Despite Jacob Kirwan saving two penalties in normal time, Alsager Town bowed out of the Isuzu FA Vase on a penalty shootout by four goals to three at the hands of Midlands Football League side Lichfield City.
After a mundane first half which saw Alsager lose defender Liam Kettle due to a serious looking injury, the visitors had their first penalty in the eighth minute of injury time when the referee pointed to the spot following a handball. Lichfield’s top scorer Jack Edwards took responsibility, however, Kirwan guessed right to make a great save to keep out the effort. The rebound fell to defender David Ablewhite who saw his chance get tipped onto the crossbar by the hero of the moment.
Just 10 minutes into the second half and, Kirwan got his second moment to shine when the visitors were awarded another spot kick. This time it was Ablewhite who stepped forward but, once again Kirwan was the hero as he turned the penalty away.
Kirwan was in inspired form as he continued to deny Lichfield City throughout the afternoon with several fine saves. The best save by far was when he turned Cameron Dunn’s effort wide of the post with his outstretched leg on 60 minutes.
However, Kirwan was unable to prevent Lichfield from taking the lead on 65 minutes when a corner was played to Edwards whose cross found Dan Smith unmarked at the back post and he steered it home. From that point it looked like Lichfield, who play a step higher in the non-league pyramid, were going to cruise home for the victory.
Alsager were missing five key players which included captain Sean Tierney. However, they kept plugging away at the Lichfield defence looking for a way through and, it finally came as the clock struck 90 minutes.
In what was the last throw of the dice for the Bullets Chris Hunt put a telling cross into the Lichfield penalty area which saw James Beeson come out of his goal, however he hesitated in attempting to claim the cross which allowed Jack Woolley nipped in to head into the empty net to send the game to a penalty shootout.
The penalty shootout started with Lichfield scoring their first two penalties through Dan Lomas and Dunn, while Kallum Boyle scored Alsager’s first spot kick.
Momentum shifted Lichfield’s way when James Beeson was able to palm away the penalty from Jack Hart. It allowed the visitors to get their noses in front when Joe Haines scored to give them a 3-1 lead in the shootout.
Ritchie McAleese kept the pressure on by hammering home his spot kick before former Stone Old Alleynians penalty taker Ablewhite smashed his penalty against the underside of the crossbar before it bounced out to safety, much to the relief of the hosts.
Woolley made it 3-3 when he slammed his penalty home and, with both sides having taken four spot kicks each we were essentially into sudden death.
Lichfield’s goalscorer Smith found the net to make it 4-3 and place all the pressure on Ollie Pope who stepped up. Sadly, he struck his effort against the base of the post to knock the Bullets out of the FA Vase.
After the game, I spoke to Alsager Town joint manager Dean Jones to get his thoughts on the game.
I also caught up with Alsager goalkeeper and hero Jacob Kirwan to get his reaction to his two penalty saves.
