Bengeo Tigers FC

A long(ish) journey to Radlett was the challenge facing the Under 13's in thier opening fixture of the 2007/ 2008 Hertfordshire FA County Cup, as they were drawn against Wood Rangers.

Rangers were an unknown quantity, so it was very much a case of turning up and taking things as they came. The game started briskly, and as you'd expect, both teams were sizing the other up. Bengeo began to get on top however, and gradually began to look the stronger side, taking the game to Wood Rangers. Chances to open the scoring came and went, but with the Tigers defence rarely troubled, much of the play was centred around the midfield and strikers as Bengeo pushed forward. They were rewarded eventually, when a beautifully struck corner from Aston, Perry's latest recruit, was met by Freddie, who nodded a powerful header into the back of the net. Half time arrived with the score 1-0 to Bengeo, and I think it fair to say, the opposition would have breathed a sigh of relief to be only one down at the break.

The second half started much the same, although Wood Rangers did seem to up their game a bit. Midway through the half, a Wood Rangers corner was struck goalwards, but they were denied by a fantastic double save from Aidan, but dissapointingly, Rangers managed to scramble the ball just over the line to equalise.

With the game looking like heading to extra time, something special was needed to break the deadlock, and as so often happens with this team, they delivered the knock-out blow when Connor weaved his way through flailing tackles of the Rangers defence, and struck a beatiful shot into the net. With five minutes left, it was just the tonic the Tigers needed.

Predictably, Rangers threw everything forward in search of the equaliser, but a few nervous moments aside, Bengeo finished the game comfortably.

A good win against similar class opposition, and away from home. Onto the next round, as they say!