| Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec 2008 | Great Bentley | 0-3 | Mens 1st | County Cup |
Freezing conditions and an open pitch made sure that this game wouldn't be about free flowing football. On a tiny pitch in the middle of nowhere, the outcome was always going to be about who was best equipt to cope with the elements (something that focus aren't particularly renowned for!)
The size of the pitch ensured that focus started with a 4-4-2 formation in a bid to free up space in the middle of the pitch and try and spread play to the two wingers Pugh and Cawston to deliver ammunition to the front boys and supporting midfield. This tactic was working well with keeper LJ using the full backs as outlets and building down the flanks.
A scrappy early deadlock was broken when Pugh found the net after a good team move. Despite worsening conditions, focus continued to pressure the home side and felt a little dissapointed to only go in at the break 1 goal up.
A similar second 45 followed with passing football almost impossible in the driving rain and wind yet focus continued to create (and miss) chance after chance. Missed opportunities have come back to haunt focus in previous cup ties this season so there was visible relief when Matt Cawston made the tie safe with another well taken goal.
2-0 up, Focus now just needed to concentrate on a clean sheet and were happy to sit back and invite the oppostion on to them and hit a tiring Great Bentley on the counter. This method proved decisive on 80 mins when a tasty 3 man move involving substitute Nick Saunders and previous goal scorer Cawston saw Adam Russ presented with an opportunity to kill the tie for good. A well taken goal and Focus had dodged a potential banana skin and greatfully moved on to the Quater Final where a tie against well known Tillingham Hotspur awaits them.
Cawston, Man of the Match&Qtr.