Ravens went into this game against a very strong and physical side in Stelphick United who are in the league above. However there was a real feeling that Ravens could create enough chances to do some damage to the Stelphicksters.
After a tough first 25 minutes where we were kept in the game more by awful finishing and some good stops by Grant Sadler then anything else. That is until Matt Hennessy picked the ball up and played it to Robert olding who played it back for a 1-2. A 1 2 1 if you will, Rob Olding then raced to the byline and drilled the ball across the box only for Tim Brown to miss and when the ball rebounded to Matt Hennessy who started the move and finished it with a powerful smash from 20 yards into the left corner. Ravens then began to take some encouragement from this and for the next 5 minutes played some top notch soccer, but then disaster struck, Ravens were playing too high a line and were caught napping when a through ball put him through and he finished. This knocked the wind out of our sails, the can out of our hand, the butternut squash of our chopping board. Stelphick added another before half time to give them a well deserved 2-1 lead.
At half time a good team talk by Kev gave us some much needed confidence, we needed to battle, we needed to keep it tight, we needed to attack with more prouess, and we did just that for the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half, until yet another attacking long throw in caused more havoc then a squirrel at a nut factory and saw us fall 3-1 behind. Saying this Ravens had begun the second half quite brightly when Kyle Moss scurried through twice only to see the keeper come out well twice. The game turned nasty when a Stephick player kicked out at Tim Brown, Tim Brown retaliated only to be jumped on by the injured keeper who was quite clearly still in shock from hurting the bone the bone the bone in his pinky finger. Both spectator and Tim Brown were booked for there parts. However while this was going on no nonsense centre back blondie pushed both Kyle Moss and Ross Evans. My maths is usually pretty good but i think i must have got this one wrong. 1 push equals 1 yellow card then 2 pushes equals 2 yellow cards. I guess im just not grasping it because apparently it clearly states in the referees manual that if 2 pushes are brandished then a gold star should be awarded to the brave warrior picking on people half his age and double his IQ. Well i never. Ravens then went close through Matt Hennessy with another trademark late run into the box only to see his left footed volley to be saved. The game finished 3-1 and Ravens are now out of the cup.

Player Ratings
Grant Sadler-7- Super stops when needed, didnt put a foot wrong all game until he did the okey cokey.
Kev Brooks-5- showed good pace on several occasions.
Liam Dodsley-5- Was up against a very good left midfielder and ran hard to try and stop him.
Omni "Studs up" Sambrook-5- Studs still showing but not his finest performance.
Rob Bentham-8- Showed 100% commitment for the whole 90 minutes. Surging runs.
Rob Olding-6- Some good runs and crosses, great work for the goal
Ollie Patterson-6- Spread the play well and stuck his foot in on many occasions.
Matt Hennessy-6- Good goal and went close at the end.
Tim Brown-6- Good in the air, showed a good fighting spirit.
Ross Evans-6- Shielded the ball well and played as a good target man.
Kyle Moss-5- Made some good runs.
Substitutes
Tarik Foley-6- Ran tirelessly and made 1 superb tackle.
Jamie Hawthorne-5- Some good vision for through balls.