Uxbridge bowed out of this seasons Middlesex Senior Cup with a disappointing defeat on penalties to Combined Counties side Harefield Utd on Tuesday evening.
On a bitterly cold November evening, Uxbridge never really got into their stride, and although they did have opportunities to win the match, Harefield were full of confidence and on balance probably deserved to go through.
It had looked as though the home side had taken an early lead on just 4 minutes, but Alex Witham’s header was ruled out for offside. Massimo Giamatti then shot just wide on 10 mins, as did Leo Donnellan 5 minutes later as Uxbridge tried to assert themselves over the visitors. Harefield though looked confident – under the tutorship of ex-reds favourite Wayne Carter – as the half wore on, they fashioned chances with Justin Davis shooting over when well placed on the half an hour. The Hares did take the lead 6 minutes later when another former Uxbridge player Gareth Chendlik smashed home a loose ball after a goalmouth scramble which Uxbridge failed to clear. That was the last significant action as the visitors held onto the lead at the break
HT 0-1
The scores should have been level just 3 minutes into the second half though, when Witham’s low cross found Wilson Chingoka with the goal gaping 3 yards out, but the ball somehow went wide. Harefield kept coming though and they looked increasingly comfortable as Uxbridge struggled to break them down. They could have doubled their lead on 65 minutes, but Lenny Farhall (yet another ex-red) shot just wide. It looked as though it would be a frustrating evening, however Witham hauled Uxbridge level on 77 minutes when he was played in by Ada Okorogheye, and his cross shot found its way into the top corner with Harefield keeper Tom Clark left rooted to the line. Ada Okorogheye could have snatched it – but his header from a corner was just over as he couldn’t quite get underneath the ball. Substitute George Moore then had a couple of good chances to score as the game entered the latter stages with a couple of sighters and then went even closer as his shot from the edge of the box was tipped onto the bar by Clark. Ultimately though the game ended level and onto penalties.
The usually dependable Witham failed with the first spot kick, and Harefield held their nerve with the next 3 before Archie Coulter was denied by George Legg to take it to sudden death. George Moore was then denied by Clark, and it was left for Dominic Jones to slot the ball home to take Harefield through to the next round.
FT 1-1 (4-5 Pens)
Att 124
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