Austen were lucky to progress through to the next round of the cup by beating a spirited Knebworth side who came from behind three times only to lose out by a sudden death penalty.

Austen started with Billy in goal, Sean-John-Jordon-Josh A, Matthew-Josh MS-Tom C- Lewis, Ladi-Callum.

Austen started brightly and instantly put Knebworth under pressure forcing an early corner and blocked shots from Matthew and Tom C. The early pressure paid off when a square ball from Callum on the left wing found Matthew open for a simple tap-in; 1-0. Austen should have added another a minute later when Tom C played a ball through to Ladi but the ball got away from him and he could only manage an air shot. Knebworth pulled themselves level on twelve minutes when Austen failed to clear the ball from both midfield and then defence; a speculative ball somehow finding its way across the Austen box to a waiting Knebworth player on the right post and the ball trickled over the line from a weak shot. Up to this point Austen had been dominant and played most of the game in the Knebworth half. Knebworth upped their game after their goal, mostly attacking down the right channel but Josh Andrews was having a good game keeping them at bay with Jordon tidying up any loose balls that got through. Ladi, who was not having a good game, wasted another chance just before the break. Some good passing between Josh MS, Callum and Matthew led to Matthew laying the ball off to Josh whose shot was deflected and fell to Ladi waiting at the left post; any touch on the ball would have diverted the ball into the net.

Ken Marshall changed things around in the second half with a below par Ladi coming off and Tom Wheeler slotting in central midfield and Josh moving into Ladi’s position up front. Tom Courtney led the attack with some long range efforts that went over the bar but it was Matthew who got Austen’s nose in front once more. A deflected Austen shot fell to Matthew, just inside the right of the box, and his drilled low shot found the back of the net despite a desperate lunge from a Knebworth defender, who could only help the ball over the line.2-1.
Billy saved well with his feet after some good play by Knebworth down the right wing saw confusion in the Austen box and Austen were lucky that the rebound did not find the back of the net. Knebworth were enjoying their best spell of the game so far, putting Austen under intense pressure but, somewhat cruelly, Callum latched onto an error by a Knebworth defender and slotted home Austen’s third on forty-six minutes. 3-1. Knebworth were not beaten and upped their game. With fifty minutes gone they broke down the right wing finishing off with a superb long-range shot over Billy’s head and in off the left post. Austen’s line-up after the break was not working, with Josh MS and Tom W both struggling in unfamiliar roles, Josh was substituted on fifty-two minutes for Tom P. Austen were struggling to stop Knebworth’s attacks down the right wing and on fifty-five they drew level when a ball crossed from the right was blasted into the top right corner. With extra time looming the last five minutes were tense with both sides having opportunities to win it. First Knebworth won a free kick at the left edge of the box and the crowd thought they had scored but the ball hit the side netting. Then, with two minutes left, Tom W took the ball from the centre of the pitch and shot at goal but the Knebworth keeper blocked well. With the scores level at 3-3 at full-time the game went to extra time.

Extra-time was ten minutes each way with a penalty shoot-out if the scores were still level after this period.

Sean went off to make way for Josh who went into his familiar midfield role allowing Tom W to slot into his favoured right-back role. Austen were soon on the attack and a through ball from Tom P found Matthew up against a lone Knebworth defender but the defender pushed him wide and he was unable to shoot. A lofted ball towards the Knebworth goal saw the Knebworth keeper handle outside his box and Austen were awarded a free kick central on the edge of the box, but Tom C blasted it over the bar. Matthew grabbed his hat-trick when Tom C played a ball through to him and this time he beat the Knebworth defender and slotted home across the goal into the left corner. Wild celebrations followed with the Austen team bundling Matthew, Austen may have thought the game was won but Knebworth had other ideas. Austen went into the break 4-3 up and only ten minutes away from a win.

Ladi was brought on for Tom P and he was soon latching onto a through ball and forcing a corner at the start of the second period of extra time. Austen were hoping to catch an advancing Knebworth on the counter-attack with Ladi’s pace but, in hindsight, it might have been better to continue with the more defensive Tom P rather than the out of form Ladi. Knebworth weaved their way through the Austen defence but Tom W, back in his more familiar role, made an important clearance. Tom W had to rescue Austen again when Tom C lost the ball in midfield and a shambolic Austen defence allowed the ball through but, in clearing the ball, Tom W gave away a free kick for a high foot. Billy reacted late to the resultant Knebworth free-kick but dived onto the ball making it safe. Three minutes from the end Knebworth launched a rare attack down the left wing and a superb shot found the top right-hand corner of the Austen net. With two minutes to go, the score now at 4-4, and penalties looming, Josh MS made a powerful run from midfield but his powerful shot was well saved by the Knebworth keeper.

The Austen players stood with linked arms on the half-way line and their supporters looked on nervously as skipper Tom C bravely stepped up to take the first spot kick. Tom made no mistake with a perfect penalty low and in the bottom left-hand. Billy was the hero next as he dived to save Knebworth’s first kick that was struck straight down the middle. Callum scored next in the bottom right and Knebworth open their account low and to the left. Josh MS put Austen 3-1 up, netting left, and then Knebworth hit the crossbar. Jordan missed wide left and Lewis wide right and Knebworth scored their remaining two with shots straight down the centre to make it 3-3 and take it onto sudden death. Billy bravely stepped up to slot home in the bottom left and Knebworth levelled with help from the crossbar. Next up was Tom W who calmly lofted a shot into the right. The next Knebworth player scuffed his kick sending the ball wide left and Austen through to the next round of the cup.

Austen made hard work of this win and could have controlled the game better when they were 3-1 up. Austen can play better, and several players were not in the game today, but they were playing a team from the division above, so it was a good result.

Matthew had a great game today getting important goals and Josh Andrews worked well at left back protecting the Austen goal from sustained attack down the right channel. Billy made important saves both in the match and in the shoot-out. Tom Courtney was deservedly voted man of the match for his hard work in midfield, defending well and distributing the ball well to the forwards.

Well played to Knebworth who gave a spirited performance coming from behind three times and giving Austen an enjoyable game of football, with a little more luck they could have won it.

Get the game finished in normal time next time lads as its takes me ages to type all this up! (plus I don’t think the parents’ nerves can take it)