FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round - 20 October 2012

GUISELEY V BUXTON

The fourth qualifying round has just the 32 games nationwide so it is back down the A1 for a first visit to Guiseley. Still, it’s good driving weather in the autumn sunshine, and perfect again for cup football. Nethermoor Park, tucked between the town and the railway, is neat and tidy in blue and white livery and the pitch looks good.

It’s a big game for both teams. The winners not only get a £12,500 prize payout but also go into the first round draw with clubs from League 1 & 2. Guiseley are the senior team, from the Blue Square North, and they are aiming to reach that stage for the 6^th time in the last 20 years. Buxton, only a step behind in the Evo Stick (Northern) Premier League, have won 3 away ties to get here so will not be fazed.

The spectators almost constitute a crowd; the usual attendance of between 400 and 500 could be swollen by the magic of the FA Cup, and the good weather. The teams enter the pitch to Queen’s “Rock You” through an under-7’s guard of honour. Guiseley in white shirts and navy shorts, Buxton in all red, line up for the obligatory FA Cup handshakes facing the dug outs, which unfortunately presents their backs to most of the crowd in the 2 galvanised steel stands.

From the kick off Guiseley camp in the Buxton half. Even the full backs are pressing. Left back McWilliams is fouled on the edge of the penalty area (just outside according to the referee) and right back Holdsworth shoots strongly but straight at the keeper. Guiseley’s Walshaw looks particularly useful and links well down the left before having a cross blocked.

Buxton, when they do get the ball, move it quickly forward and generate a couple of threatening situations. Left wing Duncum beats his full back once or twice and midfielder Istead cracks a long range effort into keeper Drench’s midriff.

But these are isolated incidents that interrupt Guiseley’s control of the game. As the half hour approaches centre forward Wilson shoots left footed at keeper Deakin. A minute later Walshaw feeds the same player well but he mis-controls and wastes a great position. This is followed up with another good combination down the left and when McWilliams crosses, it is Wilson again who gets his head to it to force Deakin into a scrambling save at the foot of the post. It feels like a goal is inevitable. McWilliams again has space on the left and although his measured cross is cleared, his teammate Brooksby on the right swings it back into the centre for Walshaw to rise unchallenged to head home from 6 yards.

Guiseley now have their tails up and push hard for the second goal their play deserves. The only Buxton threat is from free kicks, and long throws from centre half Roberts. As half time approaches Guiseley nearly score again with a tame header from Walshaw that bounces off the foot of the post.

Half time is greeted with warm applause from the home fans whose pleasure is muted by the shocking announcement that the hot food is already sold out, a result of the impressive attendance of 847. In truth the 1-0 score line is scant reward for their dominance as Walshaw, Rothery and Wilson have been very mobile and combined well up front. For Buxton centre half Roberts has performed well under the pressure. The Buxton one man attack force of Morris has had little chance, mostly chasing down long balls that are more hurried clearances than passes. When a ball is hit to him and he can link with midfielders Towey and Duncum possibilities emerge, but disappear when hesitation allows Guiseley to funnel back and snuff out danger.

The second half commences in familiar pattern. A good Guiseley combination down the left culminates in a shot wide from Walshaw; two further shots go wide before Buxton respond with a long throw and hoisted free kick into the box.

After about 10 minutes Buxton substitute Reed comes on and immediately one of Roberts’ long throws falls to him. His first touch of the game is goal bound but keeper Drench takes sufficient pace off the shot for his defenders to keep the ball out and smuggle it back to him. Reed is first to the next long throw but heads narrowly wide from close in. He repeats the trick from a free kick but this time heads over the bar.

This is the best Buxton have looked; Reed’s arrival up front has given them more energy and a better shape and by the midpoint they look the more likely to score next. Guiseley have lost their fluency and their coach decides to take off Wilson & Walshaw, so impressive in the first half, sending on Holsgrove & Boshell. The only outcome is a corner headed over the bar.

At every opportunity Buxton send centre halves Haggerty and Roberts forward for set plays, and from one hoisted free kick Roberts heads just past the far post. Reed gets a shot on target but it is too straight to worry Drench; the same applies to a looping header from yet another long throw that he clutches under the bar.

Roberts is now staying up front and so Guiseley have chances on the break and the last five minutes is frantic end to end stuff. From another Buxton long throw (Roberts must have arms of steel) Reed manufactures an overhead kick but defender Holdsworth’s face is in the way and danger is cleared.

Three added minutes are announced. Roberts uses the last of his strength to hurl in another Delap-esque missile, a Buxton head gets to it but again it goes wide of the post. Up the other end the Guiseley substitutes Holsgrove & Boshell finally combine effectively with Rothery and force a good save from Deakin. As time ticks down these two are again in evidence. Holsgrove chases down a clearance and works inside; when his shot is blocked the ball falls to Boshell who calmly steers his shot into the goal.

