Old Parkonians 2 - 2 Mill Hill Village (AFA Cup, Round 2)
(AET, Parks lose 5 - 6 on penalties)

Parks were unlucky to go out of the AFA Cup on penalties this Saturday at Oakfield, when they really should have finished the game off in extra-time. Against a side that had given them a 6-0 drubbing last season, Parks were fired up from the off and were very close to opening the scoring in the first 30 seconds, Parmenter's flick on found Chadwick, who volleyed against the upright. The home side were dominating the midfield exchanges, and breaking down Mill Hill time and again. Parmenter broke free on the right and slipped a cross into Keogh, whose shot was smothered well by the keeper. Mason was upended on the edge of the box, and Cross drove the resulting freekick into the wall. The back three of Nicholls, Bernstein and Bostock rarely looked in trouble. The rest of the half was played out in the midfield, and Parks were frequently caught out trying to break the Mill Hill offside trap.

With a 0-0 scoreline at halftime, Parks were faring a lot better than last season, and were looking to build on their good first half performance. In a scrappy second half, Mill Hill probably had the better of the opening exchanges and were unlucky not to take the lead on a couple of occasions. MacCallum saving the home side, tipping a wicked freekick over the bar at full stretch, after another of Mill Hill's free kick's had hit the post.

However, Parks fought their way back into the game and could have taken the lead themselves - but with twenty minutes remaining a curling cross from the visitors' left flank eluded MacCallum and dropped into the far corner of Parks' goal. A goal behind and with nothing to lose, Parks pushed men forward in search of the equalizer. Two great saves from the Mill Hill keeper - one from a Parmenter lob, and the next from a Cross header - kept the visitors in the lead, but Parks were not to be denied their goal. With five minutes of normal time to go, Chadwick finally slipped the offside trap and drilled home at the second attempt to send the game into extra time. Parks finished the game the stronger side, and looked the stronger going into the extra half hour. The home side were well on top for the first period of extra time, and it was not long before they took the lead.

Parmenter was released by Mason and he chipped the onrushing keeper to send the crowd into raptures. It was no more than Parmenter deserved for an impressive all round display. Smith then replaced Parmenter for the second period of extra time, and he was unlucky not to seal the win for Parks, when his run and shot sailed just wide. However, Mill Hill were not giving the game up and as the last few minutes came around, they threw everything forward and with seconds remaining they reaped the reward for their persistence. A 15 yard strike from the visitors took the game to the lottery of a penalty shoot out.

Former captain Nicholls manfully stood up to take the first, which was saved low to the keeper's right. They missed their second, and with Chadwick, Mason, Knapman, and finally Cross all scoring, the penalties were tied at 4-4. The agony of sudden death saw Smith score, Bostock and Bernstein miss, and with Keogh needing to score, he blasted over - much to the relief of those who hadn't taken one yet. A disappointing end to a very even game, but back to the league this week, where Parks face high flying Old Salesians - on the big pitch!

Scorers: Chadwick, Parmenter
Man of the Match: Bernstein
Team: MacCallum, Bostock, Nicholls, Bernstein, Keogh, Mason, Jamieson, Cross, Kemp, Parmenter, Chadwick. Subs: Smith, Knapman.

Report by TC