County Cup Welwyn Pegasus 4 Knebworth Youth Cheetahs Blacks 3 A GAME that was played in atrocious conditions, torrential downpours and strong winds, produced a real spectacle for those braving the elements. Pegasus are top of their league and raced into a

County Cup

Welwyn Pegasus 4 Knebworth Youth Cheetahs Blacks 3

A GAME that was played in atrocious conditions, torrential downpours and strong winds, produced a real spectacle for those braving the elements. Pegasus are top of their league and raced into a three goal lead after Knebworth were guilty of defensive errors and gifting the home team two of their three goals.

It was time for some stern words, a reshuffle of players and the Cheetahs were sent out for the second half still smarting. However they produced an amazing fight-back, full of good football, courage and a determination to right their first half wrongs.

The impressive Joshua Allen led the way and scored to give Cheetahs some hope. A handball in the area saw Travis Hambleton step up only for his penalty to be saved, but fortunately he was quickest to react from the rebound to reduce the deficit.

It was one-way traffic now as the Knebworth team laid siege to the Pegasus goal with Cook a virtual spectator at the other end, aided by some quality defending from Max Whittle, Tommy Chaplin and Katie McLaughlin in front of him.

Archie Garrett then latched on to a great through-ball to beat the excellent Welwyn 'keeper and fire into the corner of the net for 3-3.

Pegasus held on, like a punch-drunk boxer clinging to the ropes hoping the bell would come, which it did in the shape of the final whistle from the referee.

In extra time the Cheetahs piled on the pressure but were finally caught by a sucker-punch counter-attack as Welwyn grabbed a fourth. Still the Cheetahs piled forward and Allen saw an audacious overhead kick finger tipped against the post and back into the arms of the grateful 'keeper.

The whistle sounded to end a great game, where both sides gave everything in awful weather and it was a shame that there had to be a loser.

A lesson to be learned for the Knebworth team in starting games sluggishly, and they will have to play like they did in the second half next week in their top of the table clash away to Bishop's Stortford.