| Gadeside Rangers were left to rue a host of missed chances after conceeding two poor goals as their county cup campaign came to a disappointing end against Hitchin Premier Division side AEK Letchworth. Toby Zhou's late goal was not enough for Gadeside who will feel bitterlty disappointed after creating enough chances to have won the game handsomely. |
| Gadeside started the game brightly and took the game to their visitors with some football of the highest order. Jay Evans and Ivanz Mani provided a great outlet down the wings and seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken. Both Matt and Jay Evans should have done better with identical far post headers while Dan Campbell saw his lobbed effort come back off the crossbar. Another marauding run forward by Jay Evans saw his low cross across the face of goal agonisingly missed by the onrushing Adam Hills - reminiscent of Paul Gascoigne's effort against Germany in '96. |
| But the game turned on a moment of madness by Gadeside keeper Sam Green who pulled away from a cross-shot to give the visitors a lead they didn't deserve. The goal seemed to deflate Gadeside as they lost the rhythm they had and the visitors began to get on top. Green made amends for his mistake with a classy full length stop before Letchworth thought they had a second when Danny Everritt cleared off the line although the ball had already crossed. But a second did come on 39 minutes when a static Gadeside defence appealed for offside and a Letchworth striker rounded Green to fire home. Dan Campbell should have reduced the defecit right on half-time when he was played clean through but his scuffed drive was wide of the post. |
| The second half began in a scrappy fashion as the visitors thwarted half-hearted attempts from Gadeside while looking dangerous on the break. However, as the half wore on - Gadeside's pressure began to tell and they started to create chances once again. Ivanz Mani saw his corner come back off the post to Ben Higginson who smashed high and wide from 8 yards while Tom Shurville saw a ferocious drive blocked. With the game moving into the final minutes Gadeside's pressure was relentless as they pushed AEK further back. Ben Higginson saw a rasping volley instinctively saved by the visiting keeper before Ivanz Mani's cross was headed home by Toby Zhou. |
| Gadeside through the kitchen sink forward in the final minutes; Dan Campbell saw a 20 yard volley dip just over the bar but crucial chance came with almost the final kick when Jay Evans cross saw Ivanz Mani's shot blocked with the ball rebounding to Toby Zhou was from 6 yards miscontrolled the ball and allowed the keeper to smother. It was a disappointing end to a game which Gadeside should have wrapped up earlier. |
| Sam Green, Danny Everritt, Ian Freeman (Toby Zhou), Matt Evans, Tom Oliver, Daniel Brooks (Ben Higginson), Ivanz Mani, Tom Shurville, Adam Hills, Dan Campbell, Jay Evans |