FC Holderness produced a fantastic comeback from three goals down, to win on penalties, to progress in the Vice-President’s Cup against Holderness United after a 3-3 draw.

The visitors came into the game as underdogs and at one point in the game were ahead 3-0, courtesy of goals from Ethan Webb, Brett Johnson and an own goal from Reece Cluff. However, goals from Lewis Gray and a brace from Aaron Thornton sent the game into penalties with FC Holderness keeper Liam Pattison saving the decisive penalty from Henry Reid.

In the opening minutes, it was end-to-end action with Dan Cross slicing the first effort wide before AJ Revell held Cluff’s attempt. Thornton then curled an attempt over the bar, before at the other end Pattison produced a great save to deny Reid.

United took the lead after eleven minutes with Leon Todd and Jack Bamford combining well before squaring the ball back to Webb to finesse his shot into the far corner. Webb could have had a second moments later from a counter attack, but Adam Kitching put in a great challenge to deny him.

However, it didn’t take United long to score a second with Kieron Johnson’s clever wing play and cross finding Brett Johnson to volley home from close-range to double their lead after twenty minutes.

Revell then held Thornton’s curling shot, before United fired two attempts over the bar from Kieron Johnson and Webb respectively. United was then indebted to defender Luke Dunn as he cleared Kitching’s attempt off the line. Connor Jeffery headed an attempt over the bar, before Thornton’s scuffed volley didn’t challenge Revell.

In the second half, Revell denied Thornton again, beating away his shot before Brad Jeffery fired the rebound wide. Thornton was the danger man for FC Holderness and his dipping drive was held again by Revell.

With the hosts pushing forward, United was finding space in behind and Todd should have done better with his left-footed strike, hitting it over the bar, before a failed offside trap from the FC Holderness defence allowed Brett Johnson through. Patton produced a great block to deny the winger, but from the resulting corner Cluff headed Todd’s delivery into his own net to spare Johnson’s blushes and put the visitors 3-0 up past the hour mark.

It only took six minutes for FC Holderness to start the comeback, with Gray quickest to react to finish from close-range after a good initial save from Revell from Thornton. Six minutes later, they got their second as Thornton’s deflected free-kick wrong footed Revell to put the scoreline at 3-2.

United had chances to kill the game off in the last ten minutes, with Pattison producing smart saves from Todd and Kieron Johnson before the equaliser. A mad scramble led to Thornton smashing the ball into the net with seconds left in stoppage time to take the game into penalties.

United elected to take the first penalty and substitute Knud Nellson fired his spot-kick over, before Thornton dispatched his for the hosts. Aaron Broxham converted his spot-kick for United, as well as Joe Oglesby for FC Holderness, before Dan Cross blazed his penalty over. Connor Jeffery then converted from the spot before Pattison saved Reid’s penalty to complete the comeback for FC Holderness in a hectic game.

TEAMS:

FC HOLDERNESS: 1. Liam Pattison (GK), 2. Adam Kitching, 15. Callum Dale, 6. Joe Broadley, 24. Matty Whitehead, 19. Tom Kitching, 3. Brad Jeffery, 12. Reece Cluff, 14. Joe Oglesby, 10. Aaron Thornton, 11. Connor Jeffery. Substitutes: 5. Theo Powley, 21. Lewis Gray.

HOLDERNESS UNITED: 1. AJ Revell (GK), 8. Dan Rashed, 4. Dan Cross, 14. Ryan Cary, 5. Luke Dunn, 11. Keiron Johnson, 7. Brett Johnson, 16. Henry Reid, 3. Ethan Webb, 10. Jack Bamford, 9. Leon Todd. Substitutes: 9. Connor Roche, 5. Knud Nellson, 12. Aaron Broxhall. 

FC Holderness manager Dave Taylor:

“Our performance, compared to the standards we have set at the start of the season, was way off the pace, but the character we showed was absolutely massive today from the boys.

“When we went in at half-time, we said we’ve got to go at it and there’s nothing to lose for us really and I think what we’d done second half, character wise and a couple of changes we made, helped us to get the draw and to win on penalties; it shows the character of the boys and we move onto the next round.

“Fair play to Marlon Thompson and Holderness United, they’ve been a very good team to play against. To go 3-0 up against us, they’ve played previous Humber Prem opposition already this season and I think they’ll be joining us in the Premier division next season.

“They were very well organised first half against us and they took the game to us. On another day, they could have gone on and won five or six-nil; it could have been game over after fifty minutes really and again our character was just tremendous today.”

Holderness United manager Marlon Thompson:

“We’ve thrown the game away to be honest. We’ve proven that we can play against Premier opposition, but we made a few silly mistakes. We played really well, but you can’t take it away from FC Holderness; you can’t let a 3-0 lead slip and they’ve done ever so well to get back into it.

“It’s the worse way to lose on penalties, but I won’t blame the penalties. No one likes taking penalties, it’s pressure, so I can’t fault the penalties.

“We was playing some really good football. It’s just hard to take really, but you can’t let a 3-0 lead slip away, so no matter how well we’ve done to get into that position, we’ve thrown it away so we’ll work on it as we now focus on the league to get promotion.”

CUP ROUNDUP 

Senior Country Cup

In the Senior Country Cup, there was loads of goals in the handful of fixtures played with Stamford Bridge AFC First’s winning 12-1 against Swanland Rangers First to progress, while Hodgson AFC First and Cliffe First also progressed by winning 7-3 and 6-4 respectively against Hedon Rangers FC Reserves and Leven Members Club First respectively.

Pocklington Town 2nd team beat Holme Rovers First 4-2 away while Hessle Sporting Club First (HPL) and Hunmanby United First both won their respective away fixtures 3-1 and 2-1 against Pocklington Town 3rd and Blackburn Athletic 1st respectively. Easington United Firsts, Filey Town First and Bridlington Town Thirds all progressed as well as they knocked out Roos First, Malton & Norton FC First and Beverley Town Reserves respectively.

At the time of writing, there is still six fixtures left to play in the second round while Cherry Burton FC First received a bye into the third round.

U14 Boys Cup

In the U14 Boys Cup, the biggest victory came from Warriors (Jnrs) Warriors FC with a outstanding 13-2 away victory at AFC Tickton Swifts. Hull Red Stars also progressed with another notable away performance of the round, winning 9-1 against Pelican Rangers AFC, while Withernsea AFC Tigers and Hessle Sporting Club Bombers also progressed by scoring seven goals in their respected fixtures against East Riding Rangers Black and Springhead.

Other teams that progressed to the next round are Longhill Ravens, Beverley Town, Kingston Hull FC, South Cave Sporting Club Bears and Leven Juniors while Patrington AFC received a bye into the next round.

There is still seven fixtures left to play for this round of the cup competition to play.

Alf Bolder Memorial Youth U16 Cup

In the Alf Bolder Youth U16 Cup, there was some fantastic games, with AFC Tickton Bulldogs securing a 11-0 home victory against Driffield Junior FC Rangers, while FC Dyanmo won 9-1 away at North Cave Tigers. Patrington AFC won 4-2 on penalties after a 5-5 draw against Bridlington Rangers Juniors Tigers while Elloughton Blackburn Juniors won 7-0 against Hull United Red’s. North Ferriby FC White, Hessle Rangers, AFC Tickton, Willerby Jags and AFC Kingston all progressed respectively in their fixtures, while Brandesburton United, Cottingham Rangers and South Cave Sporting Club received byes into the next round.

There is still three fixtures left to play in this round of the tournament.