Rustons Dig Deep To Make The Quarters

The game began with both teams battling hard but with neither really creating a great deal, but it would be the home side who would nearly open the scoring when a looped header was cleared off the sports bar line by a fine save by their keeper. Sports Bar then responded with a quick counter attack that rattled the post with these two chances being the pick of the first half.

Ruston's went down the slope in the second half and the introduction of captain Jamie Green from the bench sparked them into life with Green finding Timmie Mann who jinxed past a couple of men before scoring. As the game progressed both sides were defending well with few chances coming at either end, but they would level when a clearance to the edge of the box was brought do and volleyed in with a plumb from the Sports Bar striker who had just come on.

Both teams were looking leggy on a heavy pitch but Green again found Mann in the area and the Rustons winger smashed home his second to take a lead with just ten minutes to go. As the game came to its close Sports Bar threw everything forward and would have a free kick on the edge of the area as the game went into stoppage time. Sports Bar captain Aaron Bee's low free kick wasn't dealt with and Callum Ranyard turned home after a couple of ricochets to send the game into extra time.

With both teams tired very few chances were created in extra time, but there would be late drama with five minutes to go when Sam Joyce spotted the Sports Bar keeper off his line and delivered and inch perfect lob from the right wing to send the home side through to the quarter finals. Our man of the match on the day was Timmie Mann who was excellent throughout.