North Gloucestershire League
Premier Division
Milkwall 6, Tidenham 3
IT'S not often a goalkeeper has the chance to influence the outcome of a match by providing an inch perfect pass - but that was the role of Milkwall's Terrence James in a tense encounter with local rivals Tidenham.
Milkwall were clinging on to a 4-3 lead and under immense pressure when James stole the limelight.
Reduced to 10 players when Darren Woodley was called away during the half-time break, Milkwall's advantage was being severely tested and James had already made save after save.
But there were more heroics to come.
James saved a penalty and from the subsequent corner he jumped above Tidenham's forwards to collect the ball. Milkwall's Gary Beard was the only man up front and James found him with a perfect long-range kick.
Beard beat two defenders and drove home goal number five. Tidenham attacks continued but the pressure was off and another defensive clearance enabled Paul Webber to make the game safe.
There was certainly a lot of action in this one and goals came fast and often furiously in the first-half.
Paul Webber netted Milkwall's first in the opening minute. Steve Gane drove home a right footed shot into the roof of the net in the fourth and Tidenham looked on the ropes.
But a knock-out was a long way off. On seven minutes Rob Hutchinson scored Tidenham's first before Darren Woodley hit Milkwall's third.
Lindon Starr scored Tidenham's second to set the pattern for the afternoon and then Lee Powell drove in a stunning goal from 35 yards. Not to be outdone Rob Hutchinson netted once more for Tidenham leaving the score at 4-3 in Milkwall's favour at the break.
It was the key for James to step up and cover himself in glory as he pulled off save after save and then produced the pass on the day for the goal that swung the match.