The second goal could hardly have come later as full time is blown seconds after the restart. As Guiseley gather in the centre circle for a debriefing, Buxton troop off the pitch to a good hand from the relieved home fans, showing welcome respect to opponents who came back strongly in the second half.

Guiseley’s 2-0 win gets them the reward of a place in the first round draw, and also overcomes the home team curse that the cup run has inflicted in the previous 5 rounds.

FA Vase First Round - 13 October 2012

NEWTON AYCLIFFE V ESH WINNING

The sunshine this week has a distinctly autumnal feel to it; the sun is lower in the sky and though it warms the skin it has little effect on the cool air. The pitch looks to have weathered the recent heavy rains well enough but it may cut up as the game progresses. Otherwise conditions are perfect.

In an all Northern League tie Newton Aycliffe in blue face Esh Winning in green; both have come through the qualifying rounds. Aycliffe have not won since the last round and have only two victories all season leaving them at the foot of Division 1. Esh Winning have won through two rounds (including against our hosts from last week Tadcaster) and are doing OK in Division 2.

The game is open from the start. The early exchanges require Spence in the visitor’s goal to save a glancing header and a shot from distance, but both are straight at him. His opposite number is not called on as threats on his goal are off target.

By mid-half Aycliffe begin to get the upper hand; a nice move down the right sets up Young on the edge of the box, but his low shot to the corner is tipped round the post by Spence. Five minutes later an Aycliffe free kick from distance is thumped well by full back Harvey but the Esh Winning wall holds fast at the cost of some personal discomfort.

Esh Winning have less of the game but centre forward Ward is winning his share of high balls and Thompson looks both skilful and pacey in support. As half time approaches, for reasons unknown, the Aycliffe central defenders suddenly absent themselves from the traditional position in the middle of their own half. When the ball appears there, a race between Thompson and covering fullback Knox will have only one winner. Thompson not only gets there first, he draws keeper Pocklington out of position then calmly slots the ball into the open net.

Aycliffe try to respond at once. Skipper Tarling battles through into the penalty area but centre half Wilson caps a fine display with a last ditch challenge. The final attempt of the half however comes as an Esh Winning’s free kick is headed clear but only to their number 10, Wing, who volleys neatly but wide.

At half time Aycliffe troop off puzzled at how they are losing. They have had more possession and territory, but have only looked like scoring from outside the box. Anything closer in has been met or blocked by Wilson and Oakley. Esh Winning have had more room to attack into, and Thompson’s pace and determination has been a constant threat.

Five minutes into the second half an Esh Winning attack down the right culminates in an accurate dipping volley from Wing. It’s well out and keeper Pocklington is well positioned to deal with it, but inexplicably the ball slips through his hands and rolls in slow motion over the line for 2-0.

Within another five minutes Aycliffe boss Alan Oliver responds with a triple substitution which includes putting his assistant Mellanby on up front. Esh Winning fall back as Aycliffe press hard. Twice left wing Hughes cuts in across the edge of the box and shoots right footed; the first screws wide of the near post and the second is hit sweeter but flies past the far.

Mellanby is adding presence to the attack but the more telling substitution is Dawson in midfield. He is either given or is able to find space and time to play in some well-judged balls. One gives centre forward Earl a chance but Spence is quick off his line and just gets to it first. The dual continues as Spence gets down sharply to Earl’s shot on the turn.

As time gets short Aycliffe go three at the back with centre half Craddock joining Earl and Mellanby up front. Dawson twice hits in a long diagonal ball and Craddock wins both, one amounts to nought but another forces a save under the bar from Spence. When a third ball comes in Spence decides to challenge for it himself but the outcome is inconclusive and the ball falls to Mellanby who knocks it into the unguarded net from a couple of yards.

Eight minutes left and 1-2 down Aycliffe continue to bombard the Esh Winning penalty area. Mellanby may not be too mobile now but his goal scoring instincts are still sharp and it is he who finds space, first to fire narrowly wide and then to turn cleverly and put the ball dangerously across the six yard line, where it bobbles up out of a melee into the arms of a grateful Spence.

As full time approaches a rare Esh Winning excursion up front results in a comic moment when Pocklington picks up a ball deflected off his defender, ruled a back pass by the referee. The free kick is 4 yards out and the Aycliffe line up in the goal mouth would make a passable team photo. It does its job blocking the attempt, but a corner results and the last rites of the game are played out around the corner flag as Esh Winning successfully wind down the clock.

Esh Winning’s winning continues and their Vase run goes on. Newton Aycliffe did not do enough to win, but did enough to lose.

