Hero Harrison Hits a High

Boroughbridge AFC 2, Harrogate CSC 2
After Extra Time
Boroughbridge win 5-4 on Penalties

Claro FA Knockout Cup Final – 13.04.08

"Less than a foot made the difference between a hero and a bum." Grover Cleveland Alexander (1887 - 1950). The thing with a penalty shoot out is that there always has to be a hero, and conversely, there always has to be a villain. The margin is very fine too (especially if you are a goalkeeper in the shoot out), and usually less than a foot.

The third meeting of these two teams in four weeks could have taken away some of the edge to the meeting, even with a cup at stake. CSC edged the first meeting, winning the Challenge Cup semi final in extra time. Bridge gained revenge of sorts with a one goal victory in a dull league match just a week ago, Steve Paffett scoring from the spot. The sweeter revenge was to be at Wetherby in this final, where Paffett again played a major role, undoubtedly a contender as Man of the Match if Tony Harrison's heroics are discounted, and both teams proved that familiarity need not breed contempt, serving up a pulsating cup tie, enthralling and frustrating in equal measures at times. On a heavy pitch with a sizable crowd, the game started at a good tempo, and good chances fell to Paul Eagling and Ollie Barton in the opening ten minutes, but CSC were first to draw blood, with what we were not to know was the first of 11 penalties we were to witness before a winner was known. A clumsy tackle by Dave Burniston on Dan Harper gave ex-'Bridge man Dave Spence the chance to give his side a lead, and he duly despatched the ball to his right past Harrison who guessed the wrong way. Up to that point, 'Bridge were settling better than CSC, but it obviously took the impetus away, and CSC enjoyed a good spell where better penetration could have given them a more substantial basis to build on. As it was, apart from a fumbled cross by Harrison, they failed to use the lever, and 'Bridge were very unlucky not to level on 34 minutes, when Paffett rose above a sea of bodies to place an accurate header towards the goal, only to see the ball come off the bar and cleared. Almost immediately Rob Dowden. Jon Baranovsky and Biagio D'Amore combined at the other end, but over elaborated and the score remained 1-0.Dowden was denied again just 3 minutes later when Harrison flung out his legs and blocked his shot when it seemed easier to score; the resulting loose ball fell to D'Amore but he was unable to control to good effect. Eagling and Uffindall both spurned further chances before both teams had injury time efforts which again were close but came to nothing, firstly Harrison spilling a Mike Syms shot for a corner, then Gary Cooper dispossessing Phil Wix but almost netting for an own goal. As it was, 1-0 was probably an acceptable scoreline given the first half play.

Half Time – Boroughbridge AFC 0, Harrogate CSC 1

"We just asked them for more of the same, only better and with fewer mistakes" Rob Aspinall told me of their half time team talk. He and Rich Donohoe must have been delighted with the response, as in the first meaningful move of the half 'Bridge were back on level terms. Phil Wix showed lightning pace as he picked the ball up in his own half and sprinted down the left wing, before laying off to Uffindall. He in turn fed the ball wide to Eagling, who strayed wider still before unleashing a thunderous shot from the narrowest of angles. His placement was exemplary at pace, and the bulging net signalled touchline celebrations for the large contingent who had travelled from Boroughbridge. It was a catalyst for the team too, who were to go on to dominate the rest of the match from this point. Just 2 minutes later, Uffindall saw a goal bound attempt cleared off the line, whilst Andy Layton's header from an Eagling cross went across the face of the goal and inches wide of the post. Not that CSC were toothless; Syms shot straight at Harrison to prove that, but the bulk of the action was in Dan Skelton's goal area. Eagling and Wix combined to set up Uffindall, who shot straight at Skelton when it was easier to score, and within a minute Uffindall had unleashed a left foot volley that just looped over the bar. Uffindall and Josh Kidd likewise set up Ollie Barton who forced a Skelton save, then Uffindall hit the side netting from a similar position to Eagling's goal. D'Amore shot wide at the other end, whilst Syms put a Med cross over the bar. The half was destined to end without further score though despite the pressure, Eagling having the last chance but being well tackled by Gary Cooper when shaping to shoot. The biggest fear was whether failing to use the dominance was going to prove costly in extra time.

Full Time – Boroughbridge AFC 1, Harrogate CSC 1

The dominance continued into extra time, and finally 'Bridge had their reward. on 97 minutes, substitute Ben Darville picked out Uffindall on the edge of the area with his back to goal. At times in the second half he had appeared over eager to get his shot in, missing the possibility of laying off to others, but this time he played things perfectly. Holding his ground under pressure, he turned and fired a low shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net to put 'Bridge ahead for the first time in the match. Darville was unable to add to the score from the right wing on 102 minutes, so despite completely controlling the game, the possibility of a CSC comeback was still a live one.

Half Time (ET) - Boroughbridge AFC 2, Harrogate CSC 1

With the clock ticking, 'Bridge were still pressuring, but not taking things that were falling their way. CSC gave warning that they could do something against the run of play, when Harrison was forced to come out and take the ball bravely from the feet of Med when he was clear on goal. The warning was unheeded though and on 107 minutes Mark Baranovsky picked up a punched Harrison clearance and calmly slid the ball past him for an unlikely equaliser. This was to be a vital goal as 'Bridge could not find a response despite relentless waves of attack, and the half drifted off to what was now the inevitable, and even Uffindall could not hit the target in the dying seconds when in space on the edge of the six yard box.

Full Time (ET) - Boroughbridge AFC 2, Harrogate CSC 2

So the lottery of penalties ultimately decided the winners of the Cup, and the right team won, having had by far the lion's share of possession and chances. However, there is always the risk of a moment of bad luck overturning the work of even 120 minutes of dominance, the risk of guessing the wrong way or a minor fumble. Grover Alexander was a pro baseball player in the 1920's, but sport is now as it was then, and the lines dividing success and failure, hero and villain are very small, often way less than a foot. So it was that after 9 consecutive penalties had been despatched (10 if the in-game one is counted), with his team mates standing arms linked in solidarity, Tony Harrison guessed right to become the hero; sadly for Dan Skelton he guessed wrongly and became the villain. As the 'Bridge players swamped their hero, it was obvious that the difference was way, way less than a foot.

Man of Match – Tony Harrison

Boroughbridge AFC – A Harrison, J Kidd, C Tetley, D Burniston, S Paffett, O Barton, D Saxon, A Layton, O Uffindall, P Eagling, P Wix. Subs – A O'Hare, C Stephenson, B Darville,

Harrogate CSC - D Skelton, J Baranovsky, D Ramshaw, M Baranovsky, G Cooper, M Whitehead, D Harper, D Spence, B D'Amore, M Syms, R Dowden. Subs - G Med, T Dowden, K Lofthouse

Goal Scorers – BAFC, P Eagling, O Uffindall - Harrogate CSC, D Spence (pen), M Baranovsky