Lingers Take 10 Man Eversley to Penalties

The game started with neither side maintaining the ball with both teams hitting on counter attacks it was after 15 mins when a skewed cross from Eversley went through the hands of the Lingfield goal keeper leaving the centre forward tap it into an empty net.
The game continued with Lingfield pressing but failing to make the last ball count and Eversley continuing to counter attack.

Lingfield 0-1 Eversley & California HT

Lingfield starting scrappy and could not get a foot hold in the second half. 2 minutes into the second half and Eversley attacked down the right hand side and a cross which was rebounded to the edge of the box was attacked by the oncoming midfielder and was guided into the left corner of the goal. 2-0 Eversley & California. A few minutes later another handling error from the Lingfield keeper fell nicely for the oncoming attacker and stroked up for 3-0.

Lingfield continue to fight back even though going down to 10 men with lots of injuries hitting the side in the beginning the second half. On 60 minutes, Sam Bell attacked the right side of the box, crossed the all to the back post and Nathan Hull was there to tap home, 3-1. The fight back starts. 10 minutes later a long ball forward was knocked on by Sam Bell leaving Brett Caiger to run on and tapping it past the keeper and being brought down. Penalty to Lingfield. Sam bell stroked it home. 3-2.
In the first minute of added time TJ Stead ran down the right side and put out a cross which was deflected by two Eversley & California defenders and beating the keeper giving The Lingers some hope at 3-3
A few moments later a bad challenge from the Eversley player caused a riot between players which lead to the Ref finding his Cards and pulling out a single Red resulting in an Eversley player being sent off for a reckless tackle.

FT 3-3
The Ref advised both sets of players and managers that the night would be sealed by Penalties! sets of Managers grouped their players and decided who would step up and face the Keeper in the Penalty shoot out.

David Heaton first. Scored. 1-0
Eversley scored. 1-1
Sam Bell scored. 2-1
Eversley scored 2-2
Marc McEvilly scored. 3-2
Eversley missed. 3-2
Matthew Gates scored. 4-2
Eversley scored 4-3
Nathan Hull missed. 4-3
Eversley scored. 4-4
Brett Caiger scored. 5-4
Eversley scored. 5-5
Matt Burroughs missed. 5-5
Eversley missed. 5-5
TJ Stead scored. 6-5
Eversley scored 6-6
Alex Harizanov scored 7-6
Eversley scored 7-7
Callum Goldsmith Lingfield keeper missed. 7-7
Eversley keeper scored 8-7

Eversley wins 8-7 on penalties and goes through to the next round.

The Lingers are disappointed to leave the Cup at a pivotal time however we know that we need 3 points on Saturday when they travel to Steyning Town to keep our promotion alive.

MOM TJ Stead
By Marc McEvilly