County Cup penalty shoot out heartbreak for Saints
Tue 2nd April 2019 | County Cup Competitions | By Ian Templeman
St Martins came desperately close to clinching a place in the T J Vickers Shropshire County Cup final, but lost out in a sudden death penalty shoot out to AFC Bridgnorth.
In a cracking cup tie at the Shrewsbury Sports Village, the Saints raced into a two goal lead through goals from Jordan Davies and Karl Bailey, but Bridgnorth came from behind to lead 3-2.
Jay Stoker's penalty then levelled for Saints to bring the score back to 3-3 and took the game into extra time, but they had to play the added 30 minutes without goalkeeper George Ashton, who was injured in a clash at the end of 90 minutes.
Centre forward Tom Ash took over in goal, but with no further scoring the game had to be decided on penalties, and it was the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division side who progressed, winning the shoot out 8-7.
St Martins General Manager Craig Rogers said:
"We started the game well, were on the front foot and the better side. But as soon as they scored shortly before half time, it drained the confidence out of us a bit.
"They got a couple of penalties and it went to 3-2, and then when we did well to get back to 3-3 we lost our goalkeeper.
"To be fair our centre forward Tom Ash did really well in goal during extra time. We probably should be in the final, but we're not.
"Their goalkeeper was quite impressive tonight, we just didn't get the breaks we needed and that's football.
"But it's been great to get this far, it's all good progress for us as we adjust to playing at this level".
It was an evening that started promisingly for the Saints, and they took the lead on 25 minutes when Jordan Davies pounced on a mistake in the Bridgnorth defence to open the scoring with a cool finish.
It got even better six minutes later when Karl Bailey doubled Saints advantage after good lead up play by Tawanda Melusi, but Bridgnorth got a foothold back in the game when Jason Pike pulled a goal back nine minutes before half time.
The game then swung in Bridgnorth's favour midway through the second half when Pike completed his hat trick with two penalties in the space of four minutes to put his side 3-2 ahead.
But Saints weren't finished off yet, and Jay Stoker levelled eight minutes from time with another penalty to take the game into extra time.
Saints then suffered the misfortune of losing goalkeeper George Ashton in a clash right at the end of normal time, and striker Tom Ash donned the goalkeeper's gloves during extra time.
But despite Ash keeping a clean sheet, with no further scoring it had to be penalties that decided the outcome, and it was Bridgnorth who emerged victorious after the shoot went to sudden death.
County Cup penalty shoot out heartbreak for Saints
Tue 2nd April 2019 | County Cup Competitions
By Ian Templeman
St Martins came desperately close to clinching a place in the T J Vickers Shropshire County Cup final, but lost out in a sudden death penalty shoot out to AFC Bridgnorth.
In a cracking cup tie at the Shrewsbury Sports Village, the Saints raced into a two goal lead through goals from Jordan Davies and Karl Bailey, but Bridgnorth came from behind to lead 3-2.
Jay Stoker's penalty then levelled for Saints to bring the score back to 3-3 and took the game into extra time, but they had to play the added 30 minutes without goalkeeper George Ashton, who was injured in a clash at the end of 90 minutes.
Centre forward Tom Ash took over in goal, but with no further scoring the game had to be decided on penalties, and it was the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division side who progressed, winning the shoot out 8-7.
St Martins General Manager Craig Rogers said:
"We started the game well, were on the front foot and the better side. But as soon as they scored shortly before half time, it drained the confidence out of us a bit.
"They got a couple of penalties and it went to 3-2, and then when we did well to get back to 3-3 we lost our goalkeeper.
"To be fair our centre forward Tom Ash did really well in goal during extra time. We probably should be in the final, but we're not.
"Their goalkeeper was quite impressive tonight, we just didn't get the breaks we needed and that's football.
"But it's been great to get this far, it's all good progress for us as we adjust to playing at this level".
It was an evening that started promisingly for the Saints, and they took the lead on 25 minutes when Jordan Davies pounced on a mistake in the Bridgnorth defence to open the scoring with a cool finish.
It got even better six minutes later when Karl Bailey doubled Saints advantage after good lead up play by Tawanda Melusi, but Bridgnorth got a foothold back in the game when Jason Pike pulled a goal back nine minutes before half time.
The game then swung in Bridgnorth's favour midway through the second half when Pike completed his hat trick with two penalties in the space of four minutes to put his side 3-2 ahead.
But Saints weren't finished off yet, and Jay Stoker levelled eight minutes from time with another penalty to take the game into extra time.
Saints then suffered the misfortune of losing goalkeeper George Ashton in a clash right at the end of normal time, and striker Tom Ash donned the goalkeeper's gloves during extra time.
But despite Ash keeping a clean sheet, with no further scoring it had to be penalties that decided the outcome, and it was Bridgnorth who emerged victorious after the shoot went to sudden death.
