21 Apr 2014 - Bracknell Town (A)

Losing on penalties is always the most agonising way to lose a cup tie. However, losing by such a manner in a semi-final, as Wootton Bassett Town Reserves did in the President's Cup against Bracknell Town, is enough to multiply that pain a hundred times.

And when you add in the fact Bassett twice came from behind to peg their hosts back and force the contest to be decided by the spot kicks lottery, there will be little to console Simon Paish and his players.

Yet heads should be held high. The Reserves have enjoyed a remarkably successful season, and are still on course for a third place league finish. Meanwhile, in this nerve-wracking cup contest they performed admirably, giving everything they had to search for an opportunity to play for some silverware.

Alas they would be denied this in the cruellest of fashions. Leading 4-3 as Smith, captain Sam English, Fraser Joyce and Rich Clark found the net, Bassett had the chance to wrap up victory after Bracknell's Sam Tighe struck the bar. However, Steve Pleass missed the target and, snatching the lifeline offered to his team, Jordan Rowland forced sudden death.

There, George Drewitt saw his penalty saved by Josh Baker before home captain Dan Sleet sent Luke Kuczynski the wrong way to win it.

It was a game in which penalties played a huge part, Bracknell's first goal in normal time coming from the spot before Smith equalised a second time in the final minute of extra time from twelve yards.

That first spot kick was the game's first chance. It came after Pleass, looking to shepherd the ball out of play, saw sprightly winger Dan Broadbear skip past him and steal possession with the Bassett defender then bundling his opponent over. Tom Williams stepped up for the kick and picked out the bottom right corner of the net.

Chances were few and far between throughout the match, though the home side's Jake White could have done better on the half hour mark, flicking a header from ten yards straight into Kuczynski's hands.

With five minutes to go until half time Bassett then equalised thanks to an expertly worked goal. With his back to goal on the left edge of the area, Smith flicked a Pleass pass around the corner to Shaun Terry. The veteran forward then squared across the box, the ball eventually falling to Jack Windell who fired past Baker from 15 yards.

Lewis Chatwin soon had the opportunity to make it a quickfire Bassett double when Terry's chipped reverse pass set him free. But his attempted lob sailed well over.

Following the restart, the game descended into a scrappy battle, both teams too often trying to force play; given the occasion, though, that was little surprise.

It was not until the final quarter of an hour that either of the two ‘keepers was once again tested.

A towering Rowland cross caused difficult for Bassett's defence on 75 minutes, with Broadbear taking advantage on the right. He cut inside Scott Walduck before shooting low, but could not find the target.

At the other end, an unmarked Drewitt met a Smith corner ten yards from goal, but the defender could only guide his header wide.

Kuczynski was then called into action, parrying at the feet of White after Broadbear's square pass.

Extra time it was. In the opening period, Kuczynski had to produce a strong save to bat away a Williams drive before home stopper Baker had to do the same to divert Lewis Chatwin's thunderous strike over the bar following a Jake Matthews flick.

Somewhat out of the blue the home side got back in front in the game's 112th minute. They did so in fine fashion too, Broadbear's reverse pass slipping in White on the right and the forward arrowed into the opposite bottom corner from an acute angle.

Desperately seeking another equaliser, Drewitt was sent up front and he would win the penalty that allowed Smith – in a pressure packed situation – to coolly stroke home. Challenging for a free kick pumped into the box, Drewitt was kicked off the ball by Louis Wilson, who received a straight red card for his cynical foul.

That drama meant neither side would be separated after two hours of football. Twelve further spot kicks later though and Bracknell had won.

Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:39