Published: 28 February, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

RYAN FC survived a nail-biting penalty shoot-out on Sunday to book their place in the final of the London FA County Cup.

Taking on rivals Cray Wanderers in Mottingham, south-east London, Ryan took an early lead when EJ Gyebi latched on to a through-ball from Berckan Belinder and fired a fierce shot past the keeper.

Wanderers equalised from the penalty spot following a rash challenge from centre-back George Fitzsimmons.

Despite being pegged back the Under-16s side continued to push forward and restored their lead when Gyebi netted his second of the game.

Again Wanderers equalised to make it 2-2 and with nothing separating the sides in extra-time it was left to sudden-death penalties to decide the tie. Noyan Tajbakhsh, Bilal Sayoud, Reuben Hinkson and skipper Euan Taylor-Reid all kept their nerve from the spot.

And goalkeeper Zach Gotleib made two brilliant saves to earn Ryan a 4 2 victory.