FOOTBALL: ALVIS Sporting boss Damian Cassidy failed to hide his disappointment after watching his get knocked out of the Birmingham County FA Saturday Vase at quarter-final stage.
Cassidy’s side failed to progress to the semi-final after losing out to Northfield Town 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after normal time.
In what Alvis’ first game of the year at Green Lane, the home side were behind with seven minutes played. Kiam Galdins was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and Daniel Priest netted from the resultant penalty.
Alvis equalised in the 33rd minute when captain Michael Quirke picked up the ball in midfield and advanced, before scoring from fully 30 yards out into the bottom corner of the net.
Immediately after the break Northfield goalkeeper Shaun Hayes did well to save from David Tonks, but Northfield struck back straight away to regain the lead when a first time pass from Adam Williams found Alex Fleming who crossed the ball for Paddy Behan to neatly volley home from six yards.
James Wardle had to react sharply to prevent Behan and Priest from increasing the Northfield lead, but with ten minutes remaining Alvis equalised when Fleming handled the ball on the edge of the penalty area, and Quirke scored his second goal of the game with a rasping free kick.
In the penalty shoot out Northfield keeper Hayes was the hero for the visitors. With the score at 3-3 after five penalties, the game went to sudden death and Hayes then made a crucial save from Dildane Linton. Hayes then took the next penalty himself, and scored to take Northfield into the Semi Final of the competition.
“It was a disappointing performance, and we could not get our passing game together,” said Alvis boss Damian Cassidy.
“It was one of those games when there was no real quality, and we defended badly for the goals that Northfield scored.”
Alvis travel to Hampton on Saturday in the Midland League Division Two as they attempt to gain their third league double of the season, after beating Hampton 4-1 on New Years Eve.