SPENNYMOOR
TOWN V NEWCASTLE BENFIED
It’s sunny but cool after overnight rain for
this all Northern League tie. Brewery Field shows some improvement since the
cup run’s last visit in September 2011, with a freshly tarmacked elevated area
opposite the main stand. But Dire Straits still welcome the teams onto the
field, Spennymoor in their magpie stripes and Benfield in blue & white
hoops a la QPR.
There is also still the slope, with the goal
line at one end level with the bar at the other. Benfield have chosen to play
uphill in the first half, and are soon on the defensive as Spennymoor probe
with Capper, Graydon and Phillips forming neat triangles down the left.
Benfield slowly find their feet with midfielder Deverdics showing nice touches
and winger Norris having fullback-worrying pace.
A Benfield attack breaks down and Spennymoor
counter with left winger Phillips. He beats full back Gillespie and unleashes a
fierce shot that thuds into goal keeper Grainger’s chest and then out for a
corner. That corner leads to a second and a driven shot well tipped over by
Grainger.
The pressure from Spennymoor is relentless;
and when Cogden tries to manoeuvre into space in the Benfield box, he is
upended by centre half Leighton. Despite the latter’s protestations it’s a
clear penalty and Cogden steps up and slots it high to the top right corner of
the net to give Spennymoor a deserved 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later Cogden is in action
again with a shot from distance. Grainger saves well but as the ball drops free
a Spennymoor player is bundled over and another penalty is the referee’s
verdict. Cogden is again on duty but this time the elevation is too much and
the penalty kick hits the roof of the stand.
Benfield gain encouragement and hold their own
for a while, but when one of their attacks breaks down Phillips races forward
for Spennymoor and crosses deep from the left. At the far post Leighton
inexplicably waves an arm at the ball, makes contact and so concedes his second
and the team’s third penalty of the half. This time Cogden aims bottom left and
succeeds in making it 2-0.
As half time approaches Norris speeds clear
for Benfield and sweeps the ball into centre forward Young’s path. But he is
denied a shot by good covering and although he eventually wins a free kick, it
leads to nothing as Deverdic’s shot is blocked by the defensive wall.
So by half time the Spennymoor keeper Dean
remains untroubled by a shot on target. Benfield players show some individual skill
but there is a lack of combination; Spennymoor on the other hand are very sharp and
purposeful in all they do.
The sun is well down for the start of the
second half and the temperature is dropping fast in the clear floodlit air. A
cup of Bovril is called for, and to minimise the danger of it being hit by the
ball I head for the safest spot in the ground – behind the Spennymoor goal –
for a new perspective on the game.
Though now playing up the 10 foot slope, the
trend continues to be Spennymoor pressure and Grainger is soon called on to
make saves. However Norris remains a dangerous outlet for Benfield and twice he
streaks away down the left; firstly shooting spectacularly high and wide, but
then crossing low across the six yard box without a teammate able to apply a
finish.
The action reverts to the other end and
Grainger dashes out of his area to challenge for a through ball, which then
bobbles to Spennymoor winger Walton. Thirty-five yards out he lofts the ball
into the empty net, emulating Ibrahamavic’s fourth for Sweden, apart from the
fact he is neither facing the wrong way nor four feet in the air when he makes
contact. But it still good enough for a 3-0 lead.
Benfield, to their credit, continue to apply
themselves and soon gain a corner. From the aerial challenges the ball eventually
falls to Leighton, temporarily upfield to add height to the set play. His first
swing of the boot is almost an air shot, but he quickly regroups his feet and
makes good contact with a second attempt, creating a satisfying bulge in the
home net. At 1-3 is a comeback on?
It only takes a couple of minutes to get an
answer. A Spennymoor through ball again has Grainger racing from his line, but
this time Walton gets there first and pushes it past the keeper, who then
obligingly knocks him over. It is penalty number four and Cogden expands his
repertoire with a low shot to the right this time to restore the three goal
margin at 4-1.
With twenty minutes to go it’s all but over.
Spennymoor continue to strut their stuff and Cogden, striving to embellish his
penalty hat trick with a proper goal, hits the post from 20 yards; the rebound
is knocked in but is ruled offside. He is then withdrawn for Richardson who, as
added time is announced, finishes off the scoring by sweeping in the fifth goal
from a fine cross by full back Groves.
Five one doesn’t flatter Spennymoor who look
strong in all departments. This performance will do little to shake the bookies’
confidence in them as FA Vase favourites. As the programme points out, this
may be their last season in this competition, as another successful defence of
their Northern League title may mean accepting promotion to the Northern
Premier and future cup runs being in the Trophy rather than the Vase.
But that is for the future (and Darlington
1883 may put a spoke in that wheel); for now Wembley remains in sight and no
team will want to play them in round three.
