.It has taken some time to get my breath back after this pulsating encounter. There was a determination & strength about Mangrove that will give the team & manager real hope for a good second half to the season as they ran out 6 – 4 winners after extra time, despite being behind four times in the game.

It seems a long time ago, but the match started with Mangrove off the pace. The defence were a little too deep & midfield stood off EA allowing them to play with some freedom. The back line held firm, however, & as the game wore on, Mangrove came back into it. Chances were at a premium with good approach play from both sides being wasted in the final third.

After weathering the early storm & imposing themselves on the game, Mangrove went disappointingly behind following poor marking from a corner just before half time when a flicked header was finished at the back post by EA.

“It was a proper cup tie & at half time I just told the lads that we wanted a result in 90 minutes, but if we needed extra time I’d settle for that. We needed to be sharper in the box & gamble a bit more, & we certainly did that. I thought the boys were great coming back as we did four times & finishing them off with real confidence & creativity” said manger Gordon Picker afterwards.

The manager is not wrong – Mangrove really were terrific in the second half & EA contributed enormously, neither side giving up the ghost until the bitter end. Mangrove equalised through a bustling run from MacPhail early in the second half only to go back behind following a through ball to the EA substitute. Andrews’ excellent tackle caused the ball to rebound off the advancing striker, wrong-footing Sharkey in the Mangrove goal.

Picker threw on Cousins for Thrussell & he immediately made his presence felt, giving a more physical dimension to the right side of midfield than the youngster had been able to provide. And soon, Cousins’ volley was parried by the keeper & finished by the predatory Cave from under the bar.

I asked the manager about his tactical changes in the press conference afterwards. “Yeah, I’ve been patting myself on the back a bit! It was one of those games where the changes went well – the boys did what I asked & it worked, but it was all about their attitude really. I felt that we needed a bit more strength up the right & Ross gave me that. I was about to come on myself when Nick scored so I changed my mind there & when we went behind in Extra Time, I just felt that we had to chase the game & I fancied Tom’s size would cause them problems up front so we went to 3-5-2 & played Josh & Ross as wing backs, with Tom & Nick up top. Even in the last few minutes after Nick came off, Michael’s pace gave us something else, so I’m dead chuffed for the players that we got what we deserved.”

2-2 at full time became 2-3 early in extra time when a speculative lob from 25 yards dropped in under Sharkey’s bar, the keeper unable to lift his sizeable frame off the ground to tip over, but MacPhail again restored parity. Even then, EA were not finished & the centre forward broke through to lob Sharkey despite looking suspiciously close to offside.

After the change of ends, a slick move up the right saw good work from Andrews & a great ball to the front post where Cave was rewarded for his movement by sweeping home from 5 yards. 4-4 & Mangrove in the ascendancy! With the ball bouncing loose in the box, Cousins smashed an angled drive that was well saved by the keeper, but Cave was again on hand to nod home & edge the home side ahead.

Cave was replaced by Freeman for the last few minutes, his creaking old frame suffering from fatigue & cramp. Soon afterwards, Glasscock won a throw-in up the left & Cousins (what was he doing on that side??) took a quick long throw into the path of Andrews who controlled the ball & finished superbly from 8 yards.

This was a tremendous performance & should give Mangrove heart. It had everything – goals, great tackling, some contentious moments & real hard work. As long as they guard against complacency & keep up the work-rate shown here there will be more wins than losses & a cup run could easily happen…..watch this space