Hampshire Cup Fourth Round			Previous	Next
Sunday 07 February 2010
Performance

	Dayers Fine Foods	0
	FC Alton	1
	NASH

FC Alton progressed to the Hampshire Cup Quarter Finals for the first time with a last minute winner from Graham Nash.

In a pulsating cup tie, Nash was on hand to turn in from five yards after Pullman won a 50-50 with the Dayers goalkeeper.

FCA could have secured the result earlier had Watts, Pink and Pullman finished their one on ones but Dayers had their chances too in a very even contest.

Bidding for their first ever Quarter Final appearance in the competition FCA were overrun in the early exchanges as Dayers settled the quickest and made use of the large pitch.

In a game plan that was well versed the hosts continually stretched the play from one side to another and their long raking diagonal balls were turning the FCA defence consistently.

After soaking up the early pressure FCA came into the game and Pullman beat the defence for pace to signal his intent in a thoroughly productive performance.

Dayers were comfortable on the ball but despite the quality of their passing failed to create a significant opening with half chances blocked or forced wide.

FCA were looking sharp on the counter attack though and Murrell running from deep saw his first time shot miss at the far post.

With the visitors growing in confidence they almost took the lead from the most unlikely of sources and from the most unlikely of efforts….

30 yards out El Capitan played a swift 1-2 with Pullman and hit a rip snorter of a shot with his left boot which was still rising as it smacked against the crossbar!

Hells bells; just imagine if that went in!

Buoyed by this most improbable of sights, FCA finished strongly. Rob, Nash and both Pinks had chances that were either too close to the keeper or too far from the post.

The second half played much like the first; Dayers making the early running, FCA looking good on the break.

Indeed had it not been for the team defensive strength for the opening ten minutes, Dayers might well have found themselves front.

As it was, FCA held firm and after weathering the storm and set about causing problems of their own.

Neil Pink cut inside and left himself one on with the defender but instead of shooting, chose to turn and the chance was gone.

Rob then had three glorious chances, all within three minutes. Two dragged shots and a rushed volley when he had time to control the sum of his efforts.

El Capitan was seeing a lot of the ball on the right hand side and a sharp interchange first with Pullman and then with Lee saw a cross fizz across the six yard box but was cleared to safety.

With FCA starting to dominate the chances Dayers tried a counter attack of their own.

Karlos was isolated two on one but as the striker cut back inside, El Capitan made good with a sliding tackle.

The game was becoming increasingly stretched and a succession of crosses was cleared at the last second as Dayers pushed for a winner.

Watts let everyone know how painful it can be when he blocked a shot with his back and then proceeded to scream like a girl and blame everyone for allowing it to happen!

The pressures of the modern footballer eh!

Watts who had been excellent at the "back" then had a chance to win it and after their defender missed his clearance contrived to smash the ball over from six yards. Even Jonny Wilkinson would have been proud of that one!

With extra time looming and with both teams fighting tooth and nail, the winner came with just five seconds left on the clock.

The ball was worked forward from the goal kick and after Dayers failed to clear their lines, Pullman seized on a defensive slip and got to the ball just before the goalkeeper.

The ball spun out to the left where Nash tapped in with his most important goal of the season.

Dayers almost played the perfect crossbar challenge from kick off but Pete just about got his height and angles right as the brave effort only narrowly missed.

That brought the end to an entertaining game which was high on quality and endeavour from both teams.

STAR MAN - Neil Pullman; El Capitan wanted it but with his tireless running; through the channels, up top and short, his strength in holding up the ball and his desire to get to it first in the challenge that set up the winner, Pullers gets the nod!

Honourable mention to Karlos who was true to his word with a clean sheet upon his return.