FA Vase Fourth Round – 2 February 2013

SPENNYMOOR TOWN V LORDSWOOD

Two weeks later than scheduled the match is on and the delay means the game will benefit from Brewery Field’s new super duper new floodlights, which have been officially unveiled today. The PA man celebrates by blaring out Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s “Blinded by the Light” repeatedly. In another ground change the dug-outs have switched touchlines and are no longer separated by the previous 50 yards. Helpfully, this both increases the likelihood of manager conflict and put it in full view of the main stand.

It is still cold but two weeks of snow and ice have melted away and as the teams come out so does the sun, making the lights an indulgence for the start of the game. Lordswood, from Kent are kitted out in very orange shirts and white shorts; Spennymoor, as ever at home, are in the black and white stripes.

For most of the first ten minutes Spennymoor are on the attack and twice crosses are met well by centre forward Davidson; one is headed firmly over and the other is well saved by Byott, who looks in for a busy afternoon in the Lordswood goal.

However it is a Spennymoor through ball that creates the next danger. It’s aimed for Cogden but is headed clear straight to Davidson, who volleys it forward for Cogden to continue his thwarted run. He is too quick for both the covering defenders and the keeper, whom he rounds easily to slot home for an early 1-0 lead.

Spennymoor pressure continues and when Byott drops a cross under challenge two goal bound shots have to be blocked by his defenders. Eventually the visitors settle and start to probe the home defence with some long balls down the channels. This better spell culminates with a tame header on target from Murison, easily picked up by goalkeeper Dean, and a run on goal by left wing Englefield, which ends with a firm shot into the side netting.

Spennymoor are controlling the game but are conceding too many free kicks when challenging for headers. This is allowing Lordswood to put the ball into the Spennymoor box too often, and from one of these Cook heads on to Wells who spurns the chance by side-footing his shot wide from close in.

With five minutes left in the half Spennymoor move forward and Cogden jinking in from the left slips a cute ball through to Capper; he unleashes a powerful shot that the keeper parries out to where Davidson is lurking ten yards out. The centre forward doesn’t make the best connection but it is sufficient to get the ball into the net for a bonus two goal lead with half time due.

Lordswood restart and try to get one back before the break. On 45 minutes a chance to shoot is snatched at and the ball goes to the opposite corner flag. Spennymoor retrieve it and move it rapidly up field looking for a killer blow. They lose possession and the ball moves just as rapidly in the other direction down Lordswood’s right wing. Spennymoor defenders uncharacteristically miss two opportunities to intercept the danger, and when the ball is crossed Lordswood have a numerical advantage. Maskell is first to the ball and thumps it decisively past Dean to bring it back to 2-1 at the break.

The late goal brings Lordswood back into a tie that seemed to be getting away from them. Their task will still be uphill – literally as they played with the slope in the first 45 minutes – but they will be buoyed up by hitting the final blow of the half.

From the restart Spennymoor settle back into the passing game and set up camp around the Lordswood penalty area. After 8 minutes a deep Ruddy cross from the right clears everyone but Cogden, small enough to be overlooked but too deadly to be given such room. He controls the ball and despite the difficult angle fires it past Byott into the far corner of the net to restore the two goal lead.

Spennymoor don’t rest on their lead but continue to keep possession. They slow the game down, and press high when necessary leaving Lordswood stuck at the bottom of the hill and unable for long spells to get out of their own half. They have some moments, but generally Spennymoor’s Moore and Mason are able to cope with the long balls hit up to Murison & Wells.

The home team continue to attack, winning corner after corner, supplemented by a free kick or two. From one free kick an on-target header from Moore is particularly well saved by Byott, at the expense of yet another corner. Another Byott save foils a fierce shot from Phillips.

Substitutes come on in a flurry for the last 10 minutes, including the well-built Dimmock for Lordswood. Not mobile, but with presence, he plays a telling ball through to Norman. His shot is saved by Dean, the parry going too wide for Moore, following up, to do anything useful with.

With the game entering added time Spennymoor substitute Richardson, who has looked lively since replacing Cogden, is bundled over on the edge of the box. Falling onto the ball he is in prime position to keep hold of it and claim dibs on the free kick. When his effort goes miles wide he probably wished he left it for someone else.

The game ends with no further drama. Spennymoor made good use of home advantage, and had a clear footballing edge that the 3-1 win slightly underplayed. Lordswood took too long to settle after their long trip and were a little one-dimensional with their long ball game.

Like a lot of teams this season they could not match Graydon and Dodds’ possession and creativity in midfield, rarely got past Moore and Mason in defence, and could not contain Davidson and Cogden up front. The four wide players and the keeper are not bad either so things continue to look good in the Vase for this well organised and talented side.