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HE SHOOTS, HE SNORES
Two teams set UK record for longest penalty shootout at 44 kicks
TWO teams set a UK record for the longest penalty shootout — with 44 needed to split them.
Every player for non-league sides Old Wulfrunians and Lane Head had to take two each.
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Old Wulfs left-back Jack Marsh, 27, a schoolteacher, slotted home the winning penalty after around 35 minutes of drama.
After his side won the shootout 19-18, Jack said: “The overwhelming feeling was one of relief that it was over.
“No one had a clue it was a record at the time and everyone was just glad we could finally go home.”
The West Midlands teams met on Tuesday night in the JW Hunt Cup.
Lane Head, from Bloxwich, were 3-2 up with ten minutes to go when Wolverhampton side Old Wulfs equalised.
The shootout started at 9.30pm in front of 60 fans — and finished at around 10.05pm. Jack’s dad Simon, Old Wulfs’ chairman, said: “After the 22nd penalty I went to get the team’s fish and chips. When I got back it was still going.”
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Ref Jamie Howe, 42, said: “When one of the keepers walked up for his penalty one of his team-mates shouted, ‘Just miss, we want to go home’.”
He scored but others missed. The 44 kicks beat the UK record of 34, but was shy of the world’s longest, 48, in Namibia.
Lane Head secretary Martin Davies said: “It was great to be involved in such a memorable match that has gone into the record books. But we are gutted.”
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