Newark Alliance
Willie Hall Cup
Wheatsheaf Reserves 2
Barkestone le Vale 2
(Barkestone won 4-3 on penalties)
A muddy and bobbly pitch did not make for a great footballing spectacle but both teams provided a compelling cup tie.
Barkestone were the better side in the first half, creating numerous half chances and a succession of corners. It was from one of these corners that they took a deserved lead when Lee Fazackerley powered home a header on his return from a long injury lay-off.
Barkestone should have killed the game off in the first half and were made to pay in the second. Wheatsheaf came out battling and threatened an upset with two clinical goals. First, a Wheatsheaf substitute beat the last defender to fire past the keeper and the second was a magnificent 25-yard strike.
Barkestone showed battling qualities of their own and levelled when a composed Jo Lee found the net from the corner of the area. Barkestone could have won it at the death but Garner was only able to fire over when well placed.
Extra time yielded no goals and the tie went to penalties. Hallam, Culpin and Tonge all found the net and keeper Allen made an excellent save, before Tom Coleman hit the decisive sudden death penalty in off the post.
Man of the match was Jake Hutchinson.