By Dick Sturch

Millwey Rise 1sts 0, Awliscombe 0

Awliscombe won 9-10 on penalties The real highlight and excitement of this game was reserved for the final penalty shoot-out after neither side had looked like scoring in the foregoing 120 minutes. Throughout the first half play was very scrappy, not helped by a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch. Defences remained on top whenever they were required to stifle any sign of a threat. Neither keeper was called upon to demonstrate their ability to any great extent as few threatening chances were created. A few minutes into the second period Millwey's Nathan Womersley, still feeling the effects of a hamstring problem, was forced to retire and re-signing Sam Burke came on to replace him. The game was lacking in any cohesive structure from either side as passes went astray and defences continued to be on top. For Rise midfielders Nathan Hoole and Zak Meaker were tireless in their efforts both in defence and assisting the attack and Alex Rockett was a very efficient sweeper at the back. The best opportunity Millwey had was a ball played across an empty goal area by Luke Thurlow which no attacker could latch onto. The half eventually petered out into a 0-0 draw. The game went into extra-time and, with no score in either period, provided an exact facsimile of the halves that had preceded it. So it was penalty shoot-out time which provided all the excitement and drama these events do. In this case, more so, as each side's penalties cancelled out the other's until Rise missed their 13th and Awliscombe, from a league below, celebrated their victory. Next week Millwey's 1st X1 are away at East Budleigh 2nds and Millwey 2nd X1 welcome The Heart of Oak 1st X1 to Cloakham. Both kick-off at 3pm.