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Lordswood pay the penalty

Lordswood missed out on creating FA Vase history as victory over Hillingdon Borough would have put them in the second round for the very first time, but their run was ended at a wet and windy North Dane Way on Saturday.

Both sides, however, contributed to an exciting football match for the hardy 52 paying fans that turned up.

The first real chance came in the 18th minute when Lordswood's Richard Radbourne on the right saw his free kick from 22 yards spilled by goalkeeper Gary White but unfortunate no one reacted to the loose ball, allowing the stopper to grab the ball at the second attempt.

A long ball forward  by the visitors saw Alan Crosby race into the penalty area but he was denied by a quick thinking goalkeeper Jake Slade.

Lordswood's Andy Doerr received the ball on the edge of the penalty area turned quickly to free Andy Freeman inside the penalty area and his shot went just past the post.

Hillingdon, however, took the lead in the 34th minute when Slade failed to collect a corner at the near post and the ball fell to Dave Lawrence who hooked home.

Paul Piggott's home side came out for the second half looking to get back into the game and in the 54th minute they did when Paul Brown headed forward for Doerr to run onto and his shot was blocked by White but the rebound came back to him and despite being under pressure from Ryan Fenton knocked the ball into the back of the net.

Hillingdon didn't take long to take the lead again but as is Lordswood's woes this season another referee's decision went against them in the 64th minute.

Gary Peck was adjudged to have fouled a Borough forward inside the penalty area but the assistant referee who originally gave the penalty told the referee he made a mistake and it was outside the penalty area but the man in the middle wasn't going to change his mind and up stepped Blaise O'Brien and slotted into the bottom right hand corner.

The home side were now committed to going forward for the equaliser but in the 75th minute another penalty was given to Hillingdon as Stefan O'Brien running away from goal was adjudged to have been fouled by Slade. 

Up stepped Blaise O'Brien but this time Slade saved with his feet and justice was done.

In fairness, although Lordswood tried in vain to get back into the game it was Hillingdon who could have increased their lead when Stefan O'Brien running onto a through ball hit a 20-yarder which was parried by Slade.

Penalty hero, O'Brien received the ball from a corner and his shot whistled wide of the post before Crosby took it upon himself to take a 22-yard free kick and his curling effort went just wide.

Lordswood: Slade, Skinner, Russell, Crust, Radborune (Gissing 75), Peck, Brown, Berkhauer, Hetterley, Doerr, Freeman.  Subs: Burnett, Martin, Gallagher