Won 3 - 2 v Old Salesians (H), SAL Junior Cup

As Big Eric Once said, 
"When The Seagulls Follow The Trawler It Is Because They Expect Sardines To Be Thrown Into The Sea" 
Now I'm not sure about Seagulls and Sardines but what I do know is that when you follow the messy 3s it is because you expect GOALS GOALS GOALS! And that's exactly what you do get!
Cup Fever had hit Norsemen and Grocers Far was about to witness a hum dinger of a cup quarter final!
Mercurial Magic Midfield Man Lee was running late, so Welsh Wizard Ricky 'Boyo' Williams got the nod to start.

On a cold bright day the toss was vital as the sun was glaring and would cause the team who attacked the Church Street End to have temporary sun blindness. 

Even though Danny is a great tosser he lost the toss.....this was to prove pivotal (not sure why, but I just wanted to use the word pivotal)
The Norsemen 3s were attacking the Church Street end up the hill with the sun in their eyes in the first half and Porky was hobbling around like a one legged Pale Bale. To say we didn't start too well is a bit of an understatement. In fact I'd go so far as to say we were derisory. 
After the early exchanges saw Old Sals come out on top it wasn't long before they took the lead with a controversial opening goal. 

As the ball was played down the right flank the Old Sals forward was offside however,  the ball did not come to him at first, the Old Sals winger tore down the right and the Old Sals forward remained offside as the ball was squared to him on the edge of the area. 

The Norsemen defence called for offside but the ref waved play on as the Old Sals forward expertly slotted home.
0-1 

The first half saw Norsemen get a bit more of a grip of the half although Porky had to make way as his foot buckled with the injury he had been carrying.
Then came the equaliser from Norsemen. A great header by Dan Howard that finished a good move by Norsemen.
1-1 

Norsemen were now well back in the ascendancy and the boys were buoyed by such a turnaround in fortunes. Game On!!

Moments later an inocuous ball into the area with a clear call from JJ the Norsemen keeper caused Bevers to calmly slot the ball past his own keeper! ! A well taken o.g. which led to Old Sals taking the lead again! The Norsemen boys couldn't hide their disappointment but this wasn't a time to blame anyone it was a time to regroup and get back into the game!! 
1-2

It wasn't long before the next incident in this action packed bumper cup tie! 
Norsemen were awarded a penalty! ! A way back in was on a plate for them and the trusty penalty king Danny G was the man to slot the ball past the keeper. That's exactly what he did, slotting it past the keeper and past the post the Green machine had missed the penalty to get his boys back on level terms.
The half time whistle soon came and the lads regrouped with talk of how to regroup and how the next 45 minutes would make or break our season. This was 45 minutes to save the match. 
The Welsh Wizard had to depart the field and so entered Lee. 

The second half was a different story. Old Sals had to play up the hill in this half and Norsemen began to boss the possession. Old Sals were still super dangerous and played their ace often on the counter attack with lightning fast breaks.

But still Norsemen pressed and pressed. Luigi began to get more and more into the game as he popped up on the left and the right snd began to cause Old Sals some problems "Mamma Mia!!"
Lee was also bossing the middle with Mr Chips and this was the story of  the 2nd half BUT still no equaliser! !

Chances came and chances went.....
Great moves were hatched but nothing came of them.....
Old Sals had a great chance that just went past the far post after a bit of a Norsemen mix up.....
But still it remained 1-2

Then finally it came. ...
It was around the 80th minute when Danny G made up for the pen miss and popped up with an equaliser that was surely set to to take this tie and Pett's tired legs into extra time! (Or was it?)
2-2
89mins on the clock
Bevers gets the ball about 40yards out
Bevers pumps the ball high and mighty into the Old Sals box.
Lee gets a flick on.
There's confusion snd panic in the Old Sals box as they look more like Aunt Sally....
The rest is a blur but all I know is that Danny G puts the ball into the back of the Old Sals net to bury the spectre of Bevers own goal and to well and truly confine that penalty miss to the dustbin of time.....
3-2......

Queue the massive rugby ruck celebration accompanied by shouts of "CELEBRATE CELEBRATE! !!" and the shouts of "Get Off My Toes!!" 

The final whistle blows and Norsemen 3s have booked their place in the SAL SEMI FINAL! !
It's days like these that will be remembered forever and the reason we play SAL football. .
The 3s celebrated in time honoured fashion by singing Wet Wet Wet and the Men Behaving Badly theme tune followed by plenty of Tuborg in the Bar.....

Walk Tall You Blue Giants! 

Next Game: vs. Merton (H) League