Just
when this game seemed to be heading for a dramatic
penalty shoot-out, West Mids scored twice in the
last minute of extra time to set up a home quarter
final tie against Fife Police, who defeated them
in last season’s final.
Notts
started well but West Mids keeper Darren Carmell
was in fine form making a brilliant double save
from Dave Newton. However, Carmell was beaten on
24 minutes when Danny Holloway pounced on a loose
ball to fire home from 12 yards.
West
Mids best chance of the half fell to Paul Shaw who
saw his first time shot from a Kevin Usher cross
well saved by the Notts keeper.
West
Mids equalised six minutes into the second half
when Mike Mason jinked down the right flank and
crossed to Shaw who picked his spot to shoot home
from 15 yards. It was all West Mids for the next
30 minutes. Dave Harnett had a long range shot held
at the second attempt. Andy Reece hit the inside
of the post with a 30 yard piledriver and Kevin
Usher hit the rebound over the bar with an empty
net in front of him. Harnett’s pin-point cross
found Mason who saw his point blank header brilliantly
saved by the keeper.
West
Mids took their foot off the pedal and Carmell was
back in action with a superb fingertip save from
a 25 yard rocket-like shot. From the resultant corner,
West Mids rode their luck when a close range header
bounced back off the underside of the bar. On the
stroke of 90 minutes, Carmell was called into action
again as he saved with his legs at the foot of the
post to send the tie into extra time.
Extra
time flowed from end to end with both sides missing
good chances and on 120 minutes Mike Mason sent
in a deep cross from the left touchline and Neil
Tiller ’soared like an eagle’ on the
far post to power home a close range header.
As
the Notts heads dropped, West Mids regained possession
straight from the restart and Mason sent Dayle Speed
away to drive home past the stranded keeper.
Match
Report by Tony 'Scoop' Pearson
West Midlands Police Football Club Press Officer
