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Tuesday 5th February 2013 (7:45pm) – Middlesex Senior Cup Quarter-Final (tie 13)
STAINES TOWN (1) 2 HAREFIELD UNITED (2) 2 – Staines won 7-6 on penalties
Staines progressed to a county cup Semi-Final against Hayes & Yeading United by virtue of this nail biting home tie with Spartan South Midlands Leaguers Harefield, played on a cold night buffeted by a showery wind, with Staines attacking the Silver’s Farm end in the first half. Marcus Gayle was eager to maintain Saturday’s momentum, making just two changes to his starting side, as Wheeler and Ifil were given the chance to rest mild injuries, to be replaced by Garrod and Sotonwa, a debutant defender who has impressed in recent Academy and Reserve fixtures.
To begin with, Staines looked set to make the gulf of 4 levels difference in league standings tell, with a series of promising attacks, notably through Garrod, which culminated in Troy Ferguson bagging his first goal for the Club from 8 yards after only 10 minutes. But by half time they found themselves 2-1 in arrears, thanks to two breathtaking shots by the visitors, in what were really the only occasions that Turner’s goal was threatened. The equaliser came on 17 minutes and was caught perfectly by Daniel Fleming after the ball was laid back to him some 35 yards out. Eight minutes later, Ben Porter was also well outside the 18 yard box when he gave The Hares a shock lead.
But not to be outdone, Louis-Rae Beadle’s 52 minutes strike that levelled it up at 2-2 was almost as good, coming after Lodge had carved open the half-chance for him. Staines were now back in command, and efforts by Ferguson, Marsh, and Garrod all threatened to put them back in front. However, they lost March in the 67th minute to what they will hope proves no more than a minor knock, ‘keeper Millar having charged out to deny Garrod a decent chance in a move that ended with both Staines strikers needing treatment. Garrod did find the net in the 83nd min but was flagged fractionally offside following a good move involving Sotonwa and lodge, but the tide seemed to have turned back in Harefield’s favour in the closing minutes, with both Fleming and the veteran Tilbury pumping dangerous free-kicks just over the bar. Lodge, who had picked up what seemed a harsh booking in the 82nd minute, was left reeling in disbelief when Harefield referee carded him for a second time in stoppage time for what seemed a 50/50 tackle with Howell, who returned to perfect health the moment the red card was aired.
Before kick-off, the two managers had elected to take advantage of a new County Cup rule allowing ties to go straight to penalties without the need for extra time, and there followed 13 spot kicks of the highest quality. Perfect strikes by Lewis Ferrell, Tony Garrod (the only one to which either ‘keeper got even a touch), Jack Mills, Max Worsfold, Louis-Rae Beadle, and plucky Qaseem Sotonwa, were answered by Ben Porter, Gary James, Paolo Cicero, Alden Trenholme, Joe Hatcher, and Dave Tilbury. But the second round of sudden death saw sub Will Bor continue Staines’ successful run, before Mark Weedon stepped up and crashed his shot against the underside of the bar. The small crowd held its breath for an instant to see whether the linesman would rule it in or not, but Weedon answer the question for them by punching the ball away in frustration, and Staines could celebrate a narrow victory.
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