Hartpury College visited Fox Soccer Academy Wednesday afternoon in the Quarter-Final of the National Champions Cup, in what was always going to be a tough test and it proved exactly that.
FSA started on the front foot and dominated possession, however Hartpury where well organised and did their best to stop FSA getting into their usual rhythm. On the 15 minute mark, FSA managed to break the Hartpury lines and Will Warren went on a driving run only to be brought down on the edge of the box. Warren stepped up from the resulting free kick, and hammered the ball home into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 FSA. Then just 6 minutes later FSA broke the lines once again as the ball fell to Aaron Nuttall on the edge of the box, he was able to get his shot of early and made it 2-0 FSA inside the opening 25 minutes. FSA didn’t step of the gas, however they had 10 minutes of madness as Hartpury turned the game up side down by scoring 3 goals inside 10 minutes to make it 3-2. The half time whistle came and FSA where shook, being so comfortable in the game to being 3-2 down was a massive shock.
This was a time for cool heads, clear minds and composure. The message was clear … Stay calm and stick to your way of playing, in doing so you will win this game.
Here are the FSA PRO Leicester goals
The 2nd half began and Hartpury dropped right off, and it was clear they where happy to sit in and hit FSA on the counter attack hanging onto their goal lead. But FSA moved the ball really well, and created openings for themselves. But in the final third they just had no luck, and nothing fell for them in the box. The Hartpury GK made some great saves frustrating everybody in the ground. 80 minutes hit, and it was a change in formation for FSA as they went to 3 at the back, and Harry Hawkins came on to the field to play alongside Joe Kerins up front. The clock ticked by, but on the 89th minute Charley Kilburn managed to get in round the back of the Hartpury defence and squared the ball back across the goal and the super substitute Hawkins was there to tap the ball in form a yard. 3-3 and it looked as though extra time was on the cards. But FSA had other ideas, and after Aaron Nuttall picked the ball up 30 yards from goal he managed to evade two defenders and smash the ball in off the bar to make it 4-3 in the last minute of the game!!
What a FINISH, What a GOAL, What a TEAM!!! This on top of the dramatic penalty shoot out win in the previous round has to go down in FSA history, but they aren’t done yet. They will look forward to the Semi-Final draw, and look forward to the challenge ahead!! Man of the Match: Aaron Nuttall
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