turned home by Webster until a desperate last ditch tackle from skipper Oli Selman saved the day. When West then missed his kick when presented with a glorious chance in injury time, the Lion sensed it was not going to their day. This was confirmed with seconds left on the watch when Little George broke quickly and Ben Husband tapped home to make it 4-2.

Division One sides Atworth United and Kingfisher produced 120 minutes of typical cup-tie football which ended with the visitors snatching victory three minutes from the end of extra-time, which was tough on the home side.

Kingfisher started strongly, with Paul Maddox pulling the strings and Marcus Young prominent up front, but they were kept at bay by some quality defending from centre backs Lawrence Brill and Ricky Sullivan and the safe hands of goalkeeper Joe Menghini.

Atworth nearly took the lead against the run of play when a fine passing move involving 17-year-old midfield general Ian Jeffery and fellow Lackham College student Joe Murray resulted in the not so young Stuart Holland hitting the foot of the post.

Atworth's policy of blooding the youngsters meant new signing 18-year-old Sean Fordham was given his debut and he showed some nice touches but was booked for an over zealous challenge and his match was over after 25 minutes through injury.

The home side went close again after the break when Brian Wiltshire had two efforts well saved by Kingfisher's Mark Bolton and Jeffery's 25 yard screamer just missed with the goalkeeper beaten. Both teams tired in extra-time and the game seemed to be drifting towards the dreaded penalty shoot-out when Kingfisher's Steve Carwithen headed home Ryan Nicholls' quality cross at the far post to take Kingfisher, who have already booked a place in the final four of the knockout cup, into their second semi-final of the season.

Pig and Whistle United defeated their Melksham counterparts AFC Pilot to reserve their spot in the draw for the semi-finals.

Their 3-1 victory owed much to the heroics of goalkeeper Jason Grubb who was playing his last game for the side before he returns to America.

Pig and Whistle took the lead when Richard King inadvertently put through his own net, but Pilot hit back thanks to Mark James' smart finish after 15 minutes.

Pig and Whistle continued to hit Pilot on the break, with long balls over the top to Nathan Mantle and Leigh Stevenson, and regained the lead as the first half came to a close, with Stuart Avery scoring.

In the second half Pilot had numerous chances to score through Chris Bishop, Greg Wilmot and Mark James, but with goalkeeper Grubb in inspired form there was no way through.

Pig and Whistle made the game safe at the death when Kai Miller rifled home a stunning long range strike.

The game was played with a good spirit by both team and referee Pete Cox had a good game in the middle.

Joint First Division leaders North Bradley lost out to their Division One stable-mates FC Colerne who won the battle of the former winners with a comprehensive 7-1 hammering.

Gordon Allen scored from the penalty spot to put Colerne one up, Jason Smith's brilliant free kick made it 2-0 and when Allen scored another penalty the game was as good as over.

Jamie Bowler and Jake Jefferies added further goals in the second half before Bradley pulled one back when Craig Brown scored from the penalty spot after an incident which led to Colerne goalkeeper Guy Chambers being sent off.

A goal each from Brain Doyle and Ross Hall took the total to seven which gave Colerne an easier than expected victory.