10-man NKF come from a goal down to win cup tie

THE FA Vase match between NKF Burbage and Lutterworth Town had all the ingredients of a true cup classic and the 202 crowd were not disappointed.

The first 15 minutes resembled a heavyweight boxing match with both teams not giving much away, feeling each other out and neither really taking a foothold in the game.

However, similar to a world title heavyweight fight it sparked into life in the 20th minute when Jordan Small used his blistering pace to run clear of Burbage defender Liam Storer. Small went down about 22/23 yards from goal, it appeared more of a coming together than an out and out foul and much to Burbage’s shock and Lutterworth’s delight referee, Simpson, brandished a red card and sent Storer off.

Burbage would have felt the decision was harsh whilst Lutterworth would have argued that the referee got it right.

Warren took the resulting free kick slightly right of centre and with his left foot smashed the ball off the bar.

Lutterworth stepped up the pressure as the half entered its second period. Burbage were still looking strong defensively and well organised but were struggling to create anything going forward, in fact the Lutterworth back four could have had a big Cuban cigar on.

It was Tendai of Lutterworth Town who broke the deadlock, he went up bravely with Anderson, they both went down holding their heads but Tendai had got his head there first and the ball bounced in to the net.

Burbage’s job was always going to be hard even with 11 players but with 10, a goal down and a red hot day the job at half time was on a whole different level.

Burbage, a bit like Rocky, were on the ropes, battered and bruised but they came out fighting second half taking the game to Lutterworth.

Big hitters Burt and Brown were brought on and Burbage looked to go down swinging, if they were to go down at all. With these two on the pitch Lutterworth’s back four now needed to put their Cuban cigars out such was the tenacity of both of the Burbage forwards.

It was Burt who equalised with pretty much his first touch, the keeper seemed to be caught in no man’s land as he came out and Burt passed the ball beyond him and into the net.

Burbage now had the confidence and were all over Lutterworth and their big chance came with just four minutes to play as a powerful header from Burt came back off the keeper to Brown who saw his effort saved only for the ball to fall to Adcock who made sure of Burbage’s progression to the next round of the FA Vase where they will play Cradley on the 16th September at Kirkby Road Sports Ground in Barwell with a 3pm Kick Off.