FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round 26 October 2013

NO GAME

With only 32 ties across the country, and the closest in Bradford taking place on Sunday, it was a rare blank round for the Cup Run.

Hopes for a possible replay at Marske were remote, and justifiably so as they crashed out 6-2 at Southport. More realistic hopes for one at Gateshead were dashed in a more positive fashion by a good away win, 1-0 at Chester.

Normal service will be resumed for the first round proper.

FA Vase First Round 19 October 2013

BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA V GUISBOROUGH TOWN

Central Avenue is the venue for this tie between teams well used to facing each other in the Northern League. Synthonia are in form with some good recent wins; Guisborough are not faring so well in the league but have had a good FA Cup run up to the third qualifying round, losing to Workington only last week. Both teams can have realistic hopes of progressing deep into the later rounds of the Vase so stakes today are high.

Early rain has cleared to leave the day cloudy but mild with just enough breeze to ruffle the corner flags, green and white echoing the home teams quartered shirts; there’s no clash with the visitor’s normal red and white stripes but they have chosen to wear their away strip of blue with white trim.

Billingham kick off but in a cagey start it’s Guisborough who have the early strikes at goal with long range efforts from Martin and Gell that fly harmlessly high and wide. Synthonia respond in kind with full back Alderson getting forward, his shot is on target but thumps into the keeper’s chest.

Synthonia begin to get the better of the play. Centre back Burton is influential in getting the ball forward quickly and after 15 minutes feeds Sweet down the left; although he crosses slightly behind Porritt, the forward executes a clever flick to control the ball, create space and shoot. It’s from a narrow angle and keeper Escritt is able to block the effort. He’s back in action moments later saving a first time shot from Sweet.

Burton’s fellow centre back Bott also likes galloping forward and gets right to the bye-line to make a centre. When Escritt fields it and bowls it out Synthonia are short at the back giving centre forward Roberts rare space to shoot, but he finds only the side netting. His further attempts to get clear are mostly frustrated by the offside flag.

Most action continues to be in the Guisborough half: full back Alderson gets forward to glance a header just wide; and then the ball is crossed from right to left and back again with Sweet at full stretch just failing to make contact with his head. The visitors do get up the other end before half time and gain a free kick out on the left. It is curled into the six yard box and keeper Briggs is finally needed as he punches clear.

Goalless at half time and the baby in the pram parked in front of the stand seats has unsurprisingly slept through it all. It’s remained cagey and desperately in need of a goal to ignite urgency into the play. Guisborough’s Marron, Gell and Martin have combined neatly in midfield but can’t get behind the Synthonia back line. Billingham look the more likely to score, with both full backs overlapping and the central defenders pushing forward; also they have had shots on target, warming Escritt’s hands, whereas Briggs has rarely been called into action.

The sun comes out with the teams for the second half, low and into Escritt’s eyes to make his job harder, but it is his opposite number Briggs who has to make the first save of the half, parrying then gathering Johnson’s shot from range.

Ten minutes into the half a Synthonia corner induces a scramble in the box, leading to a weak penalty shout as man goes down and a shot deflected for a corner; this is punched clear by Escritt and the whole spell almost constitutes excitement. There’s excitement of a different nature minutes later when a long ball out of the Guisborough defence gives Johnson a chance to nick it past Bott on the half way line and run onto goal; he does the first part well but finds he can’t do the second due to Bott scything his legs from under him. A yellow card for the Synthonia centre half – one taken for the team.

More action ensues as Synthonia’s Sweet intercepts on half way and gives Porritt a long run in on goal. Keeper Escritt gets something on the shot and a defender prevents it bobbling into the goal at the expense of a corner.

At the midpoint some substitutions are made with Onions coming on to add a bit of height to the Guisborough attack and Clarke coming on to add a bit of beef to the Synthonia midfield. Maybe it is this ballast that encourages Synthonia’s Hughes to push a bit further forward and try his luck from distance. His fierce shot is saved by Escritt but the ball rebounds to Sweet whose first time strike, from a bit of an angle, does justice to his name and flies past the grounded keeper and into the net.

