16 October 2004 - Teck Junior Cup
Darkside 4 v Outcasts 4 (Darkside win 3-0 penalties)
Team: Allan, Andy B, Andy R, Craig, Errol, Jim, John?, Mark H, MarkG, Neil?, Phill, Steve C, Tim
Goals: Dan, Errol, Neil?, John? / Assists: Tim 2, Dan, John? / MOTM: Errol / MM: Steve

Darkside 4-4 Outcasts AET (Darkside won 3-0 on penalties) An extremely wet afternoon saw Darkside compete in their 2nd consecutive cup game. A shortage of numbers, more unavailable than available, saw a debutant goalkeeper, Neil, and two newcomers on the bench John and Mark. An under-strength Outcasts played the entire match with 10 men, and it looked like it could be a goal fest, when in the first attack, DarksideÕs pre-match set piece training paid off, as Dan connected with TimÕs corner full on the volley to smash Darkside ahead.

The home side continued to press, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would double there lead, plenty of possession just missing the final ball, Craig and Tim both went close. But as the half drew to an end it was Outcasts who came closest, with goalkeeper Neil called into action to make a fine save and Phil clearing off the line to protect Darksides lead. Half time saw the first change of the afternoon Jim, struggling with a slight strain, took on goalkeeping duties, Errol reverted to right back, Steve to centre back and Neil to right wing.

Things took an unexpected turn for the worse early in the second half. First a mix up at the back between goalkeeper and defence saw Outcasts equalise and then a pinball like goal mouth scramble saw them lead. Darkside upped the tempo, and the strikes continued to rain in on the Darkside goal, Hunter struck a post with a long range strike, Dan put just wide and Andy saw his efforted turned onto the bar by the goalkeeper.

The boss was then forced into making his first subsubstution, one that was to prove match winning in the end, Jim limped off forcing Errol to become the 3rd Darkside keeper of the afternoon and Mark came on to fill the right back spot. As Darkside pressed, the goal they deserved arrived, Mark combined with Dan down the right, and following a jinking run, Dan forced the goalkeeper into a save he couldnÕt hold and sliding in were Errol and Neil, to fight between themselves over whoÕs goal it was!

The game was now there for the taking, but within minutes a stunning strike put Outcasts 3-2 ahead. Neil then made his final change, Hunter replaced by the 3rd debutant, John, who was to play right mid and Neil was thrust into attack.

The corner tally was mounting quicker than the goals Tim and Craig amassing double figures between them, and it was from another of these corners that John connected with his first ever touch to equalise for a 3rd time. Outkasts were holding on by the skin of their teeth and were the more relieved when the ref sent the game to extra time.

No sooner had this got under way and their big nosed No.9, impersonated a basketball player which the ref allowed him too do, before lobbing Errol to make it 4-3. As Darkside pressed for the goal they deserved, substitute John rounded the goalie before crossing for Neil to head into an unguarded net and make it 4-4. Both sides created further openings, but neither converted them and the game was to be decided on penalties.

Errol accepted the goalkeeping duties for the pens, and having requested those not wanting to take a pen (Steve the only one lacking faith in his own abilities!) The manager nominated his 5 and it was down to the nitty gritty. Andy Brady stepped up and cooly converted the first, Outcasts, didnÕt seem to of got their practice in, and Errol comfortably turned the first pen away. Tim then stepped up and slotted home penalty number two. Erol palmed a 2nd Outcasts pen away to seal a man of the match display, and when Dan followed trend and tucked his pen away, it was all down to the Outcasts no.11. The poor lad struck the bar with his pen and it was all over, much to the annoyance of Errol and Craig who failed to get in on the act!

Match report by: Tim