AFC Liverpool v Lower Breck, 30th November 2022

We had played Breck a fortnight earlier at the MTA, and played out a drab 0-0 draw. What I had most remembered about that game was Chris Dace suggesting as a laugh a golden sending off competition, as opposed to the golden goal competition. The very fact the Senior Cup match had to be settled on the night, promised there would at least be some drama.

But we were 3-0 down at half time. Jack McGovern appeared to have been fouled for one of the goals. It looked like he had the ball taken from his hands. He was also arguably fouled for another. I had missed the first 10 to 15 minutes due to turnstile duties. During that time we did miss a couple of good chances. Apparently we hit their woodwork. Not seeing that good spell, I didn't hold up much hope for the second half, even though we may have been unlucky not to have had at least one Lower Breck goal chalked off for a foul.


Just over ten minutes into the second half, number 9 Tom Croughan worked hard, and Paddy Kay scored to give us a glimmer of hope. A few minutes later, Fin Heath found himself up in the box, and he popped one home much to the delight of his Mum and the home crowd. Fin had recently joined Southport on a dual registration. Anyway, it was now very much game on!


For much of the second half we remained on the front foot, but Lower Breck appeared to have shaken off the shock of those two quick AFC goals. At the other end, Jackie McGovern had little to nothing to do. I do remember him not having the best distribution by his usual high standards.

Going into the last few minutes, it had seemed that despite turning the game round we would fall just short. Then in the 87th minute a passage of play happened like this:

87’ Freekick to AFC just inside their half on the left

McGovern takes it

It’s pinball with shots everywhere

Please note our twitter commentator did actually do a rather unfortunate typo on the word shots!

Anyway, back to the commentary.


Breaks to Croughan….


Goooooooaaaal


What excellent twitter commentary by Danny Noble!


And then I had to pinch myself a few minutes later as Billy "Whiz" McCarthy found the winner! Unbelievable!


Wow!


It wasn't quite our best night in the Senior Cup. Coming back from 3-1 down 8 years earlier to beat Everton had to be top of the tree. The 1-0 win over COL was also special, as was a semi-final win over Bootle in the same campaign we beat the toffees. But this dramatic win over Lower Breck had to be very much in the best of the rest.

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