Stevenage were drawn at home to near neighbours St Albans in the 2nd round of the English Schools FA National 9-a-side knockout competition. This tough-looking fixture looked even harder to win at the half-time break as Saints had the better of the first half and led by two goals to nil.

They went ahead with their very first attack after Stevenage had two chances to have cleared the danger but St Albans made them pay by scoring from the edge of the box with a lofted shot over Mason into the net. Both sides had good chances to score further goals, however both keepers were on good form making saves at either end.

Stevenage once again failed to deal with a bouncing ball midway through the half and the Saints danger man cooly lobbed Mason from the edge of the box for a second St Albans goal. How heads didn't drop, we created one or two half chances, but the visitors deserved their lead at the break.

I thought that we were a bit slow in closing players down, we highlighted the main threat in the Saints team and asked Efe to try and keep him quiet, and we asked the boys to play forward passes a fraction quicker as we have pace up front and I felt that we could expose St Albans eagerness in getting players forward and, in doing so, leaving some space at the back that we could exploit.

It was a much-improved showing by Stevenage in the second half, the boys had listened and were pressing quickly in numbers and also getting their passes away quicker as we started to enjoy some possession. It also helped that we scored an early goal, and Jeremy did very well down the right hand side, beating his man and delivering a perfect cross for Reggie Young to convert in front of goal and it was game on.

I sensed that we were gaining confidence and momnetum, and I could see some doubt creeping into the Saints players as Stevenage continued pressing well. Mason was called upoon to make a couple of tidy saves, and at the other end Henry raced clear of the last man and beat the onrushing goalkeeper to the ball but it somehow trickled inches wide of the post as Henry and a recovering defender crashed into the post.

We then won a corner on our right and again Jeremy delivered a great cross that was met on the volley by Luke Horncastle which seemed to surprise the Saints keeper as it ended up in the back of the net for 2-2. Stevenage certainly had the momentum now and were pressing for a winner and came close several times, Reggie testing the keeper with a free kick that was pushed around the post and Arthur going close with the keepr to beat.

Neitehr side could find that winner though, and so it went to extra time. In the first period the visitors had a glorious chance when they broke down the left and delivered a cross across the face of the goal that was missed by their oncoming striker. In the second period the best chance fell to Arthur, after Reggie had put him clear, but he shot tamely into the keepers hands. And so it came to the dreaded penalties - I say 'dreaded' but I have great faith in Mason as a shot-stopper and I didn't bother asking who wanted to take one - we just nominated players 1 to 5!

Henry took the first, and it was struck so well that even though the keeper got a hand to it, it still nestled into the net and it was advantage Stevenage. Mason came close to saving the St Albans opening kick but it ended in the net for 1-1. Arthur Leeke strode up and confidentally converted his shot low and into the side for 2-1. Mason then pulled off a great save to give Stevenage the advatange before Reggie cooly placed his penalty high into the roof of the net for 3-1. Mason then guessed right again for the next Saints penalty to pull off another great save which meant that we jkust needed t oscore our fourth kick, and this was done superbly by Theo Kundrik to make it 4-1 to the Stevenage side.

The boys were very happy at the conclusion, they had worked so hard in that second half and deserved to get something from the game after a lacklustre first period. Their 'reward' for winning is a 3rd round tie against Wokingham later this month.