Midlands sides set a new English record of 44 penalties in shootout drama earlier this week, making national headlines in doing so.
As mentioned by BBC Sport, the previous record was 34, jointly held by Chelsea Under-23s and Oxford United in the EFL Trophy, and Taunton Town v Truro City in the Southern League Challenge Cup.
However Old Wulfrunians, from Wolverhampton, and Bloxwich-based Lane Head, have broke through that after their JW Hunt Cup first-round tie had finished 3-3, thanks to a late equaliser for the hosts from Leo Gill, with Old Wulfs winning a near half-hour long shootout 19-18.
The 44th and final penalty at after 10pm pic.twitter.com/gYyBmSwv0a
— Old Wulfrunians FC (@oldwulfsfc) October 19, 2021
Incredible result with the final score 19-18 on penalties after 22 were taken by each side
— Old Wulfrunians FC (@oldwulfsfc) October 19, 2021
Jack Marsh, the home side’s left-back and son of Old Wulfs chairman-secretary Simon Marsh, hit the winning penalty.
But his dad Simon nearly missed it as, midway through what was a tense finale, he had to drive half a mile down the road to the local chip shop to pick up the players’ post-match takeaway order.
“It was amazing,” he said. “It started at about 9.35pm and it was well after 10pm when it finished.
“After the 22nd penalty I went to get the team’s fish and chips. But, when I got back, the shootout was still going. I was back in time to see the penultimate one saved and then I saw Jack score his.
“It was 4-4 after the first five penalties. Then, when it went to sudden death, we had two chances to win it but missed them.
“After 11 pens each it was 8-8 and both sides then scored their next 10. But they missed the 43rd.”
The JW Hunt Cup is a competition that been running since 1926 and it donates all proceeds to the Sedgley-based Beacon Centre which is for the blind and partially-sighted.
The tournament’s final is usually played at nearby Molineux, home of Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers.
There was a Wolves connection to this game in fact, as it was played at Castlecroft, now the CKW Stadium and home of Old Wulfrunians’ neighbours AFC Wulfrunians as it used to be Wolves’ training ground.
It is the first season the JW Hunt Cup has joined other cup competitions in scrapping extra time to go straight to penalties – which led to a busy night for the two goalkeepers, Danny Tipton of Old Wulfs and Lane Head’s Tom Kirkpatrick.
“They were the real heroes,” said Simon Marsh.
The outcome fell only four penalties short of the world record of 48, when KK Palace beat Civic 17-16 in the Namibian Cup.
But it earned West Midlands League Division One side Old Wulfrunians a second-round tie against Midland League Premier Division side Shifnal Town.
Twitter users reacted as the Midlands sides set a new English record of 44 penalties in shootout drama…
@NickLewissss: Was a mad thing to be involved in 😂
@itspaulactually: Haha great story 👍🏼
@HRBFC: Congratulations to @oldwulfsfc, who broke the English record for the longest penalty shoot-out earlier this week after winning 19-18… Reminds us of the previous record when we were beaten 18-17 on penalties by @CockfostersFC in the Middlesex Charity Cup in 2016.
@voiceywolves8: 44 penalties 😂👏🏻… you will need a new pea in your whistle Jim 😂👍🏻
@JWHuntCup: Amazing result last night as @oldwulfsfc edged out @LaneHeadFC1 19-18 on penalties. Not sure if this is a competition record or not but it will certainly take some beating
@FabianPorter: Crikey…. Fair play.
@wellyams: Wow, some shootout that
@ForeverAYellow: Blimey imagine being part of or even watching that penalty shootout. Bet any food planned for the after the game went cold haha
Billy Archer: Now this is just class, congratulations on setting the new impressive record, won’t be beaten for a while i hope
Will Carsley: Actually jealous of all those who got to watch it play out, fair dos to, cold October night etc bet fans kept needed to top up their drinks
Ryan Hannah: I was at that EFL Trophy match that had the crazy penalty shootout, was some night! Glad to see the record is offloaded onto another game however, congrats Old Wulfs!
Pete Wilson: Now this is why I love non league so much, huge well done getting in the records books, quite an achievement albeit bizarre haha
You must be logged in to post a comment Login