Underdogs Tydd St Mary defeated Spalding Town 5-3 on penalties to lift the Spalding Inter Services Trophy after a thrilling 4-4 draw at Carter’s Park on Saturday.
The Saints, who play in ChromaSport PDFL Division Three, had to battle back from 2-0 down to force extra time against Division Two outfit Town.
They then led 3-2 and 4-3 in the additional period, before penalties from Tim Lowe, Scott Pemberton, Stu Easey, Paul Clarke and Dan Piccaver sealed the victory for Carl Wilson’s side.
Tydd chief Wilson said: “Wow, what a game! I couldn’t have asked more of my lads out there tonight.
“They gave it their all and were fantastic. I am so proud of each and every one of them.”
Town came out of the blocks the stronger in front of a big crowd of 230 at Holbeach United’s home – and they took the lead after ten minutes through Markus Parry.
Tydd huffed and puffed in the first half, but had keeper David Cooper to thank for keeping the score to 1-0 at half time.
The Tydd management team did their best to rouse the players at half time, but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears when favourites Town doubled their lead courtesy of Parry’s second two minutes after the restart.
That seemed to be the catalyst for Tydd to wake up – and they pulled one back when Easey audaciously caught Spalding out with a quickly-taken free kick to score make it 2-1.
Easey then had another free kick in the same spot ten minutes later. Again he opted for a strike on goal – but this time it took a wicked deflection to give the Spalding keeper no chance for 2-2.
Town had more chances to win the game in regulation time, but it was again Cooper that kept Tydd in it.
It was the Saints who came out the stronger side in the first additional period – then they went ahead for the first time when Lowe fired home from the spot after he was brought down in the penalty area.
Town refused to accept defeat, however, and levelled the scores at 3-3 before the break thanks to a strike from sub Josh Faulkner.
The goals continued to flow as Tydd re-took the lead in the second period of extra time. Some fine work down the left by Dale Parnell saw him deliver a pinpoint cross for Pemberton to slide home for 4-3.
Defiant Town had one last push in the dying seconds – and duly forced penalties when Parry scored a great goal with the final kick of the game to complete a memorable hat-trick.
The shoot-out went the way of Tydd, but it was a great day for South Holland football.
Despite seeing his side play a big role in the best Inter-Services final in recent memory, Town boss Chris Page couldn’t hide his disappointment at the final outcome.
“Gutted is an understatement,” said the Spalding supremo. “All of the lads were devastated after the game, but we’ve got to pick ourselves up and aim to get promotion.
“We missed a open goal at 2-0 up which would more than likely have killed the game. They then came back with a goal that, in my opinion, shouldn’t have stood and then a deflection from a free kick.
“Full credit to Tydd though, they showed great spirit in coming back. We had enough chances to win two cup finals and it speaks volumes when their goalkeeper got man of the match.
“It’s very difficult to take when we’ve already lost in two other semi-finals this season.”
Tydd: Cooper, Clayden, Easey, Lowe, Pemberton, Piccaver, Powley, Reims, Slator, Thrower, Tordoff. Subs used: Ainslie, Clarke, Furness, Kirkham, Parnell.
Town: Haytree, Astley, Booth, Broom, Burrell, Clow, Cundy, Lambe, Parry, Thorold, Williams. Subs used: Faulkner, Grummitt, Kingman, Rabiega, Robinson.
Attendance: 230.
