QUARTER-FINALS DON'T COME EASY

Another week another cup game, this one probably our toughest yet.

A strong 6th XI assembled ready for kick-off only to be informed that the opposition were a few bodies light, stuck in traffic apparently. Finally, after an extended warm-up the ref informed us that the opposition had 10 players and that he was happy for us to start the game.

For the first 15 minutes or so you would have been forgiven for thinking we were the side with 10 players, AP were dictating the tempo, passing and moving the ball with ease, probably quite entertaining to watch if you weren't actually playing against it, and then with about 20 minutes gone they got their reward when we conceded a silly free-kick on the edge of our box, up stepped their Captain to clear the wall with his kick and just far enough into the corner so that I couldn't get enough on it to keep it out, 1-0.

For the next few minutes we were really up against it, until that is the 11th player turned up, for some strange reason AP changed tactics and started trying to run the ball down the flanks which really played into our hands as we found it easier to contain them. Now we were starting to get ourselves into the game, attacking with width and numbers we were causing them problems. On 35 minutes, and from one of these attacks, the ball was played across their box where the centre back turned the ball behind. From the resulting corner, Marek swung the ball in and under the bar where their defender duly headed the ball into his own net, 1-1 and the game was now there to be won. It was us that scored next, Peter played an inch-perfect ball through the AP back four for Marek who ran through and smashed the ball past the keeper at his near post, 2-1 and barely enough time in the half left for AP to kick off again.

It was no surprise that after such a fast-paced first half the second would be the opposite, it started very slowly with neither side really creating anything of note, that is until Marek, 40 yards out, unleashed an absolute worldie that flew over the keeper and into the back of the net, 3-1 and a place in the last 8 was looking promising.

It was at this point that we started to relax a bit too much and AP started to up their game, they had 3 or 4 very good opportunities which we managed to rebuff, at least 1 was off the line, however they did finally break us down when their striker reacted quickest to a cross that we really should have dealt with, 3-2 and the nerves were creeping in.

A couple of minutes later and AP had the chance to equalise from the spot, Martin adjudged to have fouled their striker whilst they were both going up for a header, a strange decision that even the AP striker thought harsh, however it didn't stop him from stepping up to take the kick. I had a feeling he'd hit it to my left as this was where he'd hit all his previous shots, I wasn't wrong, I managed to get across and got a good hand on the ball, Bucky following in smashed the loose ball into row z to clear any potential danger, still 3-2. AP were down, and with 11 minutes left we started to raise it again, we had a couple more chances where we could, and probably should, have wrapped it up but we just couldn't extend our lead.

A really good team performance against tough opposition, everyone giving everything they had.

Back to league action this weekend for only the 3rd time this season, up against Dorking who we'll be hoping to beat in one of our five games in hand on Guildford, the league leaders, a must-win if we're to push for the double.