FA Vase First Qualifying Round 1 September 2012

BILLINGHAM TOWN V PICKERING TOWN

 

Both teams are out of the FA Cup early so the Vase is their remaining opportunity for a good cup run. A further incentive for victory is a home draw in the next two rounds (already made). But neither team has lit up their respective leagues so confidence cannot be high in either camp.

Bedford Terrace, tucked away between residential streets and the railway, is surprisingly spacious. The pitch is flat and green (courtesy of a fleeting relationship with Hartlepool FC that ended acrimoniously with the removal of the goalposts and the issue of a winding up order) and spectator facilities are good with two stands (one seated) and areas of two or three step terracing.

It is the first day of autumn, but it still feels like summer with the weather bright and breezy. Pickering, in all yellow, have the benefit of the breeze in the first half, which their goalkeeper uses to good effect hurling out throws of Olympic proportions. Billingham, in all blue, frequently have to turn, pursue and deal with long balls into the channels. Three Pickering corners come in quick succession, but a clear height advantage is not exploited as they are taken short or driven in low.

Billingham play a shorter game; in midfield Cronesberry and Butterworth are good on the ball and Craig Norman is finding space on the left wing. On 18 minutes Norman whips in a good cross to create consternation in the Pickering box, the ball pops invitingly to Matthew Garbutt who lashes in a good volley to make it 1-0 to Billingham.

Pickering respond with a shot on target, easily fielded by Arthur in goal; at the other end a Billingham effort is more troublesome and keeper Reid has to dive to push it round the post. The game is open, Billingham look in control despite playing into the wind and play the ball about nicely, but rarely threaten the goal.

Pickering are playing very narrow up front, and are running into two very determined centre backs. Centre forward Baxter holds up the ball well but has to play it backwards most of the time. Play makers Dalton and Craig are less flashy than the Billingham pair but are quietly effective, and just before the half hour it is Dalton who draws a foul just outside the Billingham penalty area. The free kick is a poor effort into the keeper’s hands. Five minutes later it is Craig who is brought down on the same spot, and this time Chris Gowan’s effort is much better, skimming the Billingham bar. When a third foul is committed two minutes later in the same place it is Liam Shepherd’s turn to have a crack, and this one is hit low and true into the corner of the net for an equaliser that did not seem likely from open play.

With the wind to follow in the second half Billingham would probably settle for playing out the remaining 10 minutes to half time at 1-1. However with a couple of minutes to go their offside trap fails, for once, and in attempting to recover the situation a penalty is conceded. Liam Salt confidently hammers the ball home to put Pickering 2-1 ahead.

Billingham start the second half well; Cronesberry’s fancy footwork draws a foul wide on the right and his left foot free kick curls viciously in the wind but beyond the far post. The same player, from the same wing, with the same foot, using the same wind almost converts direct from a corner, but it is headed off the back post by a Pickering defender. When it is Billingham’s turn to get a free kick outside the box centre forward Dunwell, who has been well looked after all game, hits a pile-driver past the wall only to see keeper Reid fingertip it onto the post and behind for a corner. Reid, again at full stretch, saves from Butterworth a few minutes later.

Pickering are doing little creatively, but have no need to as long as Billingham can’t break through. Billingham refresh the forward line, bringing on a couple of attacking substitutes, but the best this brings is an effort disallowed for offside.

As Billingham become increasingly desperate they become more vulnerable to Pickering breaks, and with seven minutes left the powerful Joe Connor strides forward and puts his considerable bulk into a 25 yard drive. Despite it being into the wind it is travelling at speed and keeper Arthur can only parry, allowing substitute Tom Fenwick to gleefully knock in the rebound for 3-1. This is hard on Billingham, but it could be even worse as Liam Shepherd, who started the Pickering comeback has a chance at the death to score another, but after manoeuvring the ball onto his left foot, he hits it high and wide.

So Pickering Town go on; they did not have to do too much to get through, just accept the opportunities presented by the injudicious tackling of the Billingham defence. Billingham Town’s run is over, unable to shut up shop at one nil and unable to convert pressure into goals once they went behind.