After their miraculous and totally unexpected win in the third round of the Cup the previous week, Grove Challengers spread across the pitch with both apprehension and determination. They were against Abingdon Youth, a team in the League above them, and although they now knew that anything was possible, they also knew they would have to work hard to realise it.

The game started with a fast-paced attack from Grove Challengers as Conor Barry, Jordan Parrott, Daniel Potter, Joe Scott and Samuel Cottrell all surged forward, catching Abingdon Youth off balance. Shortly afterwards, Joe Scott almost scored after an early throw-in by Sam Cottrell. For the first five minutes, Grove Challengers entirely dominated the game.

It wasn’t long before a well-aimed throw by defender Ali Paton landed the ball squarely in front of Samuel Cottrell, who deftly crossed it to Connor Haines as he ran in towards the opposition goal. Connor scored a beautifully measured goal, and Grove Challengers had taken the lead.

Within seconds, a further throw-in by Samuel Cottrell found Joe Scott perfectly positioned to score a second goal for Grove.

Further opportunities presented themselves as Grove Challengers fought hard for the ball at every step of the way, but Abingdon had got the measure of them by this time and were battling fiercely to redress the balance. Grove Challengers were no longer dominating the game to the same extent, and Abingdon Youth launched several attacks of their own – each time deflected by good defence from Ali Paton, Declan O’Hanlon, Anthony Allen and Dan Stokell, and backed up by some superb goal keeping from Jamie Bunce.

It wasn’t long before a powerful throw-in from Dan Stokell hurtled straight towards Samuel Cottrell, who span with it and kicked it decisively into the back of the net. Grove Challengers were in the lead by three goals.

A free kick to Abingdon, following a hand ball, saw keeper Jamie Bunce run straight out to meet the ball and scoop it up before it could do any damage.

Frantic attacks followed from both sides, but the first half came to a close with no further incident.

The second half proved a totally different story.

Abingdon Youth had clearly found their game, and Grove Challengers began to look shaky as they fought to cling on to their lead.

An early goal from Abingdon, as the ball initially hit the woodwork but bounced in, seemed to bear out Grove’s fears. Abingdon were very much back in the game. Within seconds, another goal from Abingdon was disallowed for being off-side, but it clearly shook up the Grove players.

Not long afterwards, after a period of time when the ball seemed to hurtle back and forth between the two halves, a corner from Abingdon found its mark and the score was 3-2. Abingdon Youth clearly smelt a reversal of fortunes and picked up their game even more. Instead of rising to the occasion, the Grove players started to panic and missed several tackles.

From then on, Abingdon dominated the game completely. A series of nerve-wracking corners in quick succession were somehow desperately deflected by the Challengers, with some superb work from Dan Stokell who, despite an injury to the left foot, continued to fight back. There followed several instances where Abingdon really should have scored and the ball seemed to stay out of the Grove goal as if by magic, with the Grove defenders battling with desperation.

Moments later, a breakaway from Jordan Parrott just missed scoring a fourth goal for Grove, as the Abingdon keeper charged out of his goal to intercept the ball, missed, and the ball rolled harmlessly just to the left of it. There were a few more attacks by Grove, but on the whole the ball remained dangerously in the Grove half, with the pressure heavily on the defence team.

When the whistle finally went to signal the end of the game, Grove Challengers definitely felt as thought they had clung on to their lead by the skin of their teeth. However, clung on they had, and had rightfully won the match.

The “Man of the Match” award was given unhesitatingly to Dan Stokell for his superb efforts in defence, especially during the second half.