SKENFRITH played away to Leominster in the second round of the HFA Junior Cup on Saturday against a team who are currently top of Division 2 with five wins out of five.
Leominster thought they were in for an easy game against their lower opponents, but Skenfrith had other ideas despite playing with a bear 11 due to players letting the club down.
What a performance they gave. Leominster were put on the back foot for the first 20 minutes as Skenfrith started with some outstanding football, with Diamond and Bontej working hard up front and the midfield of Jones, Nash, MacDonald and Brown were more than a match for their opponents as they bossed the midfield.
The defence played a solid part for Skenfrith. Oxford, Price, Waldron and Wigmore were very rarely stretched. The commanding figure of Jenkins in goal made two outstanding saves to keep Skenfrith on level terms just before half time.
The Leominster striker weaved his way through several challenges before firing an unstoppable shot right on the stroke of half time.
The second half saw the home team come out fired up. It only took 15 minutes before they scored. Wigmore was adjudged to have pushed a Leominster player in the box. They scored from the spot to go 2-0 up, but Skenfrith hit straight back from the kick off. Bontej's shot was only blocked by the keeper and Diamond followed up.
It took Skenfrith just five minutes to level the score. Oxford flouted a free kick into the box for Bontej to fire home.
MacDonald and man of the match Nash were playing some outstanding football in midfield. Jenkins was penalised for pulling down a player in the box and Leominster scored again from the spot. Still Skenfrith would not lie down and hit back with a powerful drive from Bontej.
It was all Skenfrith and in the last minutes of normal time MacDonald's shot went inches past the post.
Extra time was played under the golden goal rule and was dominated by strong defending on both sides. Diamond with only minutes remaining missed an open goal only to see Leominster charge up the other end. Their shot went under Jenkins only to be cleared off the line by Brown, with no score in extra time they finished 3-3.
All penalties were taken well but with a Leominster player missing his shot it fell to goalkeeper Jenkins to step up and score which set off some fantastic celebrations with a team pile up on top of Jenkins.
It was a fantastic performance from the whole team and managers Brown and Jenkins were very proud of the team spirit and determination that they all showed .
Next week Skenfrith play away to top of the table Wincanton.