Normandy Star 3 FIve Arches Bombers 4

High flying Bombers visited Hospital Park having kicked off their league campaign with a 2.1 win at the same venue, Normandy were hoping to turn the tables, but with only 12 available players knew they had a tough task. A dream start saw Scott flick on a throw-in to Jamie who beat his man down the left and fired across for Harper to open the scoring on ten minutes, but Bombers leveled almost immediately from a similar move. Normandy were looking for a penalty when the Bombers keeper slid out in front of Jamie without getting the ball but the ref wasnt interested. Bombers then went ahead as they won the ball on the Notmandy right and the cross was turned home. Normandy had a second penalty shout before half time as Jamie went into the box and felt he was barged in the back, again the referee wasnt convinced. Into the second half and Normandy did level when Ian sent a free kick into the box, the keeper came over Jamie to collect dropped the ball and Ben poked home. But again Bombers responded quickly with a free kick from the right forced home. Normandy levelled again on 65 minutes when a through ball found Scott, he knocked wide of the keeper and finished from an angle. It took 8 minutes for Bombers to get back in front, with another free kick slumped into the box, half cleared and smashed home. A couple of minutes after that Harper skipped past three defenders before being brought down in the box, the ball broke to Dean who lashed home but the ref had blown for the penalty, which Ian stepped up to send over the bar. A frantic last 15 minutes wasnt enough for Normandy to force extra time and the Bombers eased into the second round.