The opposition? Step 5 Deeping Rangers. Confidence was high among the fans, with hopes of edging one round closer to silverware. And the dream start came early: Captain Zahid calmly slotted the ball past the Deeping keeper to put FCP 1-0 up. The crowd erupted, the atmosphere electric.

It should have been 2-0 soon after. A goal-bound effort was stopped… by Derrick, who ‘accidentally’ blocked the shot while in an offside position. To add to the frustration, the referee waved away a strong penalty shout when Tiago was taken down in the box. The disappointment was short-lived, though, as Micky produced a moment of magic, curling in a superb finish to double the lead. 2-0 to FCP, and the Green Army were flying.

But just before the break, a lapse in concentration led to a needless penalty. Shaz got fingertips to it but couldn’t keep it out. Deeping clawed one back, and the teams went into halftime at 2-1.

The second half brought more drama. Deeping leveled the score at 2-2, but Derrick redeemed himself moments later, bundling the ball home to restore FCP’s lead at 3-2. The Green Army were back on top, and spirits were high.

Then came the turning point. A tactical switch by FCP introduced an unfamiliar formation that left fans scratching their heads – and left the team vulnerable. Deeping seized the moment, scoring three late goals to turn the game on its head. The final whistle blew with the scoreboard reading 5-3 to Deeping.

From the ecstasy of a 2-0 lead to the agony of a cup exit, this was a tough one to take for the Green Army. But as ever, the team will regroup, learn, and fight on.

Goalscorers
Zahid, Micky, Derrick

Green Army Man of the Match
Captain Zahid – leading by example and grabbing an early goal to set the tone.