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Hopes were high as the Veterans travelled to Shirley Athletic for a cup quarter final tie brimming with confidence after handing out an 8-0 thumping to Bustleholme Athletic in the last round. Not so hopeful, however, was manager Gary Dimmack who had spent all week trying to find eleven bodies (dead or alive) to fill the eleven available slots. On the other hand Shirley had postponed their first XI fixture to ensure they had a full strength team.
The gulf in quality showed from the start as Shirley opened up a five goal lead in the first forty minutes, the second and third courtesy of defensive errors and the fourth and fifth both quality strikes from outside the area.
Wulfs did have some chances in between. Ian Tonks failed to convert a couple of early chances and Jamie Perkins was denied by the keeper after cutting inside and producing a good shot.
At half time there was an inquest as to who was the most injured of the four severely crocked players. Mark Howard won the vote and was replaced by the one and only substitute Sheena Marsh.
For the first fifteen minutes of the second half Wulfs, inspired by the midfield promptings of young Sheena, had their best spell of the game. Mel Eves had a header adjudged to have not crossed the line by the linesman although the great man swears it did, and Sheena Marsh had a shot blocked on the line with Pete Bourton failing to convert the rebound.
The most embarrassing moment of the afternoon came in the seventieth minute when the Shirley goalkeeper, who had just swapped places with a midfielder, scored with his first outfield touch of the ball.
This was quickly followed by a seventh goal and although Wulfs kept going, with Bourton having a header from a clipped free kick well saved by the keeper, the Veterans Cup dream was over for another year.
Next year we must take the competition more seriously!
Final score: Shirley Athletic 7 Old Wulfrunians 0.
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