FA Cup Third Qualifying Round - 6 October 2012

TADCASTER ALBION V BOSTON UNITED

With West Auckland losing their replay at Harrogate, the Northern League’s representation in the FA Cup ended in the previous round leaving thin pickings and a tidy trip needed to keep the cup run going. Step forward Tadcaster Albion of the North East Counties League Premier Division, through to this stage for the first time ever and drawn against Boston United of the Conference North. This is a similar set up to the last round with a “step 5” team at home to one from “step 2”. Tadcaster have beaten a couple of Northern League teams in earlier rounds and also Holker Old Boys who we saw in the opening round at Newton Aycliffe, but this will be a tougher test.

The lexicographically challenging “2inspire Park”, tucked away behind the dominating, hop-scented, presence of the John Smiths brewery, is a pleasant tree-lined ground with few seats and little cover but a very popular club house with windows overlooking the pitch. Fortunately it is another dry sunny day for the FA Cup and hopes are for a good game, particularly as a seat at the Man City v Sunderland match has been declined in its favour!

The pitch looks in good condition despite (or because of) a recent flooding as Tadcaster in sunshine yellow line up against Boston in a white shirts and red shorts; clearly a change strip as their numerous fans, the majority of the 300 odd spectators, sport amber and black favours.

Boston start confidently and have their opponents penned in for the first five minutes, then Tadcaster find their feet and fizz in a dangerous free kick from the right. For 20 minutes it is fairly even with both sides taking every opportunity to shoot from distance, some closer to the goal than others but none needing a save. The first shot on target arises from a Tadcaster long throw that is successfully defended but falls invitingly for a volley that is headed clear.

Gradually Tadcaster get the upper hand, their simpler style of play proving more effective on a pitch that does not play as well as it looks. Its bobbly nature is interfering with Boston’s desire to pass and move. In midfield Boston’s playmaker Ross looks skilful but is being steamrollered by the two Kamaras (Nathan and Chris) in Tadcaster’s engine room. Boston’s troubles escalate when Fairclough is first booked then spoken to severely in the space of 5 minutes. His manager substitutes him, fearing a sending off, but this strategy is undermined when his replacement Stokes promptly gets himself booked.

The final five minutes of the half sees action at both ends. Stokes finds space on the right and his shot hits the outside of the post; at the other end a soft free kick awarded to Tadcaster sees a left foot curler threaten the far post, but only ripple the roof of the net.

The half time verdict is a good game with plenty of action despite the lack of goals. Boston’s early attempt to impose their status was rebuffed mainly through efforts of Nathan and Chris Kamara, whose physicality the Boston midfield could not match. But up front only Gray, Tadcaster's big centre forward, looks a threat and he is both isolated and well marshalled by Boston’s Stainfield. For Boston centre forward Jones has worked hard and left winger Thompson posed an early threat until full back Silk worked him out.

The second half bursts into life with a Tadcaster attack. Nathan Kamara bundles his way into the penalty but Stainfield nicks the ball off his toe before he can shoot. Boston seem to have adapted their game to the pitch and soon loft a high diagonal ball into Tadcaster’s box. Goalkeeper Haystead leaps, catches, fumbles then drops the ball at the feet of centre forward Jones who, almost embarrassed, pokes it over the line for an unexpected but welcome goal.

Tadcaster are stunned and take about ten minutes to regain a foothold in the game. Just as they do Boston substitute Marshall hits a gem of a through ball down the inside right channel. Jones is right on the last man but offside appeals are ignored as he bears down on goal. Keeper Haystead comes to meet him and forces him wide but then clumsily, and unnecessarily, collides with him to concede the penalty. As the ball was running wide the yellow card is appropriate, just one of many sensible rulings by today’s referee Mr Miller. Ward converts steps the spot kick to give Boston a 2-0 lead.

Tadcaster continue to compete but Boston now look more comfortable and the game is being played out in the Tadcaster half and the chances are coming in the Tadcaster box. One falls to Ward when a free kick from 30 yards is dinked cleverly into him, but his close range effort is well saved by Haystead.

The usual rash of substitutions towards the end has little impact other than to give Tadcaster’s James the opportunity to whack Stokes with little subtlety; the assault deserves a red card but Mr Miller decides on yellow, blotting his otherwise faultless performance.

Tadcaster finish with a flurry of corners, free kicks and long throws but Boston’s defence continues to cope and gets a well-deserved clean sheet.

Boston will be in the draw for the fourth and final qualifying round as one of the 40 survivors who along with the 24 Conference teams will contest just 32 ties to see who will get a crack at Football League opposition in the First Round proper.

Just 32 matches nationwide so fingers crossed for a Gateshead home draw!