Do not be mislead by the final score. This was an uncomfortable match for the Shots, played on a “postage stamp” pitch against very determined opposition.
It was Sherborne who started the brighter, testing goalkeeper, Nathan Woolley, with a series of long-range attempts on goal.
Although never truly adapting to the match conditions, it was the Reds who took the lead midway through the first half when Ben House was upended in the box by a last ditch tackle.
Ben himself, took the resultant penalty which he calmly stroked home at the second attempt (his first being disallowed for “encroachment in the D” by several, overly keen, Shots players).
The Shots poor play continued for the remainder of the half and they were relieved to get to half-time with a 1-0 lead.
There was little discernible improvement in the second-half with the Reds continuing to make bad decisions, pass poorly and be wasteful in front of goal.
In the end, it was Ben (again) who showed the forwards how it should be done with a clinical finish from an Alex Telfer cross.
2-0 and surely no way back for Sherborne. Wrong.
Penalty converted / lead halved.
Sherborne then equalised with about 10 minutes to go after a fantastic turn and finish by their ever dangerous right winger. 2-2.
The Reds never looked in danger of conceding again (but they hadn’t before either!) and still looked the more likely team to win it in normal time… but it was, nonetheless, a very nervy final few minutes before the ref blew for time and a purple-faced Russ Woolley delivered what can only be described as a Churchillian address!
It really was a different, fired-up, Shots who took to the field for extra time – and proceeded to give the kind of performance that’s expected from them.
2 brilliant “chipped” goals from Tom Collman (one with his left, one with his right) and an own goal – the ball cannoning-in off a hapless defender after Ben had struck the post – saw the Reds 5-2 up at the end of the first period of extra time - and this time there was to be no way back for Sherborne.
Ben completed his hat-trick, turning the ball home past an unlucky goalkeeper who’d done exceptionally well to parry a goalbound header from Reece and then Alex (head-down and ignoring all shouts of “early ball”) with the ball glued to his foot, ran from box-to-box before finishing with aplomb for the goal of the game. Full time 7-2.
Speaking after the game Russ said : “Credit where credit’s due though – they were brilliant in extra-time……particularly their attitude. Special mention to our 2 centre backs, Reece & George Marchant, who didn’t put a foot wrong all game – and to Ben too – for his much needed hat-trick !!”