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With Manager Pete Tipton away on a scouting mission somewhere in Spain, Assistant Manager Paul Tudor still piecing his life together after Friday's mid-life crisis and Captain James Skedgel still suffering from his Friday night frenzy, the first XI's Senior Cup quarter final tie against Walsall Phoenix was always going to be bereft of quality leadership.
On a pitch that was more suitable for wart hogs than footballers, only goalkeeper Tim Tipton felt truly comfortable with the conditions. The quality of football, therefore, suffered somewhat, as did the brain of striker Rob Stirton. Three times the current Gordon Boot holder chose to pass inside the opposition penalty area when a shot may have reaped better dividends.
By far the funniest occurrence of the first half was David Thompson's attempt at a 'Cruyff' turn which caused his groin to split from the top of his right leg to his left shoulder. He was soon replaced by Stewart Mason who, let's be fair, took a long time to adjust to the rigours of the game.
In the midst of a load of dross, Wulfs opening goal on sixty-eight minutes was an absolute pearl. Nigel Pearson sent over a cross and Neil Parkes bundled the ball over the line from about three yards out. Well, in the context of the game it was a classic.
Wulfs could have wrapped up the victory when substitute Big Tony Morrison was put through with a clear run at goal. Unfortunately he was distracted by the sight of an overlapping large foreheaded centre half and while he wandered what Snedge was doing that far up the pitch, the goalkeeper manager to put in a goal saving tackle.
The introduction of Mark Tipton added some quality to the Wulfs performance but just as the game looked destined for a scrappy 1 - 0 victory, Neil Parkes made his second vital contribution. With two minutes left on the clock and opposition players all around him, Parkesy attempted to chest down a ball on the edge of his own area and was dispossessed. The resulting ball into the box struck Skedgel on the arm and a penalty was awarded and duly dispatched.
The first period of extra time brought a couple of scares for Wulfs. Firstly Jason Scott got hit by a sniper and had to play out the remainder of the game on one leg. Then Tim Tipton tried to liven up matters by throwing the ball out directly to the opposition forward. Luckily Wulfs survived.
At the start of the second half Wulfs were denied a penalty for a challenge that wouldn't have been any more illegal had the defenders pulled out a gun and Shot Tony Morison through the temple. The referee saw no wrong doing.
Fortunately, as has happened a million times before, Wulfs were rescued by a piece of quality from Simon Hardle. A miscued punch from the phoenix keeper fell to the Waard on the edge of the area and he sat his marker on his ass before firing home with the outside of his left foot.
Two minutes later James Skedgel burst through two full blooded challenges before releasing Hardle to round the keeper, put the game to bed and Wulfs into the semi final.
Final score: Old Wulfrunians 3 Walsall Phoenix 1 AET.
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