De Garis the hero in epic shoot-out

Vale Rec 0, Sylvans 0 (a.e.t. Sylvans won 9-8 on penalties)

SYLVANS won a marathon penalty shoot-out against Vale Rec last night to reach their first Fletchersports FA Cup final. On a heavy Corbet Field, the match was goalless after normal and extra time. With penalties needed to decide the outcome, it was the red-and-whites who were celebrating at the end with the score 9-8 in their favour.

'I'm just totally delighted and over the moon,' said a clearly emotional Sylvans coach Martyn de Garis afterwards.

'We battled hard and we always seem to struggle down here to score goals. The way things were going, nothing would have separated the two teams.

'I'm very pleased with everyone's efforts on a heavy pitch. At full time, they were all on the floor and we were all standing.

'I'm just pleased for the lads. They deserved it as they showed a good attitude.'

Throughout the match both sides showed glimpses of good football but their performances in the final thirds of the pitch let them down.

Rec right back Stuart Bisson came close with an opportunistic long-range effort that Sylvans keeper Paul de Garis did well to tip over the bar within the first 20 minutes.

Shortly afterwards de Garis was tested by a Gareth Holden effort that he also did well to keep out.

Rec had the rub of the opening half but Sylvans were not out of it.

They came close themselves right on the stroke of half-time when Matt Warren skimmed the upright with a low shot.

There were not as many chances in the second half as the proceedings gradually got tetchier, although de Garis was called into action to keep out a Holden volley.

Extra time and penalties looked on the cards as no clear opportunities presented themselves to either team.

And so it was that the lottery of the penalty shoot-out was required.

Matt Warren scored Sylvans' first, which was cancelled out by Stuart Bisson.

When Michael Wilson proceeded to miss Sylvans' second, Holden obliged to do the same for Rec.

You would be hard pushed to find a more impressive collection of penalties as Rec went on to match Sylvans goal for goal until the 10th one when Piers Ockleford smashed his low into the left corner of the goal.

Jody Bisson's reply was too close to de Garis and his opposite number blocked it before being mobbed by his teammates.

'That's the way it goes,' said Rec boss Chris Hamon.

'Both teams played well in the conditions, but I thought we deserved it in 90 minutes of football. But again we didn't score goals.

'Good luck to them in the final.'

* LAST night's C&W Priaulx League match between North and Rovers was postponed.