Dursley go through after Bishop's spot of bother (From Gazette Series)

Dursley go through after Bishop's spot of bother

GFA North Senior Amateur Challenge Cup Dursley Town 2 Kingswood 1

A MISSED penalty from the last kick of the game saw Dursley Town make the semi-finals of the county cup at the expense of Kingswood.

Town had hung onto their lead throughout an excruciatingly long period of injury time until Chris Lindsay was adjudged to have handled the ball in his own penalty area in the 97th minute.

Amid all the protests, substitute Nick Bishop stepped up to take the spot kick but with glory beckoning he blasted his effort off target.

With the final whistle going as the ball was still flying into the distance, the joy and frustration of the two teams boiled over and the match ended with players from both sides having to be separated.

In truth, Kingswood should probably have won.

They started the better but fell behind to a goal on the break after 15 minutes.

Will Steel found space in the visitors' area and drove the ball in from a tight angle.

Shortly afterwards, Dursley doubled their lead when Steel broke through and squared the ball for player-manager Martin Booth to make it 2-0.

Kingswood came back at Town even harder and forced deputising goalkeeper Steve Sweet to make a fine stop at his near post, while another of the visitors efforts was blazed over.

However, on the stroke of half-time, Simon Clarke pulled a goal back for Kingswood after a goal kick was intercepted.

The visitors pressed relentlessly in the second half but Lindsay and Rich Crowcombe performed heroically for Dursley and they looked like holding out.

The game erupted with five minutes to go though.

An overhit ball into the Dursley penalty box allowed Sweet to attempt to eat up the clock.

He repeatedly feigned to pick the ball up until Kingswood substitute Bishop got close enough to kick the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper and run round to score.

The referee, who was some distance away, did not allow the goal though, insisting that the ball had been kicked out of Sweet's hands, to the disgust of the travelling side.

Worse was to follow for Kingswood in injury time as the missed penalty confirmed that Dursley had knocked out their third Division One side of the cup run and had made it to the semi-finals.

Town will be pleased with their excellent defensive performance and the fact that every player contributed.