County Cups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FansFocus.Com SENIOR CUP
 
 

ROMFORD   2 - 2   TIPTREE UTD

(after extra time, Tiptree United won 5-3 on penalties)
 
Colin Wallington's Jam Makers overcame a two-goal interval deficit to scrape past Romford into Round Two on penalties after a bad-tempered period of extra time where both teams were reduced to ten men.

The hosts had raced into a healthy lead through Scott Walsh and Mark Kirikiri inside ten minutes but strikes from Danny Green and the impressive Jamie Arlick after half-time secured the extra thirty minutes in which Boro's Danny Rafis and Judd Coe were dismissed in separate incidents.

Tiptree entered the tie as the form team, topping Division One of the Ridgeons League, although Mark Reed's Blues had made their own decent start to life in the Essex Senior League. Yet domestic progress was turned on its head as early as the 2nd minute, Des Gallen sprinting down the right-hand side for the home side and supplying a perfectly-weighted ball for Walsh to hammer home at the far post.

Just eight minutes later Romford's dream start took a further upturn as Kirikiri breached the offside trap laid by the United defence before slotting past exposed goalkeeper, Darren Smith. Not content with just this advantage, the panic-stricken visiting back-line watched with horror when opposite number Ben Turner rattled the underside of the crossbar from a yard out shortly afterwards.

Tiptree's first-half response was limited to a Gary Hill half chance on 23 minutes but they managed to drag themselves back into the game within three minutes of the second half kicking-off, a defensive error allowing Green the space for a well-taken finish.

The introduction of substitutes Dane Nelson and Lewin Ward after half-time made a visible improvement to United's performance and Arlick had the ball in the net seven minutes later only to be denied by the offside flag. Then the ball ran agonisingly out of the reach of Ward's toes with Tiptree searching for a leveller.

Just past the hour mark, Romford's former West Ham United 'keeper, Neil Finn, pulled-off an excellent diving save to deny Green his second while, at the other end, Lee Cornhill tried his luck from thirty yards only for his drive to finish narrowly wide.

This was almost immediately punished by Tiptree's 67th-minute equaliser through Arlick. He was sent through with just Finn to contest, a feat he managed by tucking wide of him low into the net. The red and blacks' forward then thought he'd won the game on 77 minutes but was again unlucky to have a goal chalked-off for offside.

With neither side able to break the deadlock in time for the final whistle, the added thirty minutes began with the sending-off of Rafis who collected his second caution from referee Adrian Oldershaw for dissent, much to the dismay of his boss in the home technical area.

However, the playing numbers became as even as the scoreline during the second period, Coe receiving his marching orders for a professional foul as the last defender, but instead of denting his team's prospects of a result the decision inspired them. Lewin Ward hammered towards the top corner to bring the best out of Finn, while Luke Webster's bending long-ranger also warmed the 'keeper's hands.

Romford had the crossbar to thank for Ward's 118th-minute cross not dropping into the goal but a stalemate at full time led to penalties deciding the game. Three spot-kicks apiece were subsequently converted with power and precision until Dane Nelson netted for the Jam Makers and previous goal hero Walsh had his saved low by Smith.

This left Webster with the opportunity to receive the plaudits and seal United's path into Round Two with a further goal, putting Tiptree through to a meeting with either Eton Manor or London A.P.S.A. away at the next stage.

Romford:   Neil Finn, Richard Oxley, George Alder, Ben Turner, Paul Clayton, Scott Walsh, Danny Rafis, Lee Cornhill (George Tubey, 105), Danny Penfold (Curtis Barry, 77), Des Gallen, Mark Kirikiri (Martin Heed, 70). Unused substitutes: Paul White, Danny Muldowney.

Tiptree United:   Darren Smith, Jack Bradshaw, Judd Coe, Sean Ridgeway (Dane Nelson, 46), Alex Snow, Luke Webster, Danny Green (John Watson, 112), Gary Wraight, Gary Hill (Lewin Ward, 46), Jamie Arlick, Ian Nimmo. Unused Substitutes: Richard Manning, Ben L'Honore.

Bookings: Romford: Rafis (32, foul and 92, dissent), Turner (99, foul).

Sent Off: Romford: Rafis (92, second bookable offence). Tiptree: Coe (110, professional foul).

Referee: Adrian Oldershaw (Brentwood).

Assistant Referees: John Burdon (Romford) and Howard Brown (East Ham).

Attendance: 98

Man of the Match: Jamie Arlick (Tiptree United) - Produced a tidy goal accompanied with several other close calls and a disallowed strike as well as keeping a cool head to net in the shoot-out.
 

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