NEWTON
AYCLIFFE V HOLKER OLD BOYS
The 2012-13 cup run starts with a return to
Old Moore Park to see if Newton Aycliffe can bury the memory of last season’s
FA Cup debut which resulted in a 7-2 home defeat to Billingham Synthonia. Unlike last year Newton Aycliffe are
favourites against Holker Old Boys, who hail from Barrow and play one step down
the non-league pyramid in the North West Counties First Division.
The weather is suitably August with the green
pitch surrounded by trees in full summer leaf; in the distance is the sound of
willow on leather, as the adjacent cricket club pursue a more seasonable sport.
About a hundred or so fans, maybe half of
last year’s attendance, survey the green shirted Holker Old Boys with some
curiosity. The welcome change of FA policy, no longer restricting the early
rounds to teams in the same league, gives an opportunity to see new faces and
make new friends from the wider region.
Newton Aycliffe, in their blue shirts with
white chest bar, are soon in attack. After just a minute they are awarded a
free kick out on the right. As the kick
comes in Paul Robinson dummies and peels off his marker, fellow striker Gavin Barton
nods the ball into his teammate’s path, and Robinson rifles in a clinical
finish to give the home team an immediate 1-0 lead.
The crowd rub their hands and hope for a
stroll to victory, encouraged by more good work up front by the two summer
signings who combined so effectively for the goal. One chip from Barton gives Ross Liddicott in
the Holker goal a fine opportunity for a photogenic diving save. Later, when Robinson beats the offside trap,
he makes a better stop by just standing his ground at the near post.
The Old Boys’ efforts are very limited; Aycliffe
goalkeeper Stephen Richardson is troubled only when his rushed clearance kick
is returned towards, but over, his goal, and by a free kick from distance that thuds
into his midriff.
However as half time approaches, with no
further reward for Aycliffe’s early dominance, it is a more even game. Aycliffe have gone off the boil and Holker are
playing with increasing belief. The half
time score of 1-0 will be of more concern to the home team than their visitors.
The second half gets underway with a déjà vu
moment as the ball is again in the Holker net within a minute. Aycliffe’s skipper Sean Tarling moves forward
and shoots from range, Liddicott saves at full stretch only to see the loose
ball swept into the net. Reprieve is at
hand however with the assistant referee indicating offside.
Soon a real goal arrives. A Newton Aycliffe back pass is short of the
keeper and the busy Connor Erdis nips in to steer a lofted shot clear of
Richardson and into the goal to make it 1-1. This gives Holker something to hang on to and
Aycliffe something to respond to. The result is increased intensity and a few
heavy tackles. Goal scorer Erdis is booked for one foul and is lucky to stay on
when he repeats the offense; his manager wisely withdraws him to save the
referee the trouble later.
Pressure builds on the Holker goal, typified
on 80 minutes when an Aycliffe “Hail Mary” of a corner kick emerges from a
leaping bunch of players and bounces off the top of the bar and over. Two
minutes later there are two further scares for the visitors. First a penalty shout for handball is denied;
then a cross is sliced high in the goal mouth resulting in a scramble and a
shot on goal from Nathan Wilson that is tipped over the bar.
The final action however is at the other
end. A Holker break generates panic in the Aycliffe back line and despite the
ball carrier being hacked down, advantage is played and the attack threatens,
but does not deliver a goal.
So the match ends 1-1, which looked unlikely
after the first minute. Holker Old Boys were reliant on set pieces and
mistakes, but get credit for converting the one chance given.
Newton Aycliffe will at least get one more
match in their cup run this year, whether they get one more round will depend
on Tuesday’s replay.
No comments:
Post a Comment