Shoot-out joy for Romford!

Lincoln United 0, Romford 0 – Isuzu FA Vase Semi-Final 2nd Leg – Saturday 6th April 2024 – Romford won 10-9 on penalties

At just before 5.20pm on a sunny, blustery afternoon in the East Midlands, Jamie Hursit placed the 24th penalty of the shoot out beyond the reach of Lincoln United goalkeeper Jack Steggles and improbably, but wonderfully, booked Romford a place in a Wembley final for the first time since 1949.

The ninety goal-less minutes that preceded the dramatic finale were a decent game of football. With the wind in their faces in the second half, Romford played the better football, created the better chances and were only required to endure the lottery of a penalty shoot-out by Lincoln goalkeeper Jack Steggles, who made two excellent saves to deny Charlie Morris and cleared up sundry other chances that Boro created.

Considering the prize at stake and the windy conditions, both sides contributed to an enthralling game. The wind played an early part, taking a Lincoln clearance and hurtling it behind the defender and off for a corner, which suffered the same fate as more than a few and was overhit, passing harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

Charlie Morris dragged a shot wide after Hassan Nalbant had headed on and at the other end Leo Priestley shot over the bar. Ten minutes in and Junior Luke had to clear off the line and Lincoln forced a couple of corners that Boro dealt with comfortably enough. Back down the other end and Steggles in the home goal fumbled away an effort from wide on the right by Charlie Morris that started as a cross but which the wind turned into a shot. Darren Phillips then headed on one of Junior Luke’s long throws that Lincoln cleared for a corner.

Lincoln created a good opening after 24 minutes when Jack McMenemy was sent clear on the right but his cross went harmlessly across goal before Jake Anderson made what was – the penalty shoot-out apart – his only real save of the afternoon when he went down to gather a header by Elliott Dye.

Lincoln’s Priestley was perhaps fortunate not be booked for a foul on Remi Sutton on the half-way line, and Sutton was then denied by Steggles from a corner that stemmed from the goalkeeper’s fumbling Junior Luke’s clearance over his own crossbar.

Lincoln captain Luke Foster was cautioned for a foul on Charlie Morris but his team put Boro under some pressure that was only relieved when Ash Siddik was fouled on the edge of his own penalty area. In the final minute Boro had the ball in the net when Sam Deering’s corner seemed to go straight in, but Boro celebrations were cut short when referee Ben Wyatt blew for a foul on Steggles.

Charlie Morris had two glorious chances as the second half opened, shooting wide from Pinto’s pass and then firing over the bar after Sam Deering and Hassan Nalbant had created an opportunity for him. Steggles – who was by far the busier of the goalkeepers – then had to push away a fierce drive by Pinto as Romford made light of the wind in their faces and continued to create the better chances. Between those chances however, Lincoln’s Elliott Dye shot wide after cutting in from the left.

Thereafter, Romford dominated and despite the wind being in their favour, Lincoln created little of note, although they were unfortunate when Sam Deering’s 82nd minute foul on the halfway line was punished with a free-kick when Lincoln would have had a clear run at the Boro goal had an advantage been played. Deering was booked, as was Lincoln’s Matthew Cotton when he rugby tackled Charlie Morris after losing possession.

The portly but remarkably agile Steggles denied Charlie Morris twice in quick succession while at the other end Cotton ought to have done better than scuff his shot wide after being presented with an opportunity after a rare slip in the Boro defence as Remi Sutton and Adalberto Pinto went for the same ball.

In the second of six added minutes at the end of the game Steggles once again denied Morris, saving at the second attempt, but the final whistle blew on a goal-less afternoon that took us into the drama of the shoot-out.

Jake Anderson saved Lincoln’s first two penalties, but the home side clawed their way back and led after their fifth leaving Boro having to come from behind. Jake Anderson needed treatment after colliding with a post in a vain attempt to save Smith’s penalty, but after the teams had exchanged eleven penalties apiece, Cotton put Lincoln’s twelfth wide of the goal and up stepped Jamie Hursit to score his second of the shoot-out and send Boro to Wembley.

Shoot-out details:

Romford won 10-9

Lincoln United first:

Cotton (saved), McMenemy (saved), Liversidge, Priestley, Brooks, Smith, Dye, Steggles, Foster, Jacklin, Griffiths, Cotton (missed)

Romford: Jamie Hursit, Pinto, Deering (saved), Nalbant (saved), Lee Hursit, Bakare, Doe, Luke, Sutton, Phillips, Anderson, Jamie Hursit

Romford: Jake Anderson, Junior Luke, Remi Sutton, Adalberto Pinto, Darren Phillips, Scott Doe, Charlie Morris (Jamie Hursit, 92m), Sam Deering, Hassan Nalbant, Ash Siddik (Lee Hursit, 87m), Finlay Dorrell (Michael Bakare, 75m) Unused subs: Danny Hurford, Daniel Nakipov-Getmansky, Jacob Wiggins, Jaiden Babalola.