| Gadeside Rangers took another step closer to retaining the Challenge Cup after coming from behind to defeat rivals Colne Valley in a hard-fought match at Westfield. Tom Mitchell continued his fine goalscoring run with another brace while Tom Shurville and Russ Popplewell also found the net. |
| Ed Shurville made a welcome return in the heart of the defence while Ian Freeman and Daniel Brooks also came back into the starting XI. The visitors barely got out of their own half in the opening stages as Gadeside pinned them back without really creating any clear cut chances. Russ Popplewell's touch let him down when he would have been through on goal while Dan Campbell saw a stinging drive superbly tipped round the post. But for all their dominance and possession Gadeside couldn't find the goal they needed and it was Valley who twice came closest to opening the scoring. First Laurence Anscomb saw a low drive from the edge of the box hit the inside of the post and then Tom Oliver had to be alert to save at the feet of Gary Mumford. |
| The second half started much the same as the first had ended with both sides scrapping for everything but without much quality. However the deadlock was broken on 52 minutes with a goal of out the highest order. The ball dropped nicely for Valley's Anscomb and from 25 yards he smashed the ball into the top right hand corner of the net leaving Tom Oliver with no chance. Conceeding the goal was probably the best thing that could have happened to Gadeside as it stung them into life. Adam Hills was quick turn to his subs and the introduction of Jason Brownhill and Tariq Khan reaped almost immediate rewards. Brownhill turned provider as his deep cross from the left hand side was superbly headed back across goal and into the top corner by Tom Mitchell. Gadeside were now dominant again and looked far more balanced with Popplewell and Khan on the wings. |
| Valley's stand in keeper then twice came to the rescue with two outstanding saves. First a powerful run by Popplewell on the left saw the ball cut back to Tariq Khan whose snapshot was superbly pushed away and then Jay Evans was certain he had scored when he smashed the ball goalwards from 8 yards. How much the keeper knew about it remains to be seen but he got enough on the ball to somehow deflect it over for a corner. Gadeside did finally take the lead on 79 minutes when it was Popplewell again who was involved and his low cross found Tom Shurville who expertly steered the ball home with his weaker left foot. With Valley clearly deflated after losing the lead and pushing men forward, Gadeside were able to exploit the gaps in the Valley defence and scored two further goals in the final minutes. |
| Good work by Dan Campbell saw his free the ball to Russ Popplewell and he fired home first time from the edge of the box to finally settle the tie. And whilst Valley's goal was undoubtedly the goal of the game, Gadeside's final goal wasn't far behind as powerful runs by first Ed Shurville and then by Dan Campbell saw Gadeside counter attack and Campbell crossed for Tom Mitchell to acrobatically volley home at the far post. In the end Gadeside's dominance told but they had been made to work hard for the victory and a place in the semi-finals. The draw is made at the league meeting on Monday where they will face either third division Riverside Athletic or any of division one sides Colne Valley Blues, Leavesden Green, The Vic or Croxley RBL. |
| Tom Oliver, Ian Freeman (Jason Brownhill), Danny Everritt, Ed Shurville, Matt Evans, Tom Shurville, Russ Popplewell, Daniel Brooks (Tariq Khan), Dan Campbell, Tom Mitchell, Jay Evans |