Gritty Greens Make County Cup Progress

The Greens were given another stern test by the United Counties League Division One Arrows and were thankful to Tom Siddons 94th minute wondergoal to prevent the lottery of penalties on a cold night in south-west Lincolnshire.

Player/Manager Tom Ward made the bold statement of going unchanged from the Greens heavy 7-0 defeat against Lincoln United at the weekend in an attempt to force a reaction, though Ward was left particularly short on the bench, with only three of the five substitutes named actually available to play. Hosts Harrowby meanwhile made a massive seven changes from the side that fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Holwell Sports at the weekend with Kemal Yeniberitz, Jon Smith, Luke Peberdy, Lewis Marsh, Tom Harris, Jack Gurney and Brad Gothard dropping out the side. Those changes saw Mathias Amponsem, Max Baker, Brima Daramy, Ewan Armstrong, Jack Arbon, Harrison Dee and Richard Kankam all come in to the starting eleven.

The Greens started well at the JRL Brickwork Stadium and generated a first opportunity inside the 1st minute when Tom Siddons controlled well with his chest but could only blast well over the crossbar after slipping on contact with the ball. Just two minutes later and Jake Frestle was called into action for the first time when Charlie Ward’s drive from distance required his intervention before Jacob Fenton did well to cut inside his man and tee-up Siddons who stabbed an effort wide of the post.

With that start though, Harrowby began to work their way into the contest and were unlucky not to take the lead when Tom Ward hooked Harry Allcock’s header off the line after 20 minutes – the games clearest opportunity so far. At the other end, Frestle was in action again, tipping Jacob Fenton’s venomous effort over the crossbar from close range before, from the resulting corner, Fenton was involved again, dragging another effort wide of Frestle’s far post.

The hosts then created another golden opportunity to grab the lead when Brima Daramy somehow blazed over the crossbar from practically on the goal line after he’d been set up by Harry Allcock’s cross. Back at the other end, and the Greens still had time to squeeze in a couple of half-chances ahead of the break, Charlie Ward dragging wide from distance before Tom Siddons did similar after turning Jack Arbon on the edge of the box.

A quiet opening to the second period was emphatically ended when the Greens took the lead just beyond the hour mark when a well-worked freekick saw Charlie Ward head back across for Kyle Watkins to nod home from close range. That lead was quickly overturned though when a nasty coming together between Tom Harris and Tom Ward saw the hosts awarded a penalty which was coolly dispatched by Lord Marfo to haul the Arrows level.

Both sides continued to push on and Siddons was unlucky to drag just wide after he’d skilfully bought down Charlie Ward’s cross before, at the other end, Liam Flitton produced a stunning hand to tip aside Max Baker’s header as the hosts came close to stealing victory. That save was then bought into sharp focus when, just a minute later, Ryan Flitton calmly picked out Tom Siddons who set the ball out and curled a wonderful effort into the top right hand corner of the net as the Greens booked their place in the quarter-finals.

The Greens now complete the second part of their cup double-header this week when they visit Worcester City in FA Vase 1st Round action. Kick-off at Claines Lane is set for 3PM.
Words: Oliver Atkin