Old Foresters - Arthur Dunn Cup 2nd Round (H)

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A strong squad of no less than 15 men and true rocked up to 'HQ' on a cold blustery day to face the Old Foresters in the second round of the Arthur Dunn Cup. The opposition, winless this season in the league, were still in the Premier Division however, and another giant killing performance would be needed if the LOBs were to progress to the quarter finals. Despite being able to field our strongest squad of the season, very few had played together which was to prove crucial as the game progressed.

The Foresters won the toss and decided to play down the hill with the breeze behind them in front of a healthy crowd which was to increase as time went on. On a heavy pitch, the College had played on it midweek, the LOBs' control and first touch was causing issues against a side who were much more assured on the ball, and it was no real suprise when the visitors took the lead after fifteen minutes with a speculative, albeit intentional strike from the best part of 25 yards. Not long after, a 'stray hand' in our box saw the Foresters awarded a penalty which the duly converted. 0-2 certainly didn't flatter them as they had already hit the woodwork a couple of times by this point. Undeterred the LOBs began to find a bit more control and when the ball was passed to our most dangerous threat Henry Shephard on the left wing just inside the Foresters half he set off on a maisy run. He outpaced a couple of defenders before cutting inside and smashing it past the keeper at the near post 1-2 at half time, game on.

The half time pep talk, including a few words of wisdom from Nige B had an instant effect as the LOBs looked a different team at the start of the second half. With the breeze in their favour, coupled with more assured touches and control the LOBs looked the more likely to score first in the second period. Alas, against the run of play it was the visitors who went two goals clear after a bit of confusion in the box. Despite this the LOBs heads never dropped and although we were enjoying the lion's share of possession, one of the Foresters' better players scored a cracking solo effort to put the tie to bed. That said, we kept pushing and a period of sustained pressure was rewarded with a penalty which skipper Frankie smacked home to make it 2-4.

If this squad, with a couple of absent stalwarts can get some gametime together we'll be a force to be reckoned with. It was great to see so many of the current College 1st XI cheering us on too as they're the future of the club. We can now 'concentrate on the league' and get ourselves off the bottom of the table and out of a relegation scrap, we've definitely got the players to do it.

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