Big crowd celebrates local victory
Neil Mason taking on a Richmond defender. Photo: supplied
A large crowd of local supporters turned out at the Recreation Park on Saturday to watch the Glen Stephens quarter-final clash between the Mussel Inn GBAFC 1st XI and FC Richmond Thistle.
Richmond started strongly, testing the GB defence with lofted crosses and were unlucky not to score when a clean header narrowly cleared the top bar. GB slowly gained some mid-field control late in the half but the Richmond defence closed down any threatening attacks to send the game scoreless into the half-time break.
The second half saw GB continue to gain control of the game as the Richmond players started to tire in the warm conditions. Repeatedly GB threatened to score, with Rob Anderson going close with two headers. Neil Mason used all his pace and weaving runs to try and break through the defence, but still Richmond held strong.
With the game sent into extra time, the young local players having returned from their school tournament on Friday, started to feel the effects of seven matches in six days.Richmond were awarded a dubious penalty, only to blaze the attempt over the top of the goal. A Jason Wells’ shot on goal was headed off the line and a Richmond header rebounded off the post as both teams searched for the winner.
With full-time blown after two hours of play it needed penalties to decide the tie. Kent Barrett pulled off a save to give GB the advantage as the exhausted youth players blazed in their penalties. It was left to GB captain Wells to slam home his penalty to give the locals an epic 4-2 victory. GB now advance to the semi finals against Wakefield 1st IV, Saturday 3pm kick-off, Wakefield Domain.
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