Punjab United go through to the next round of the FA Vase but in reality they rode their luck with a last gasp equaliser & then penalties.
The game started slowly as both teams were getting used to the blustery conditions. The first chance of the game came in the 24th minute when Jaydn Gildea on the right wing cut in & his shot from 20 yards was saved by Ben Gearing.
Eight minutes later a free kick into the area was met by Stephen Ratcliff’s header beat Gearing but went wide. In the 38th minute Bearsted could have taken the lead when Harrison Hatfull was put through on goal but his shot from 15 yards was pushed around the post by Max Ovenden.
In the 40th minute Elyon Marshall-Katung collected a loose ball & from 18 yards his curling effort just went past the post.
The last chance of the half came in the first minute off added on time when Stephen Hafner saw his shot from 18 yards pushed around the post by Ovenden. The half time whistle went & both managers would have work to do as both sides attacking options were lacking.
The second half started a bit quicker than the first when in the 50th minute Ben Francis on the edge of the area chipped into the feet of Luke Adams who quickly turned & shot but Gearing had come out & blocked it & it came to Adam Cuth bert but he blazed his shot well over the bar.
Two minutes later & Ratcliff picked up a loose ball & saw his shot go just wide. Bearsted took the lead in the 60th minute when Tom Penfold’s free kick from 25 yards flew into the net.
It’s funny how a goal gives a team confidence & Bearsted started to control possession without really causing any problems while Punjab continued to huff & puff looking for an equaliser.
In the 66th minute a long ball forward saw William Johnson-Cole get to it & then pass inside for Rohan Badbhagi whose shot was saved. Time was running out for Punjab & then in the second minute off added on time they equalised with a did he mean it or was it lucky goal but they did not care as Johnson-Cole on the left saw his cross shot beat Gearing & go into the net.
A minute later a David Baronowski free kick on the edge of the area on the left forced Ovenden to push over the bar.
The full time whistle went & the dreaded penalties would take place.
BEARSTED: PUNJAB:
S.HAFNER SCORED 1. L.ADAMS SCORED
A.IRVINE SAVED 2. ADAM CUTHBERT
D.BARONOWSKI SCORED 3. W.JOHNSON-COLE SCORED
E.MARSHALL-KATUNG SCORED 4. R.JARRETT SCORED
L.SCARLETT SAVED
PUNJAB WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES
PUNJAB UNITED:
M.OVENDEN 2. W.BEATTIE (85) 3. S.RATCLIFF 4. F.MBILA 5. P.LORRAINE 6. A.CUTHBERT
W.JOHNSON-COLE 8. J.GILDEA (59) 9. L.ADAMS 10. G.GOODWIN 11. B.FRANCIS (59)
SUBS USED: 14. E.KADIKI (59) 15: D.BOORS ( 59) R.BADBHAGI (85)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. T.GOSAL 17. R. JARRETT
BOOKINGS: 14. E.KADIKI (73)
BEARSTED:
B.GEARING 2. L.MAJAYEGBE 3. C.CROUCHER 4. A.LUQMAN 5. T.PENFOLD 6. S.HAFNER
J.ABABIO (65) 8. H.HATFULL (78) 9. C.SCARLETT (65) 10. E.MARSHALL-KATUNG 11. L.SCARLETT
SUBS USED: 14. A.IRVINE (65) 15. D.BARONOWSKI (65) 17. J.ROGERS (78)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. C.McCARTHY 16. J.WAKEFIELD
BOOKINGS: 8. H.HATFULL (36) 4.A.LUQMAN (50)
REFEREE: Mr T.GEORGE
ASSISTANTS: Mr D.WILSON & Ms N.QUAYLE