Can Guisborough up their game and come back? An early attempt is snuffed out when Roberts is tackled hard and late by Clarke; the referee decides it’s a red card and Clarke departs after an 11 minute cameo.

Now against ten men the visitors have a real chance to press the game yet fail to do so keeping their back four intact and still with only two up front. When Onions receives the ball in the box he holds it up well but can find no teammate to lay it off to. Eventually Burton, who has caught the eye throughout, tidies up as usual.

As forty-five minutes ticks past, a cross from the right finds Onions in the clear, but he is flagged offside as he sweeps the ball into the net. With three minutes to add there is still chance to force extra time as nervous defending leads to free kicks deep in the Billingham half.

One from the left tempts Briggs from his line but he’s nowhere near and is relieved to see the ball come off a Guisborough head and go over the bar. Undeterred he goes again for the next free kick from a similar spot and this time fists it well clear; before the ball comes back to ground the full time whistle goes.

The 1-0 home win for Billingham is not convincing but not undeserved. Two quality strikes created and finished off the goal, and they defended well, particularly Burton who was my man of the match. Guisborough Town lacked width and belief even when against ten men, and disappointingly have now exited both national cup competitions in successive weeks.

Billingham Synthonia have negotiated a tricky tie and go on, but they will need to play better than this to make any real impact at the business end of the FA Vase.

FA Cup Third Qualifying Round 12 October 2013

MARSKE UNITED v HALESOWEN TOWN

Back to Mount Pleasant as Marske’s cup runs (and unbeaten league record) continue with a match today against Halesowen Town from the NPL Division 1 South. Of the four Northern League teams still in the FA Cup, Marske have the best chance of progressing against a team one step up in the pyramid, whereas West Auckland, Guisborough and Penrith all face Conference North teams, three steps up.

A big crowd is expected and parking is a bit of an adventure for an incomer like me, but arriving 25 minutes to kick-off is good enough to secure easy entry and a bumper 66 page programme.  The weather is grey, autumnal and threatening showers, so a spot under the shelter of the long low covered standing area along the touchline is the best bet. For the players the conditions are perfect.

Halesowen are in blue shirts and black shorts and Marske are clad in yellow and blue, as is their new mascot, or should it be Marske-ot, in the form of a human bulldog with a head more resembling a wild boar than Churchill the insurance dog; as the teams line up and go through the pre-match handshake ritual he insinuates himself into the line-up to the bemusement of the officials and opponents who find themselves grasping a huge furry mitt.

Marske start well and have two early long range strikes on goal; one by tall number nine Jennings whose volley glances the post, and the other from right back Gott that the Halesowen keeper parries away.

While Marske pass and move Halesowen look to hit early direct balls to test the pace of the defence and the organisation of the offside line, and 14 minutes in a short through ball looks equidistant between Marske keeper Dean and his centre half; as both hesitate Halesowen speedster Haseley doesn’t, getting there first to prod the ball past Dean and skip round him to slot it into the empty net.

This score is against the run of play but it settles the visitors who now have an equal share of the ball and territory, a good midfield battle developing between Butterworth and Johnston for Marske and Lait and Martin for Halesowen.

Play ebbs and flows. Marske strike with Jennings heading straight at the keeper then Halesowen have a good spell with two long throws posing danger. Marske respond with a long throw of their own that Jennings flicks on forcing keeper Pearson to react quickly and tip over the bar. Marske continue to press with a succession of corners that produce chances, an effort from Butterworth is deflected wide and another Jennings header goes just past the post.

The Marske pressure is all very well but it leaves lots of space for the speedy Haseley and the surging Lait to exploit, which they do five minutes from half time when Haseley breaks clear. A desperate tackle dispossesses him but the ball runs to Lait whose shot is only half saved by Dean, but it is enough to give Gott time to shepherd the ball clear before it reaches the goal.

It’s not quite the last action of the half. Marske produce a move of quality when Butterworth spreads the ball wide to Alexander on the right; he jinks past a defender and crosses firmly back into the path of Butterworth who, steaming in at pace, can’t get the shot on target from just ten yards out. That was the chance to go in level, but the team are still given a rousing reception as they go off for the break, one down but not out of it.

