FA Vase Third Round – 15 December 2012

SPENNYMOOR TOWN V BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA

A week late, at the third attempt, the all Northern League match up at Brewery Field will finally get under way. After the frost and the snow it is a balmy 7 or 8 degrees, cloudy but dry, and the lights are on already for this last game of 2012 (barring a replay). 

Since the original postponement the draw for the next round has been made, so there is an additional incentive to the winners of a home tie to Lordswood from Essex. Spennymoor are favourites, their only loss so far this season has been in the FA Cup; Billingham are having an indifferent year in the league but usually raise their game for the Vase.

Disappointingly Synthonia have forsaken their traditional green and white quarters for yellow shirts and blue shorts; reassuringly Spennymoor stick to the black & white stripes.

In the first minute, Spennymoor attack down the left with the speedy Cogden. The ball is passed along the edge of the penalty area until a shot comes in from Graydon. Billingham keeper Moody saves well, parrying to his right, but in his effort to save the corner the ball slips from his grasp. Cogden pounces and tucks the ball into the goal from the narrow angle.

Spennymoor try to take further advantage of the stunned Synners. Cogden twice runs into the box at speed and is sent tumbling, but the referee considers the tackles fair enough or possibly plays a dubious advantage.

However Billingham survive, regroup and get a foothold in the game. Their main tactic is the through ball down the middle. Although offside more often than not, the quick Crossen occasionally does beat the trap and threaten; but goalkeeper Dean is equally quick off his line and twice picks the ball off the forward’s toe.

The half time whistle is greeted with an eerie silence. Spennymoor fans are not impressed by the failure to build on the gift start, and those few here from Billingham have not really seen a way back from it.

The Billingham midfield spine with Wilson in front of the back four, Liddle in the middle, and Jameson behind the loan striker has been noticeably effective. McWilliams has overlapped well from left back, and Crossen has run the channels tirelessly. For Spennymoor, the defence looks sound and the midfield tidy, but up front only Cogden looks a danger.

The second half commences in the same subdued vein. Spennymoor’s Phillips cuts in from the wing and shoots; Moody saves well but once more as he goes to gather the rebound Cogden pounces. This time Moody only gives the ball up to check the damage to his head; the referee sympathises and awards a free kick, also giving Cogden a good talking to.

Billingham are still in the game, but when they get the opportunity to shoot, the aim is wayward and Dean remains untested.

Approaching the third quarter Cogden robs a defender of the ball about 40 yards from goal. He drives forward a further ten yards before striking a right foot shot into the top left corner of the net. A great goal, rising above the mediocrity of the match, and giving the home team a 2-0 advantage. The second goal seems to relax Spennymoor and minutes later Stephenson runs through at inside left and with a cushioned header controls a through ball which he then heads again over the advancing keeper but just wide of the goal.

Spennymoor are in control now and are kept out only at the expense of corners and free kicks. Billingham keep three up front but can’t get the ball to them. Five minutes from the end Cogden and Moody clash again, this time a genuine fifty-fifty; Cogden is first to get to his feet but sportingly declines to take advantage of the keeper’s distress and plays the ball out for a throw to allow the trainer on. Would he have done the same at nil nil?

At the death Billingham get a free kick just outside the Spennymoor box. A well designed routine sees Liddle play it to Jameson who sets up Wilson for a volley that goes just wide. The midfield trio have not been so effective in the second half but that was a nice reminder of their earlier play.

The game ends at 2-0; a match that seemed a bit low key for a cup tie, albeit graced with a fine goal. Perhaps the teams are too familiar with each other, and hopefully the next round, against fresh opponents from down South, will generate a bit more passion.

FA Cup Second Round - 1 December 2012

HARROGATE TOWN V HASTINGS UNITED

The smallest tie is also the biggest one. The round two match-up between Conference North Harrogate Town and Isthmian Premier League Hastings United involves two of the lesser teams to get this far, but the reward for the winner is all the greater: a place in the fabled third round, with the tantalising prospect of drawing a premiership club, providing a good day out for the fans and cash for the chairman. The occasion has also brought in the ITV cameras to feature the game in the highlights programme.

The CNG Stadium on Wetherby Road will be close to full by kick off with over 2,000 advance tickets sold. After a week of floods and frost it is mercifully fine; sunny of course but cold under the cloudless blue sky. A 1pm kick off should keep the temperature above freezing for the duration. The hot pork sandwich van and the designer coffee bar, very Harrogate, will provide supplementary warmth if needed.

