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Richard Morton scored a unique hat-trick of penalties on Tuesday as Edgware gave their forthcoming Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Cup Final opponents plenty to think about before they clash again on May 1 at Harefield, writes John Comfort. With better finishing to some often outstanding approach work, the Wares could have won by an even more handsome margin on a night when they – and the Jets - were consistently frustrated by some abysmal officiating, which marred an otherwise hard fought contest. Referee Turner set the pattern for an evening of inexplicable decisions after only 45 seconds. When Morton latched onto a wayward back pass, Oxhey keeper Kevin Paul pulled him down as the midfielder attempted to go round him. Mr Turner got the spot kick award right, and Morton promptly despatched it low into the left hand corner of the net to put the Wares into an early lead. But, amazingly, no card of any colour was shown to the very fortunate Paul. With Mr Turner baffling all with a catalogue of bizarre decisions, it came as no real surprise when he alone spotted an offence when Edgware cleanly headed the ball clear from a 19th minute free kick by the Jets. There was certainly no appeal from Oxhey but a spot kick was awarded anyway and Garry Beadle duly accepted the gift to fire the Jets back on level terms. After that the controversy grew with every decision and it all got too much for joint Edgware boss Steve Newing, and his far from inaccurate assessment of the referee's efforts got him banished from the dugout. A superb move involving Stuart Blackburne and Morton culminated in Greg Ngoyi breaking into the Oxhey area only to fire narrowly wide but, with 39 minutes gone, Edgware did regain the lead, scoring from yet another penalty. Morton was pulled back by a defender as he stormed into the area to get on the end of a Paul Marks pass and once again, although a spot kick was awarded, the offender got off scot free. Morton fired the penalty into the top right hand corner of the net. A diving save from Paul prevented Marks from adding to the lead with a fierce, low shot after a strong run to the edge of the Oxhey area, but Edgware did increase their advantage right on half time. Morton's surging run on the right set it up, and his firm, low cross was crashed home first time by Ngoyi, despite the efforts of a defender on the line to keep it out. Edgware brought on Adam Wallace for Ngoyi early in the second half but there was no let up for the Jets, who were fortunate not to concede another following Rory Smith's pinpoint cross, from which Morton wastefully fired over an open goal at the far post. But the visitors hardly had time to savour that lucky let off before the Wares did make it 4-1, Gavin Hart exchanging passes with Johnny Moore before drilling a low shot past keeper Paul. That effectively killed off the game as a contest but Edgware were in no mood to ease up and, with 59 minutes gone, they were awarded their third penalty of the night when Oxhey defender Chris Ingram pulled Wallace back in the area as he looked to control Jason Fernee's throw in. Paul was now totally bemused by the variety of Morton's spot kicks, and the kepeer was already diving to his right when the midfielder crashed a fierce straight shot into the roof of the net to make it 5-1. A goal line clearance denied Morton soon after before Wallace blasted home an angled strike for Edgware's sixth goal after 75 minutes from a Morton pass. In the closing stages an upright kept out a good, low strike from Moore, while Wallace had an effort cleared off the line, and then headed another glorious chance over an open goal. But 6-1 was a comprehensive win for the Wares and it was a result which puts them in very confident mood for the Cup Final. Edgware: Bonfield, Moore, Rispoli, Smith (Gardner), Buchanan, Fernee, Marks, Morton, S Blackburne (Cain), Ngoyi (Wallace), Hart. Other subs: Hayden, R Blackburne. |