Back for the second half Marske attack early and after two minutes get a soft free kick for high feet; it is swung in to the penalty area, and as players compete for the loose ball it drops to centre half Wheatley who hammers it goalwards through the ruck and into the net for an equaliser greeted with expansive celebration by players and crowd alike. For those around me these celebrations include banging on the low metal roof of the stand creating a light rain of rusty green paint flakes to descend gently and settle on heads and shoulders.

Before the hum of excitement can die down Halesowen respond with one of their quick balls forward and again it is the impressive Haseley who latches onto it before anyone else. He’s twenty-five yards out but trusts his left foot and lashes the ball into the top corner of the net before Dean can even move.

The mood is momentarily deflated but Marske roll up their sleeves and get stuck in again. Jennings takes this a bit far when he’s second to a race onto a through ball but still goes on and clatters the keeper, earning a yellow card.  He’s soon in more legitimate action with a header that is blocked; he’s first to the rebound but that shot is well saved by Pearson.

Halesowen are sitting back on their lead, but it’s precarious. Marske left back O’Sullivan combines well with his winger to get to the by-line and cross along the six yard box, but neither Alexander nor Jennings can get a touch.

There is a good twenty minutes left but the visitors but are already trying to wind down the clock, and the referee takes action and books Tonks for time wasting; this winds up the visitors and next Martin joins him in the book for dissent.

After a rare attack from Halesowen, with substitute McKenzie just beaten by Wheatley to yet another through ball, Marske return upfield and put the ball back in the Halesowen box. The centre half miskicks and his lunge to recover sees a Marske player fall to the ground, but no penalty is given. The next attack creates a similar mêlée and this time when Alexander goes over the decision favours Marske. Alexander himself takes the penalty and coolly slots it home for 2-2.

Ten minutes left and there’s all to play for. Marske don’t relish a midweek trip to Birmingham so continue to push forward. Halesowen will settle for a draw but look rattled to be pegged back twice. It’s still level entering added time as Butterworth draws a foul 35 yards out on the right; left back O’Sullivan comes over to swing in another left footed free kick into the Halesowen box. As the ball bounces about in the crowded area Jennings finds it within his considerable range, pivots, and volleys hard and true into the back of the net. More joy erupts and more rusty green paint descends on the fans as they relish the potential winner with time nearly up.

But the minutes added on for the visitor’s time-wasting now come to their aid as the referee stubbornly refuses to blow for time. Marske drop deep, Jennings now a third centre half, as Halesowen pour forward. For the first time they look short at the back and Marske substitute McDonald uses his pace to race through and win some respite with a corner. This perversely provides space in the Marske half and Haseley again sprints through after a long ball, seemingly set on completing his hat trick. This time Dean’s desperate dive at his feet is effective and the ball is hacked clear for a throw. It’s another long one into the heart of the Marske six yard box but it’s cleared and the final whistle goes to signal a historic win for Marske and to light the touchpaper for the crowd to go wild and the bulldog to dance a jig.

As the players shake hands some unpleasantness breaks out and a mass brawl is teetered upon before calmer heads restore order and the referee singles out Halesowen’s Martin for a post-match red card. The Marske manager Ted Watts wisely gathers his players in the centre circle until the visitors have made their acrimonious exit, before leading them off to a fine ovation from the 800 plus crowd.

Persistence and perseverance paid off for Marske as possession and territorial advantage finally produced chances that were belatedly taken. Halesowen Town had more pace in the team and used it to good effect in their two goals but otherwise rarely threatened.

Marske United go further into uncharted territory with a place in the final qualifying round and while they remain unbeaten in the season who should they fear?

FA Trophy Preliminary Round 5 October 2013

OSSETT TOWN v DARLINGTON 1883

Today’s cup run is an 80 mile trip down to Ossett, by surprisingly good rail and bus links, to see the Town take on Darlington 1883 at the Ingfield Stadium. With respect to Ossett most of the interest is with the resurrected Darlington, now in their second season and, having bossed the Northern League last year, currently top of the NPL Division 1 North. However this is their first national cup tie since reformation, and it is in the competition that they won as recently as May 2011.

