vs_Sunnyside

7th October 2007 - Knock-Out Cup Round 2

Sheppey FC 3-3 Sunnyside (Sheppey win 4-2 on pens AET)

Sheppey progressed through to the third round of the Sunday Knock Cup on penalties at the expense of Division 2 rivals Sunnyside. Goalkeeper Matt Wright was the hero, saving two of Sunnyside's spot kicks, while Lewis Spence, Chris Staniforth, Richard Beecher and Matt Dunhill all scored their penalties.

Sunnyside shaded the opening exchanges of the first half but struggled to test Wright in the Sheppey goal. After 18 minutes, slightly against the run of play Sheppey took the lead. As Sunnyside pushed forward their attack broke down on the right flank and a long ball forward caused panic in the visitors defence, allowing Staniforth to nip in between defender and goalkeeper to lift the ball into the net. Minutes later Staniforth was unlucky not to make it 2-0 when hi s powerful 25 yard strike rattled the crossbar. Sheppey were now starting to exert more pressure on the Sunnyside rearguard and went 2-0 in front just short of the half hour. As the Sunnyside left back attempted to head the ball back to his keeper, Morris was able steal in and lift the ball over the advancing keeper before collecting the ball and slotting home into the empty net. Two minutes later Sunnyside were back in the tie, a cross from the left headed home at the far post.

HT 2-1

Both sides struggled to create clear cut chances in the second half and the Sunnyside equaliser came somewhat out

of the blue. A free kick from the left did not look dangerous but a mix up between Wright and Spence saw the later head into his own net from 6 yards. Sheppey then set about forcing a winner, Dunhill hitting the bar from 6 yards following a goal mouth scramble. Then Reynolds saw his shot from all of 35 yards nearly snap the bar in two before bouncing to safety.

FT 2-2

With both sides now tiring the first half extra time passed without significant incident. Two minutes into the second half Sheppey took the lead, Chipchase turning home Dunhill's low left wing cross from 6 yards. Sunnyside threw everything forward in search of the equaliser and, just as it looked like Sheppey had done enough, they found it with one minute remaining.

Team: Matt Wright, Jon Taylor, Phil Veal (Russ Ainsworth 66), Richard Beecher, Paul Bradley (Adam Colclough 105), Lewis Spence, Chris Morris, Mike Reynolds, Chris Staniforth, Tom Chipchase, Matt Dunhill