Two non-league teams set UK record for longest ever penalty shootout at 44 spot kicks – with every player taking two each over more than half an hour
- Old Wulfrunians and Lane Head set a new British record of 44 penalties in the tie
- The epic was four short of the world record set in the 2005 Namibian Cup final
- Left-back Jack Marsh, 27, won the shootout for Old Wulfs 19-18 after 35 minutes
- Marsh said that he was relieved after he ended the marathon JW Hunt Cup tie
Two non-league fotoball teams need 44 penalties to separate them in a cup tie – setting a UK record in the process.
Old Wulfrunians and Lane Head drew 3-3 in their JW Hunt Cup tie sending the clash to a penalty shootout.
Every player on each team had to take two penalties, including both goalkeepers when left-back Jack Marsh, 27, a teacher, slotted home his spot kick for Old Wulfs in sudden death.
The shootout ended 19-18 to Old Wulfs after the 35-minute shootout – but stopped short of breaking the world record.
Old Wulfs left-back Jack Marsh put both teams out of their misery after a marathon shootout
Marsh told the Sun: ‘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’.
Lane Head secretary Martin Davies told the Sun that while it was ‘great’ to be in the record books, they were gutted that Old Wulfs had snet them crashing out of the cup.
Referee for the tie, Jamie Howe recounted that when a goalkeeper stepped up after 22 kicks, he was shouted at to miss on purpose to end the epic tiebreak.
Every player on each side, including goalkeepers, took two penalties in the 35-minute tiebreak
The current world record for most penalties in a shootout is 48, set in Namibia.
The 2005 Namibian Cup final between KK Palace and the Civics required the record number of set pieces to decide who took home the trophy.
KK Palace held their nerve to win 17-16 and earn the silverware.
In professional English football, the longest shootout was in a second round FA Cup fixture between Scunthorpe and Worcester City in which the former stopped a giant-killing after a draw in regulation time.
Scunthorpe won 14-13 on penalties against the non-league outfit after 32 shots on goal to progress to the third round.