19th November 2006

Deep into the second period of extra time and with penalties looming, Alex Dawkes popped up on the edge of the box and stroked the ball home, to give Queens Park a dramatic 4-3 victory over NPL Youth and a place in the last eight of the E&E U13 League Cup.

In a thoroughly entertaining game, played in the right spirit, it was Park who had much the better of the early exchanges against opponents from the division above. They saw a number of chances go begging, before Zach Williams latched onto a through ball from Jorden Bartlett and chipped the ball over the home keeper. NPL came back strongly and Park had to defend resolutely to maintain their lead until half time.

The second half was less than a minute old when Samuel Honey rose to meet a perfectly delivered corner and double Park's lead. NPL were not giving up however and they began to exert some pressure. Two goals in quick succession, the second an unstoppable blast from 25 yards saw NPL draw level. Park struck back immediately. They broke down the left and Ryan Sandford's pass found Sam Varley in space and he gave the keeper no chance.

Both sides battled hard and there were chances at either end, before NPL took advantage of confusion in the Park defence to level things once again and send the game into extra time. .

Extra time was played at the same high tempo and with the same commitment and quality, as both sides tried to find a winning goal. With James Rumble and Matt Greenslade outstanding, Park kept NPL at bay until the decisive moment.

Park are through, but only just. Resilience and team spirit, the hallmarks of recent performances, were needed today and this Queens Park team delivered in spades!

Reporter: Martyn Dawkes