CARRY ON CAMPING!! CARRY ON STRUGGLING AWAY!!

Technical Services put the league to one side to try and go one better and win the League Challenge Cup; TS were finalists last year only to lose out to FC Hodnet & went into this seasons Cup as favourites.

However, yet again it was an away tie that saw us short of players, a shadow of the side that we fielded last weekend!! Couple of no shows (AGAIN), lads being asked to play out of position, injuries, suspensions, working, sleeping, still drinking & even me putting on a kit!!

That being said, we started very very well, Phil Jones again filling in in goal, Captain Ben Cheadle at right back, Laurie Bridle & Ian "Chunk" Gillespie in centre defence, we welcomed back Chris White for his first game of the season today a very good solid defence minded player, he has no left foot but was asked to play left back which he handled very very well! Michael Rimmer, Mr Friday Night Out, started well at left wing but then just played up front on the left I think?? Craig "Billy" Williams partnered Daz Woodall in centre midfield, Tim Weston back in the side with some nasty scars from his recent injury, again Tim asked to play out of position at right wing, he did well & Carl Owens and myself up front.

Very much like the week before absolutely camped in the Prees half just unable to find that final through ball and not threatening their keeper and then they go up the other end and score from a corner?? I don't know how we do it sometimes; just dominant a side for 20 minutes not score and then concede? Anyhow we rallied round well kept our heads up and looked for the equaliser! Unfortunately, this never came, after pitching up tent in the Prees half we were unable to score & the team talk at half time was just keep it going! But we needed to start passing it more stop trying to take everyone on yourself and use the wingers and forwards more.

TS really felt that we'd run riot in the second half, the best side so far was losing & it was only a matter of time until that changed. But to be fair to Prees they hanged on to their lead very well. The TS lads got more and more frustrated the more time went on without scoring and we were so camped in their half that Billy and Daz just ended up pretty much playing up front!! However, this pushing for the goal that would start us off, left space in the middle of the park for Prees' wingers and midfielders to have a go at our back four at times. The back four held out well a special mention to Chris White playing left back very well for someone without a left foot. Ben Cheadle, Chunk & Loz just did what we all know they can do, playing very well and Prees never looked like they'd find a second! It must of been 10 minutes to go when Billy scored the much needed equaliser, we got our lucky break that we needed and Billy finished off his 6th goal of the season very well. With so little time left Prees just wanted extra time, but TS knew there was time for the winner and that came when Billy found himself one on one with the keeper, Billy finishes off the chance very well, Billy now joint top scorer with Nick Best (who was suspended today) on 7 goals, Billy with a man of the match performance, TS into the Semi Final & THANK GOD FOR THAT!!

Today, well, a lot of positives can be taken from today, on another day we could of lost this & if we had it would of been very harsh! Technical Services were literally CAMPED in Prees' half (not sure if I’ve said that enough in this report - CAMPED!!). Phil Jones walked off the pitch in what looked like a brand new goal keeper kit, he had had absolutely nothing to do & with a very weak side we can take confidence from the result today. Be very nice to go all the way in this cup we can all now look forward to a semi final, but our focus will know turn to the league & see if we can get this away form sorted out as from today!