Six Goal Thriller Settled By Spot-Kicks by Jeremy Ruane An epic Chatham Cup tie was eventually resolved by a penalty shoot-out at Allen Hill Stadium, as North Shore United prevailed 4-3 on spot-kicks over Mt. Wellington, after 120 minutes of action-packed soccer had seen the sides share six goals. This match boasted all the magic that the cut-and-thrust world of cup-tie soccer is all about. It had everything - goals, goal-line clearances, super saves, bookings, even a sending-off. And a midfield battle betwee Dave Witteveen and Kevin Hagan which itself was worth the admission price. Witteveen it was who provided the first real goalmouth action, forcing a save from Duncan Martin, before the opening goal came in the eleventh minute. Grant Lightbown intercepted a crossfield Shore pass, and unleashed Justin Worsley. The big man did the business from twenty-five yards with an exquisite chip. Five minutes later, parity was achieved, as John Lawler and Mark Weddle combined to release Tim Stevens, who made no mistake under pressure. A moment later, Jason Batty pulled off a marvellous one-on-one save from Weddle. Signed from North Shore earlier in the season, Batty's first first-team appearance was at the expense of the virus-stricken Steve Baker. The 'keeper was powerless to prevent Shore taking the lead in the 32nd minute. Michael Irving's headed clearance fell to Lawler, and from thirty yards he executed a perfectly-placed volley into the top corner for 2-1. End-to-end action ensued, with Harry Ngata failing to make contact with a venomous Lightbown cross, followed by two Batty saves, both under pressure from the airborne Tony Jasper. Mount retorted with a clinical move, Mark Atkinson and Ngata setting up Witteveen for a long-range effort which wasn't far away. Mount equalised in the 52nd minute. Lightbown's free-kick found Witteveen diving to head goalwards. Martin parried extremely well, but Mark Elrick loomed to poach the leveller - 2-2, and all to play for. Back came Shore, Jasper heading over. Mount responded in kind, and the continued in see-saw vein, without any addition to the scoreline before full-time. So to extra-time, and Keith Hobbs back-headed a corner, only to find Atkinson rising to head off the line, with Batty helpless. Then, with the goal at his mercy, Ngata's nightmare continued, as he fired wide from five yards. With ten minutes of extra-time left came the breakthrough. Elrick turned Hobbs, but was dumped in the penalty box, and Witteveen fairly hammered the spot-kick home. But the home team would not lie down, and with seven minutes left, Atkinson upended Andy Wafer in the area, and Lawler replied in like manner to Witteveen's effort, a prelude to the drama forthcoming. Time was running out, and referee Neil Fox, whose display warranted little praise from those members of the fourth estate present, played his hand, dismissing Witteveen for an innocuous challenge on Hagan, when far more severe challenges had been ignored. It is a shame that such a wonderful cup-tie was so poorly controlled. With five players booked and one sent off, compared to Shore's lone booking, Mount have every right to feel aggrieved. And so to the dreaded penalty shoot-out. Elrick, Hagan, Irving and Lee Fraser all converted. Ngata, a player of English League experience with Hull City, promptly fired wide - a fair summary of his performance. Batty made amends, with a superb save from Wafer. Matty Byers and Lawler made it 3-3, with one kick each left. Up stepped Lightbown in the gathering gloom, tension now peaking around the stadium. His shot rose, and continued to do so, via the crossbar. It was left to Jasper to make it 4-3, and a place in the last eight was Shore's. The cup dream is over for Mount for another year, but they can take pride from having participated in one of the great Chatham Cup ties. A replay at Bill McKinlay Park under lights would have been a far more appropriate means of deciding a winner, than the much-maligned practise currently exercised. On a day when football was the winner, it's a shame that there had to be a loser.