The Whites’ League Cup dream came to the harshest of ends with a semi-final defeat on penalties to Trowbridge Town Lions at Leafy Lane.
A gripping, end-to-end contest somehow finished scoreless after 40 minutes and the Colts showed tremendous fighting spirit after falling behind to a freak goal in the first period of extra-time.
But Trowbridge proved more clinical when it mattered to hand the luckless Colts the same fate so many England teams have suffered in the recent past. They gave the Division 1 leaders their toughest game of the season, though, and can be massively proud of their efforts in the competition this season, having knocked out very strong Westbury and Bradford sides en route to the last four.
The decision to stage the tie on Corsham’s notorious sloping pitch did neither side many favours but they went on to serve up a real nail-biter – played in the correct spirit throughout – for a huge crowd of supporters on the sidelines.
Colts kicked up the hill in the first period and did brilliantly to keep their opponents out while fashioning the better opportunities at the other end, with Matthew forcing a save with a shot from distance and birthday boy George and Tom both going agonisingly close in goalmouth scrambles. Keeper Max was as solid as a rock behind a defence that saw Josh, Brandon and Luke rise to the challenge superbly.
The game became stretched as the legs tired after the interval but, with the slope now in their favour, Colts pushed their opponents back. Matthew and Toby’s driving runs from midfield set up chance after chance, with Bradley and Tom just failing to convert the best of them against an equally resolute Trowbridge back-line.
The Lions were always a threat, however, and gave Colts plenty to worry about with some excellent build-up play around the box. Max made a couple of incredible diving saves to keep them out, while Tom came from nowhere to block a goalbound attempt to safety.
Again, Colts defended the slope well in the first five-minute period of extra-time but the deadlock was finally broken when a near-post corner ricocheted off two Whites players and past Max’s despairing dive on the line.
So often in recent weeks – not least when they were beaten 4-1 by the same opponents a fortnight previously – the Whites’ heads have dropped in such circumstances. Not this time. The roared back from the restart and Bradley had an attempt blocked before Brandon defied a knee injury to plant the ball into the corner of the net to spark ecstatic scenes both on the field and on the sidelines.
Sadly, there had to be a loser and it was the Colts who missed out on a final appearance as Trowbridge converted four penalties to their two in the resulting shootout. Max pulled off yet another fantastic save to keep them in it and found the net himself, while Matthew, Luke, Tom and Toby all showed bravery to step forward amid high tension.
To a man, the boys battled their hearts out and their parents, relatives and coaches were rightly proud as they left the field with their heads held high. It just wasn’t their day – but they remain a fantastic team and a credit to their club.
And, of course, there’s always next year.