⚽️ Blount
⚽️ Ratan-Wright
⚽️ Williams

🅰️ Payne
🅰️🅰️ Blount
🅰️ Ward

CSKA Carnabys’ County Cup campaign came to an end in a bizarre and dramatic encounter, as a spirited late fightback was not enough to prevent a penalty shootout defeat after a 4-4 draw in normal time.

The visitors started strongly, with CSKA’s defensive line holding firm against early pressure and goalkeeper Owen Schofield making several important saves to keep the score level.

Going forward, CSKA found plenty of joy in the wide areas, with Dave Payne particularly effective in linking play and getting into advanced positions. Payne played a key role in the opening goal, with his dangerous left-footed in-swinger from a corner taking a glancing touch off Jacob Blount for the striker’s eighth goal of the season.

Blount was later brought down inside the box, and the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Tristan Ratan-Wright stepped up and converted to make it 2-0, a lead that felt well deserved at the time.

Fosse pulled one back right on the stroke of half-time, a goal that highlighted a need for more aggressive defending in the box, with enough players present to cover the space but not enough pressure applied to force the attacker away from goal.

The second half lacked the same creativity, with only a few half-chances and long-range efforts. Despite this, CSKA limited opportunities at the other end, though goals from a corner bundled in at the back post, a strike while a player was down injured in the box, and a contentious free-kick saw the scoreline reach 4-2.

CSKA dug deep in the closing stages. Good footwork from Ajay on the right and passes into space on the other side allowed Ratan-Wright to steer in his second goal. Jasper Clarke also had a shot well saved after some good build-up play, while Schofield himself came close to connecting with an Archie Ball cross.

The equaliser eventually came from a scrappy set-piece. Westerman, Ball and Blount all caused panic inside the box, allowing Connor Williams to scramble home his first goal of the season and level the scores late on.

The momentum had shifted back in CSKA’s favour from the 80-minute mark onwards, and having secured the late equaliser, the side should have gone into the penalty shootout with more confidence. However, the shootout did not go their way, bringing the County Cup run to an end.

It was the fourth time this season that CSKA have let a 2-0 lead slip, though they remain unbeaten in 90 minutes from such positions. While the habit is concerning, the performance showed good character, quality football, and the ability to score late goals, with clear areas for improvement still identified as the side looks to challenge for honours.