Midland Combination win 4-1 on penalties
FA Carlsberg National League System Cup
Semi-Final
Saturday 5 April 2008
The Bowl, Douglas
Click here for results The Midland Combination (Div 1) upset the holders Isle of Man League in a nerve-jangling penalty shootout to reach The Final of The FA Carlsberg National League System Cup.
After the scores were level 1-1 at The Bowl in Douglas at the end of extra-time, Midland goalkeeper Neil Leech was the hero for the visitors, with a string of superb saves during the game and another to deny Nick Hurt in the shootout.
It could have been a very different afternoon for the Isle of Man. Despite kicking into a tricky wind, they had the best of an end-to-end first half. Callum Morrissey might have done better when he found himself free in the area on 18 minutes, but Leech denied him.
And the in-form stopper was on hand again when he pushed Chris Bass' six-yard effort wide of a post on the half hour.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play five minutes before the break when Jermaine Smith's left-wing cross was caught in the wind and deceived everyone before dropping into the Manx net.
The Islanders came out fired up for the second half, and they were level within 13 minutes. Morrissey chested down a long ball on the edge of the area and fired expertly into the roof of the net.
It was no less than his side deserved, and Morrissey nearly gave them the lead on 71 minutes when Bass ran from his own half and squared, but the striker saw his effort go narrowly over.
The impressive Bass nearly won it with ten minutes left in normal time, but Leech made another fine save.
Extra-time could not separate the sides, with Morrissey again denied by Leech in the only real chance of the extra thirty minutes. And after Sean Quaye missed and Leech saved Hurt's effort, it was left for Dan Pilgrim to send Combination through to the final.
Midlands manager Martin Harrison was understandably delighted with the result, but acknowledged that his side rode their luck at times.
"On the balance of play they probably had the better of it but at the end of the day it's about who can stand up and take a penalty," he said.
"Our boys were still up for it at then end.
"Our 'keeper had a superb game, but I'm very proud of every single player. All 16 have been superb on this whole trip."
Midland Combination will now take on the Southern Amateur League in The Final at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena on 3 May.
