Match Report for 10/11/05
U18's (Midweek) v Aldershot Town
Buntingford Drew 3-3 (won 7-6 on penalties)
The youth team served up a miracle performance to defeat Conference outfit Aldershot Town and in so doing set themselves up with an historic trip to Coca-Cola League One side Brentford in two weeks time. Buntingford also can claim to be the smallest club left in the prestigious tournament, and with all the Premiership teams due to be put in the draw for the third round Paul Attfield's side can now dream on what might just be. Buntingford showed the endeavour and spirit on this particular night to overcome a two goal deficit, force extra time and then win the resulting penalty shoot out in sudden death to send the majority of the 300 plus crowd back to Buntingford in fantastic spirits. In Aldershot's excellent stadium the home team settled the quickest with some fine passing and movement with Buntingford a little overawed in the opening stages. Keeper Steve Martinuissen had to be on his guard to collect a number of teasing crosses in the early stages with the Buntingford team working overtime to shut out Aldershot's swift advances. However, the visitors weathered the early storm and began passing the ball on a carpet-like surface with territorial advantage being gained. It was somewhat disappointed then just as Buntingford were getting into the game that Aldershot took the lead on 21 minutes when a hopeful left wing cross was sliced by captain Mark Roach and the lively forward poked the ball in from eight yards. Undeterred, Buntingford took the game to their hosts and four minutes later a controversial incident occurred. Luke Jones sent a delicate through ball for Phil Fisher's excellently timed run; the Buntingford forward was deliberately pulled back by Shot's centre half and despite clearly being the last defender was only shown a yellow card much to the fury of the Buntingford team and bench. To compound matters John Bittings’ excellent bullet free kick from 25 yards smashed the crossbar and was scrambled to safety. Mark Roach, Dean Chaffey and Carl Simmonds were becoming more confident in defence and with both Tom Malins and Chris Moule getting positive results out wide against Shot's full backs Buntingford looked likely to create more chances. With both teams not quite having the accurate final ball in their locker, despite neat approach play from both teams, the game reamined in the home side’s favour at the break. There was despair at the beginning of the second half when Buntingford conceded just five minutes in when a flat right wing cross was flicked in at the near post by Shot's forward. Boss Paul Attfield then took a big gamble bringing on 15 year old Robbie Wilmott and the pacey Tim Jarman, and changed to a 3-4-3 formation which turned out to be a master stroke as Buntingford went on to totally bewilder their hosts for the remainder of the half. On 65 minutes Tom Malins won a crunching tackle over a dithering midfielder, released Tim Jarman down the right whose wonderful cross was smashed home by youngster Wilmott at the far post. Keeper Steve Martinuissen then made an excellent one-on-one block with his legs before the equalising goal on 73 minutes. Again the three man attack left the home team in total disarray when Dean Chaffey’s ball over their back line was seized on by Wilmott; the youngster showed awesome composure to turn both centre halves and slot past the advancing keeper. With Buntingford now in complete control and hungry for more as their hosts couldn’t believe what was happening another goal for Buntingford arrived on 82 minutes. Robbie Wilmott, again instumental in the goal, turned inside the right full back sent an immaculate through ball for Tim Jarman to smash left-footed past the helpless keeper from 18yards, sending the team and large crowd into ecstatic celebrations. Unfortunately from Buntingford's point of view these celebrations continued a little too long as they failed to clear a throw-in their area two minutes later,and a simple cross was headed home eight yards out by a completely unmarked player. The remaining few minutes gave the crowd an excellent spectacle with Attfield maintaining his attacking formation, and with the Shots bringing on fresh legs, the game moved towards its climax; Shots had a couple of half chances without troubling the Buntingford goal and Tim Jarman volleyed a Luke Robins left wing cross just over in injury time but the game moved into extra time. The home side controlled the majority of extra time with tired legs materialising in both camps but with Attfield having used his three subs during normal second half time he reverted back to a 3-5-2 formation to help bolster the centre of the pitch. Despite Shots threatening immensely they never forced Martinuissen into a save despite a number of close shaves mainly from set play routines. With both teams physically drained as the referee signalled penalties the nervousness around the ground was certainly evident. Robbie Wilmott, Carl Simmonds and Luke Jones all converted Buntingford's kicks with the Shots doing likewise, before both keepers pulled off fine saves with John Bitting failing with his attempt and Steve Martinuissen punching away a piledriver to his left. Both teams continued with excellent kicks with Tim Jarman, Luke Robins, Tom Malins and Dean Chaffey all converting with their host counterparts before the Shots captain placed his side's seventh kick against the right hand post. The ball rebounded to safety and the overjoyed celebrations began on the pitch and the terraces. Paul Attfield commented: "I cannot praise each and every player highly enough. We come here, play a full time academy team with excellent facilities, look dead and buried at 2-0 down and then turn the game upside down to win in a way which is always, and will always be, unfortunate circumstances. The players showed such desire and work rate to want to win, which always has to be the top ingredient of cup football; the result in the end was due to that desire, team spirit and never say die attitude which fully justified the final outcome, and now the players get their just reward. This is just fantastic for the whole club and the support that came along was just brilliant, and now we all can look forward to a dream draw that all the players will remember for the rest of their lives."
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