That interest is reflected by a good turnout of Darlo fans, who are in a clear majority in the crowd of a few hundred in the nice tidy ground, so close to the bus station that a wayward shot at one end may end up on the 127 service to Dewsbury. There is covered seating behind one goal, a couple of covered standing areas along the touchlines, and a spacious social area around the clubhouse; towering above are four mobile phone masts that double as floodlight pylons.

As kick off approaches the sun breaks through the high clouds and with no wind, a grassy surface and teams of equal league status it should be a good game. The home team are in all red and the visitors in familiar black and white.

From the start Darlington look like they mean business. Last week against Town’s neighbours Ossett Albion they score twice in the first two minutes on the way to a seven nil win, and after only 5 minutes today, winger Thompson threatens from the left. He dribbles into the box and shoots left footed, keeper Taylor saves at the near post but fails to gather cleanly giving Dowson the chance to retrieve the ball and clip it into the goal from a narrow angle.

Ossett respond with a good 1-2 in the box that ends with a close range shot being deflected for a corner. That comes to nothing but when Darlo get their chance from a corner, left back Galbraith whips it in to the near post where centre half White glances it decisively into the net for a 2-0 lead after 14 minutes.

Ossett seem to be targeting Darlington’s young full back Pilatos, whose standing up well but loses out to a fifty-fifty challenge from Ossett left winger Moke; his cross cum shot flies past the far post. In midfield for Darlington, Edwards and particularly Scott are chasing everything down; Scott battles through three players and a couple of fouls to set up Thompson for a shot that he scuffs wide. For Ossett, Moke is again strong in the challenge and sets up teammate Fox in the box (really!) whose shot is well tipped over by keeper Bell.

It’s fairly even now but Thompson is proving problematic for Ossett. Dowson finds him in space but his shot from 20 yards misfires again. Moments later he is back on the ball and as his dribble draws in defenders he passes to the opposite winger Moore who cuts in from the right and shoots left footed low into the net for 3-0.

Despite the score it is not all one way. Ossett work in right back McGrory for a firm, but off target shot; then create danger in the box that is only averted by an offside whistle. Darlington centre forward Purewall does beat the offside trap, not for the first time, and races forward; however he drifts wide and his on-target shot is saved well by Taylor.

As half time approaches Ossett have another good spell of pressure without threatening to score; but when Darlington break out Thompson sets Dowson clear down the left and his low cross into the box is forced in by Purewall under pressure from two defenders. At 4-0 Ossett are a bit shell shocked and when the ball is next in their penalty area they fail to deal with it, allowing Moore time and space to hammer a measured 20 yard drive high into the corner of the net for Darlington’s fifth and best goal of the half.

It’s game over at half time with Darlo looking likely to get another seven goal haul. There has not been five goals between the teams’ general play, however Darlington’s dominance has been emphasised by their cutting edge finishing.

The second half starts unsurprisingly in subdued fashion but Ossett are still interested and McGrory has another strong shot that Bell has to go full stretch to save; and the keeper is called into action again, snatching a dinked ball in as it bounces invitingly in the box. Next, left back Jeff finds space on the left and crosses hard and low for Eyles to side foot into the Darlington net from six yards to bring it back to 1-5.

Both sides make substitutions; Johnson and Robinson for Darlington bring some renewed intensity while Sibenge’s introduction for Ossett gives young Pilatos a fresh challenge. Both teams go through the motions producing shots and crosses that rarely threaten but maintain interest for the rest of the half. This includes a skied shot into the bus station from Ossett’s Sharry, who otherwise has caught the eye in an outnumbered midfield battle with Edwards and Scott.

The other entertaining factor in the half has been the Ossett Town supporters’ boy band that, irrespective of the score, has been cheerfully vocal throughout, particularly in their rendition of “one nil in the second half” (for the tune think of the more familiar “one nil to the Arsenal”). However in the final minute Moore, who has had a fine game, crosses from the right and Robinson fires the ball back across the keeper and into the net to spoil the chant and finish off the match making it a 6-1 win for Darlington.

So that’s the Trophy over for Ossett Town, but they are having a good FA Cup run and play in the 3^rd qualifying round at Colwyn Bay next week. For Darlo it is a good return to the competition but the next round at Buxton is likely to be tougher.