St Peter win on pens

Chalfont St Peter 0-0 Needham market
Chalfont St Peter win 6-5 on penalties
The FA Carlsberg Vase
Sixth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 7 March 2009
Mill Meadow, Chalfont St Peter FC
Winners will receive £5,000 from The FA

Chalfont St Peter moved one step closer to Wembley with a nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory over Needham Market in The FA Vase Quarter Final replay at Mill Meadow.

Danny Edwards’ side triumphed 6-5 on spot-kicks after a winner could not be found in over 240 minutes of football during the course of the tie.

More than 500 fans turned out to cheer on Chalfont but chances were few and far between and the match always looked likely to be settled from the spot.

The game seemed to have turned in the home side’s favour during the closing stages when Needham captain Mark Bailey was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on 85 minutes.

However, the Suffolk side battled through extra-time and deservedly took their hosts to penalties.

Neither goalkeeper was able to make a save as both sides confidently converted their first five efforts.

The home side scored the first sudden-death penalty, before the unfortunate Jon Sparkes fluffed his lines to ensure it will be Chalfont whose name goes into the hat for the Semi-Final draw.

Needham Market club secretary Mark Easlea said: "It was a close game and there was nothing to separate the sides.

"It’s been a great run and we played against a very good side. It’s been tremendous for the fans."