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YC&AC Sat 3rd December 2005. Penalties are always a bad way to lose a cup tie and no more so than the fixture between the British Embassy and France FC at YCAC.
Make no mistake about it, this was a good game of football between two sides determined to make a go of it and reach the next round of the FJ cup.
However, it was a French striker who came to France FC’s rescue with a scrappy equalizer to keep them in the tournament.
The forward struck just before half time, toe poking home after a goal line scramble, with BEFC defender Sendo desperately unlucky not to clear.
BEFC went in front quite early on with new Embassy striker Steve Lidbury controlling a long ball, before turning inside a defender and firing across the French keeper for his first goal for the club. He looked pretty pleased with himself too and so he should have, for it was a peach of a goal.
Both sides played neat, full flowing football and the game was played in good spirits. The midfield area was hotly contested as expected with both teams trying to find that all important foot hold from which to spring their attacks. Paul ‘Biffa’ Bacon in particular was in commanding form for the Embassy.
The defenders for both clubs worked their socks off and gave very little away. Tim Marchand and Keith Crowley had outstanding games for the BEFC. With both sides playing so tightly, it was inevitable that this game would finish a draw and so to penalties.
The French went on to win the shoot out and probably deserve their win…..just. For BEFC this was more of a hard luck story than the same old story.
The referee should also be commended for his performance on the day and for keeping foul play and foul language to a minimum. Both Mike Yeomans and Steve Lidbury were penalized for swearing early on, but that was it.
Man of the match: Steve Lidbury (BEFC) for his cracking first goal and constant work rate.
Report by Blip Pilot
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