The first goal should have come on 11 minutes, when Woods played Laurent through to a one-on-one. The Frenchman snatched at his shot, however, and the ball sailed harmlessly wide. Up the other end, it took a good save from Anyon to keep the scores level in the 15th minute.
Nutter hit the post a few minutes later, with neither Koroma nor Laurent able to convert the rebound—despite their best efforts. Both teams continued to threaten, with my boys looking the more likely to break the deadlock, but we went into the second half all square.
Olembé put us in front in the 49th minute, creeping into the box for a throw in and being the first to Michael Woods’ cross.
Koroma doubled our lead on the hour mark, slipping through to the far post to meet Olembé’s cross first time. The Gainsborough defenders did nothing to keep track of the striker’s movement.
Laurent finally got his goal with ten minutes to play. Koroma outpaced Cowan and broke into the penalty area on the right, then crossed low towards the Frenchman. The Gainsborough keeper came out, but couldn’t catch the ball, and Laurent had an easy finish.
The players left the pitch to a well-deserved and thunderous standing ovation, 3-0 victors after a superb second-half performance. Olembé took man of the match for his goal and assist, but it could just as easily gone to Woods or Koroma. Laurent, Nutter, Kanouté, and Robson were all excellent, too.
We got £5,000 for advancing to the next round. This is a competition I think we can win, so I hope the fixtures are kind to us.
Olembé’s attracted interest from CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. I don’t want to lose him, but we may not have a choice if they put a good offer on the table. We’re a small club in the fifth tier of English football; it’s not right to stand in anyone’s way if they get a better deal elsewhere.
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