With all other teams in the division handed a first round bye, the draw hadn’t been kind to either Galaxy or Oakley. However, it produced a hotly anticipated cup tie between two of the top teams in the division.

After a few late withdrawals from injury and illness, Galaxy were down to the bare 11. A bit of thought needed on who was playing where but in the end it was Chris in goal; Adam, Marcel, Noah and Jake in the back 4; Tycho, Blake and Luke in a midfield 3; Josh, Jelani and Samuel in a front 3.

Galaxy started the game brightly and controlled the play in the opening stages. Samuel in particular was causing a lot of issues down the left wing. So much so that Oakley quickly changed formation to give their strongest defender a man marking job on Samuel, a battle that would continue for the rest of the game.

Oakley came into the game more as we moved through the half but were limited to very few, if any, chances. Noah, as always, was marshalling the Galaxy backline superbly and made several headers and interceptions to snuff out any danger.

Galaxy finished the half strongly, dominating play in the last 10 minutes or so. A flurry of half chances came along, with Josh, Samuel, Jelani and Blake all coming close without being able to make that breakthrough.

0-0 at the halftime whistle.

Galaxy were again fastest out the blocks in the second half. In the opening minute the best chance of the whole game came along as Jelani slipped Samuel through on goal. Having lost his man marker Samuel raced clean through with just the keeper to beat but unfortunately didn’t make the connection he would have liked, striking the ball straight at the onrushing keeper.

The game now settled into a tight, tense battle. Galaxy were certainly having the better of the chances. Samuel came close again when firing in a shot from a corner, Josh saw his well struck effort tipped over by the keeper and Jelani had a few near misses. However, closest of all was Blake. Fresh off scoring the winner last week, it was like history repeating itself as a ball was laid back to Blake on the left edge of the box. Blake’s first time strike was a carbon copy of last week, across and over the keeper, looking set for the top right corner. But this week it agonisingly went crashing off the top of the crossbar.

At the other end there really wasn’t too much in the way of saves for Chris. A few free kicks in dangerous positions had come Oakley’s way and there was the occasional break where Galaxy looked in trouble but Noah or Marcel were there to get a last ditch tackle in. Oakley were direct at times, knocking long free kicks into the box and also taking advantage of their player with a long throw. However, Galaxy stood firm to this, with countless headers or clearances from Noah, Adam, Blake, Luke and Tycho in particular.

As we moved closer to the final whistle a tense game got even tenser. Neither team wanted to chance their luck at penalties but neither team wanted to throw it away either.

Galaxy’s midfield three continued to work tirelessly in the closing stages, with Tycho in particular really driving the team forward now. Along similar lines Jake at left back was up and down the line like a steam train, defending one minute then attacking down the wing the next.

There was one more chance in this game and it fell to Galaxy. Good play down the right hand side from Adam, Tycho and Jelani saw the ball played through the right hand channel. Josh was flagged offside but as he wasn’t involved in the play, the ref correctly waved play on. Samuel, very much onside, latched onto the ball and found himself through on goal on the right hand side. It was an awkward angle and he couldn’t quite wrap his foot around the ball enough, firing wide of the right post.

That turned out to be the last play of the game, 0-0 the final score, penalty shoot out needed.

Being England fans, at this point I’m sure we were all thinking of Stuart Pearce, Chris Waddle, Gareth Southgate etc. However, luckily the boys are all too young to remember these names, so no such mental scars. Five Galaxy boys confidentially put their hands up for a pen, we were all set.

Oakley won the toss and elected to go first.

Their first penalty taker was the lad who’d man marked Samuel. He reluctantly left Samuel’s side to take the penalty, which he scored.

First up for Galaxy was Blake, who confidently stroked the ball home.

Oakley scored their second.

Josh took Galaxy’s second and slammed it home.

Drama on Oakley’s third as Chris got down to his left to save but the ball somehow span across his body and trickled into the right corner.

Jelani took Galaxy’s third. Cool as you like, knocked it home no problem.

Oakley scored their fourth.

Luke stepped up for Galaxy’s fourth. He slightly slipped when taking, the keeper guessed right and got a hand on it, but the ball still went in, phew!

Oakley scored their fifth.

Samuel took Galaxy’s fifth knowing he had to score. Pressure penalty, no worries, Samuel confidently knocked in into the corner.

At 5-5 we moved into sudden death.

Oakley’s sixth penalty was very similar to their third. Chris again got down smartly to his left and held on to the ball to make sure it wasn’t squirming across the line this time.

Galaxy now had to score their next penalty to win. After some debate, Jake walked forward to take it and proceeded to smash the ball low into the left hand corner to give Galaxy a famous 6-5 win on pens.

Great cup tie. Two well matched teams going at each other. Both sides deserve huge credit and a shame one had to go out.

For Galaxy, great to again show our spirit to come out the right side of a tough game.

The Gartec Player of the match was tough too. Honourable mentions for Noah’s display at the back and also our midfield three of Blake, Luke and Tycho. But Jake gets the award this week for a tireless display up and down the left hand side. In fact, quite a day for Jake: today’s captain, scored the winning penalty, got player of the match…and also picked up a yellow card for an overly enthusiastic tackle - but hey, nobodies perfect!

Finally thanks to our two linos, Tony in the first half and Mark in the second. Mark also had to officiate the penalties, I assume that means you got paid overtime Mark?