The pitch is a mixture of green, brown and sand; undulating, damp and likely to cut up a bit. Already a muddy patch has appeared already where Harrogate have been doing their warm up shuttle runs. Of course we saw Harrogate in the second qualifying round where they gave up a two goal lead at West Auckland, but they have come through the replay and three rounds since then. Today, at home, they can wear their black and yellow striped shirts and black shorts. Hastings are in claret shirts with a blue yoke and white shorts.

Black and yellow balloons go up as the teams come out and exchange handshakes. For the toss up a welcoming committee of five, intent on a TV cameo and a photo opportunity, splodge across the pitch and the bemused referee indulges them with a handshake and a photo before they depart and he starts the game.

Harrogate are quick out of the blocks and in the first ten minutes give the Hastings defence a few uncomfortable moments as the ball flashes across their goal. Uncomfortable then becomes painful as Hastings keeper Armstrong-Ford rushes out to field a dangerous through ball, which he collects just ahead of Beesley’s outstretched, studs-up boot. Unsurprisingly he drops the ball and rolls into a crumpled heap; unsurprisingly Beesley is booked. After treatment Armstrong-Ford hobbles back to goal but looks in trouble.

Only a minute later Harrogate full back Merris makes a clean tackle in midfield and plays a great through ball for Beesley to run on to. This time he is favourite to reach it, but the keeper bravely goes down at his feet and saves well, getting another kicking for his trouble.

It is mainly Harrogate on the attack with both full backs pressing forward. Centre forward Chilaka is running the channels, twisting and turning and generally looking dangerous. Hastings do get up-field from time to time and come close when Attwood sets up Okojie for a 20 yard shot that whistles past the right hand post.

Down the other end Armstrong-Ford is back in action, off his line to collect a through ball; this time it is Chilaka who falls over him. By now the keeper has a distinct limp and requires his centre half to take the goal kicks.

But Harrogate are waning slightly and Hastings’ Goldberg, a tricky number 11 with pony tail and attitude, is becoming increasingly effective, getting a few crosses over from the left. The Harrogate defence is dealing with most but on one occasion only a desperate lunging block by centre half White prevents a close range shot on goal.

Five minutes from half time Harrogate get back on the attack and win a corner on the left. It goes deep, drawing most players, including the keeper, that way; when the ball is hooked back by White, Platt is on hand, unchallenged, to nod it down and over the line for the opening goal.

Harrogate have worked hard and attacked well most of the half, so deserve this lead, but Hastings have had a good spell or two and this game is far from won.

The players emerging for the second half include Armstrong-Ford, complete with enormous knee bandage, but for the early exchanges he is largely a spectator. Hastings are re-invigorated, or maybe are finally coming to terms with the heavy pitch, and pin Harrogate back in their own half for long spells. Chilaka does gets an opportunity on the break down the inside right channel but is shepherded wide and his shot, though powerful, is off target.

Hastings’ brightest forward Goldberg has drifted inside and when he collects a ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal he seems well policed; but he turns well and curls a right footed shot past the Harrogate keeper MacGillivray and onto the far post. On hand to react is teammate Crellin who pounces to slot in the rebound for a deserved equaliser. Harrogate react with vigour and Beesley stings the hands of Armstrong-Ford from 20 yards, but at this end Chilaka cannot accept the rebound.

Minutes later Hastings again threaten through a Goldberg twisting run and shot. It is blocked, but the ball finds Ellis on the left, who rolls it across the six yard box to Atwood. However his sidefoot is weak and straight at MacGillivray, who falls on it gratefully. Hastings remain dominant, quicker to the loose ball, of which there are now many as the game becomes scrappier in the developing mud.

By the time the last quarter hour approaches a few substitutes are introduced, including Harrogate’s Clayton who gives the attack a lift, looking lively down the left wing. He gets a good cross over but Chilaka’s header thumps against the top of the post before being scrambled clear. Three added minutes are announced, and it is Harrogate who finish stronger, less content than Hastings over the prospect of a replay. Two or three free kicks into the box raise hopes in the home crowd, but to no avail and the referee calls time with no further addition to the score.

The 1-1 result is fair enough, and both teams will retain an interest in the third round draw, as will the 2,926 spectators who have had a good day out in sunny, if muddy, Harrogate.