Cup games are not about performances they are about results. It’s a phase well used over this weekend with the FA Cup in progress and you can’t help feeling that the same statement applied to Hungerford in their Vase win over Greenwich. The first half was Hungerford’s best period, Luke Brewer almost scored from the kick off when Jamie Gosling set him up for a shot that sailed past the right hand post. It was Gosling again soon after who shot straight at the keeper and quickly after Greenwich’s keeper made another excellent save from the hard working Brewer. The main talking point of the half came when Jamie Gosling was brought down in the box everyone thought penalty apart from the officials who thought dive, a very harsh decision for what from my view was a stonewall penalty. To add insult to injury Gosling was duly booked for simulation and Hungerford supporters left in dis-belief.

Greenwich had the better of the second half, with the pattern of play much like the first game. Greenwich’s shooting left much to be desired though but a moment of magic from Greenwich’s Mohammed broke the deadlock with a fine solo goal with less than 20 minutes to go. Hungerford were wobbling and possibly going out the Vase many thought. Fortunately for us Toby Clark and Jamie Gosling had other ideas. Clark caught the Greenwich defence asleep with a quick free kick rolled to Gosling who struck in shot to the far corner for the equaliser just a minute after Mohammed’s goal. Perhaps the Greenwich defence were in shock that the referee had given a foul against them as Gosling, Powell and Austin had not had much joy all afternoon from the referee.

We now entered the period of injury time, the 4^th official held up a board saying 3 minutes but everyone knew that could be ignored after the first game he might as well have held up a "hello mum" sign. It was during the mystery time that Hungerford achieved payback for the Bulpit Lane game. Well over 4 minutes in Powell found himself in the box surrounded by three defenders but some how managed to force the ball across the area, Gosling swung a foot at the ball and just connected, the world then seemed to go into slow motion as the keeper and defenders all tried to reach the bobbling weak shot but they couldn’t and it crept guiltily into the goal without the strength to hit the back of the net. Gosling, Austin, Powell, Brewer all leapt into the visiting supporters in a state of disbelief that we’d actually turned this one around. Jamie Gosling not known for scruffy goals will surely have not scored a more important goal than this and it was arguably the most important Hungerford goal since 1989.

The mystery time did not end there though and there was time for what’s being talked of as the battle of the borough to take place. This incident must have been well into the 6^th /7^th minute of injury time and Greenwich were obviously frustrated. I did not see the incident that started it all off but it resulted in 4 red cards, 2 for each team Shand and Bedwell being dismissed for Hungerford. Dominic Green saved the resulting free kick denying Greenwich their last chance and ensureing Hungerford a first ¼ final place since 1989

Team

Dominic - An exceptional game and back to his best form

Macca - Very solid defensive display

Jim Bob - Probably Hungerford's man of the match even his passing was on target!

Tobs - His Quick thinking set up the equaliser

Davis - An impressive debut right into the fire

Bedders - A black eye and a red card to remind him of the war he was in

Bruiser - His type of game very bright all through and never say die as always

Chaz - Worked his socks off

Goz - The headline grabber strikes again twice!

Copp - Another impressive game

Powell - Looking sharper by the game always a threat.

SUBS

Shandy - Was a very unlucky man on Saturday