While it's not really a fairy story for the 3rd Division team to beat the 6th Division one, it was still an exceptional result for the Dragons, after a catastrophic first leg had seen us lose 4-1 against the England Lions.
Clearly we needed to go for goals, but with our second striker Valfrid Anger suspended and with big summer signing Gennadi Koltyarevsky out injured, options were limited.
In midfield, club legend, Eder Luis was recalled to the side. Now 35 Luis is not often called into action, but he's still a very fine player and his experience was valuable in a game where we needed to attack but not get carried away.
Up front it was the opposite approach. With at least 3 goals a minimum requirement, then two strikers were called for, which meant a start for 17 year old tyro Jermund Crantz to partner star striker Ashley Wynne.
The rest of the selction choices were obvious. Reserve keeper Andrew Davison had been exposed in the first leg, so first choice Francis Compton had to play, and the defence featured Wiston and Bramhag as our best players, while Robin Cornish got the nod over the retiring Scott Price.
The Lions unsurprisingly went for a conservative 4-5-1 formation, but didn't go ultra- defensive, perhaps hoping for an away goal that would ease their situation significantly.
The game started with a dead ball duel. Vragtrijder smashed a kick well wide for the Lions, before Wynne tried a training ground routine to lay off for Crantz. Showing exceptional composure the rookie drilled home.
The floodgates refused to open though, and chances were limited for most of the rest of the half. On 43 minutes though came the Lions chance and lone forward Florindo headed in from a Kaufman cross. Knowing that they were back to needing 3 goals, and with only half the time to get them in, Dragons charged forward, but Marcus Quigley could only hit the post.
At half-time, the Lions would have been very satisfied with how things were going, especially knowing there were no big guns on the Dragons bench.
Both first half goalscorers began the second half with chances to repeat the trick. Lions wing attacks were causing problems for the Dragons 3 man defence, and another Florindo header flashed wide. Crantz became the second Dragons player to hit the post, and the match was drifting away with only 30 minutes to go.
However, the tough tackling approach that the Lions had adopted, understandable for a lower-league side, began to be counter-productive. Another free-kick was conceded. This time Wynne dummied the pass to Crantz, before lashing the ball directly home.
Undaunted, the Lions subbed off some tiring players and came again, Kaufman shooting narrowly wide. With 10 minutes to go, they seemed destined to progress.
But the Dragons are not a side that undervalue the Cup, and they fought for everything. Quigley crossed and Milton Quailey headed home. The game was still on.
Dragons were now throwing everyone forward, while the Lions threw their bodies into blocks and last ditch tackles. One was mis-timed though and Wynne stood behind another free-kick with rookie keeper Blessed against him. With ice in his veins, Wynne lifted the ball over the wall and dipped it into the corner. With 5 minutes to go, the match was now headed into Extra-Time.
With the Lions shell-shocked and the Dragons determined not to concede a killer second away goal on the counter, those 5 minutes plus injury time were quiet. So was the first period of extra-time, with both sides saving themselves for a last push.
Again the Dragons took the initiative, attacking remorselessly. Another free-kick, Crantz headed wide, Wynne slid the ball past the goalie, only to see it roll wide. Finally in the 119th minute with penalties looming, Wynne made his final contribution. Crantz nodded the ball down to him, 25 yards out, and the ball was still rising as it hit the roof of the net.
The Lions players collapsed in despair, the Dragons somehow summoned the energy after two hours of intense exertion to celebrate like crazy. There was no crowd invasion, the Dragons fans knew that they shouldn't have been pushed to the limit by a less skilled side, but still there was great appreciation for an immense effort.
And everyone lived happily after.
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