In a really good cup tie played in an excellent spirit it looked likely to be only one winner as the match official took centre stage with two decisions inside a 3 minute period that could have broken the hearts of any team. 68 minutes the decision to dismiss United full back Dan Fletcher looked extremely harsh given the Clipstone player looked to be heading out wide. Ironically the home side had every right to be incensed by this decision also, as if an advantage had of been played Carl Haslam would have been away clear to bear down on goal, so pulling play back to award a free kick was rightly infuriating for the locals. Down to 10 men for the last 22 minutes against a very good outfit and despite holding a slender 2-1 advantage this was made even tougher by the 2nd bizarre decision 2 minutes later on the award of a spot kick for the home side. A home corner looked to have been cleared into touch & and without any appeal from anyone, the match official saw something that promoted his award of a spot kick.When Carl Haslam slammed home for 2-2 10 man United looked all on to even survive the last 20 minutes and even force the extra period. It says so much about the group/ management that United managed to overcome such dissapointment and find a way to get back in front. The only realistic route for a goal was from a set play and a perfect run and near post header from the manager Martin Carruthers converted a corner on 80 minutes, to give United to hold onto. Hold onto we did as a spirited display saw the lead preserved and the victory acheived. Earlier in the evening the home side went in front via a great strike from Ian Hilier on 21 minutes that cleared Andy Fretwell for 1-0. In cup competitions you need a little bit of good fortune and this came Uniteds way on the stroke of half time. our 38 year old Mark Brooks who put in a hard working performance all evening and defied the years broke clear right touch line. Whether his effort was a cross or a strike only he will know, but either way it took a vicious deflection to loop over Clipstone keeper Eley for 1-1 and visably provide a lift for an out of sorts United. 2nd period saw a much more open game for the harden 80 plus spectators who braved a cold wet night.United were indebted to keeper Andy Fretwell for a briilant low save from a header to keep United level and this was the catalyst for Basford to go in front on 65 minutes.United management brought Blair Anderson to the club for his ability to provide that bit of magic, and the flanker did,nt dissapoint on the evening putting over a fine cross, that saw an equally fine header from our goal machine TJ Nightingale for 2-1. The home side with the dangerous Carl Haslam always a threat brought another brilliant low save from Fretwell before the last 22 minutes drama as above.
For a club that has,nt been anywhere near the last 8 of our county cup competition for nearing 25 years then finally we are back in the last 4 of the competition.
Alot of credit on the evening to Clipstone, a great well managed club by Brett Marshall and his team of people and the club who are most definately on the up. It would be brilliant for them to make a late push for promotion from the NECL Division 1 so we can have another local derby next season, and on this form nothing is impossible like our own quest for honours in the NECL Premier.

Basford after a hard slog will be rightly given a free weekend before we start the preparation for our next league game a week Sat v Lincoln Moorlands at Greenwich Avenue.