DAVE SAVES CARDEA IN SHOOTOUT

After several squad withdrawals on the morning of the game Cardea were thankful three new signings made their debuts. Gavin Earl, the Cardea Sunday team captain, Steven Allsop and Jake Hammond all came in to play the Peterborough Minor Cup tie.

With two of the withdrawals being goalkeepers Hardingham had to make his first appearance in between the sticks this season, although it is a position which he is no stranger to!

The referee took control of the game with 15 minutes played by sin binning a Holbeach player for swearing at him and just after his 10 minute spell on the sidelines was up Cardea took the lead.

Wayne Ward pressed the full back from a short kick out from the opposing goal keeper. Stole it from him and calming slotted it past the keeper to score his first goal of the season.

Hardingham made sure the home side went in at half time with the lead thanks to a sprawling one on one save to deny the Holbeach striker following a defensive slip.

HT: Cardea Reserves 1-0 Holbeach United Sports

After half time Holbeach went looking for the equaliser and had more possession of the ball without causing the Cardea defence too many problems from open play.

However the away side did draw level on the hour mark from a corner. The ball went into the box and after a bit of a scramble the ball was struck into the bottom corner with Hardingham's view blocked by an attacker on the line.

After the goal Holbeach pressed for a winner but Cardea had the two best chances with Adam Stacey twice denied by the goalkeeper after going through one on one.

FT: Cardea Reserves 1-1 Holbeach United Sports

The game ended 90 minutes without a winner and went through 30 minutes of extra time with no further goals scored as both teams tired and it was left to penalties to decide who would go through.

Holbeach went first and converted their spot kick. Next up was Ward, who had scored in the game, but he "did an Arnold" and blazed his penalty over the bar into the trees behind the goal!

Holbeach scored their next penalty and right back Saunders scored for Cardea (just) as the away side took a 2-1 lead.

Hardingham saved the third Holbeach penalty with his legs and Hammond confidently found the back of the net for Cardea to level the scores after 3 penalties each.

Holbeach's 4th penalty was once again saved by the legs of Hardingham and Dan Robinson just put his penalty out of the reach of the goalkeeper to give Cardea the advantage.

Holbeach had to score their 5th penalty to stay in the cup but Hardingham had other ideas and produced his best save of the shootout, flying to his right, to send Cardea Reserves through to the next round.

An exciting shootout and one that earned Hardingham the man of the match award.

Next up for Cardea Reserves is a return to league action with a home game vs Stilton Reserves at Queens Park, Yaxley.