FA Vase Second Round 16 November 2013

WEST AUCKLAND TOWN V SHILDON

This is not just a big game, it is huge. Both Northern League teams are going well, Shildon top of the league and West Auckland unbeaten in league and cup games (exiting the FA Cup only on penalties). Both have FA Vase pedigree: Shildon went out in last season’s semi-final and West Auckland were losing finalists the season before. And it’s a local derby with the towns less than 4 miles apart, so there’s plenty of interest and a bit of a queue to get in.

The day has been fine but with the winter sun is sinking fast leaving a cool dry late afternoon, and the soon to be floodlit pitch is showing signs of wear that may lead to some bobbling balls to deal with. West are in their amber and black shirts which also sport two discreet stars to commemorate their 1909 and 1911 ‘world cup’ wins; Shildon have changed from their usual red to blue.

After an early Shildon attack with winger Ruddy beating his man and getting a cross in, West look the more dangerous with a couple of well delivered corners; one to the near post is headed off the line and then one to the far finds Moffat who heads just wide, although penalised for a push. A West free kick from the edge of the box beats the wall but is headed clear from deep in the box; from the resulting corner a West head gets to the ball but it goes just over the bar.

Amid a sprinkling of bookings, inevitable given the competitive nature of the game, another chance come to West but Richardson’s shot gets a slight deflection that carries it over the bar; from that corner an ambitious volley flies high into the neighbouring housing estate.

At half time no goals but an absorbing struggle, with little time for midfielders to create or forwards to linger on the ball. West have had the balance of play with lots of corners, some dangerous, others not. Apart from set plays two ex- Spennymoor teammates have looked most likely to break the deadlock: for west Richardson has had a couple of strikes that may have tested the keeper more had not deflections taken the sting out; for Shildon, Ruddy has turned his fullback inside out two or three times but his crosses have not posed the problems they should have.

Four of the last six meetings between these two have ended in a draw with the other two ending in a single goal victory each, so one second half goal could settle this; or extra time, or a replay, or penalties.

Five minutes into the second half a slick one-two down the left puts West full back Green clear to centre well, but Richardson’s stooped header goes wide. Hudson responds for Shildon with a good run and firm shot into the keeper’s chest.

Substitutions begin after 62 minutes when West replace the limping Vipond by Garthwaite; three minutes later the newcomer picks up the ball in midfield, drives forward unchallenged and hits a screaming shot into the top corner of the net.

The 1-0 lead sits well with West and they look more comfortable, getting further attempts on goal. Centre forward Moffat nods the ball off to Briggs who shoots powerfully but wide; from a corner centre half Hall heads goal-wards but keeper Graham pounces on the ball before it can cross the line; Knight tries an expansive scissor kick volley that flies just over.

An expected late surge from Shildon amounts to very little, and when their substitutions are made, Kerr’s first contribution is to rescue his keeper, beaten to a loose ball by Moffat, with a goal-line clearance. The final moments are disappointingly spent with West happy to clown around near the corner flags; this and their reaction to the final whistle, shows how important the 1-0 result is to them.

So a single second half goal did settle it, and it was a goal worthy of seeing West Auckland through to the next round. For Shildon this is their first and last Vase tie of the season, quite a contrast to last season’s run – but that’s cup football.

FA Cup First Round 9 November 2013

HARTLEPOOL UNITED v NOTTS COUNTY

It’s cool but bright, drying out from earlier showers that have left the surface at Victoria Park slick and green. The ground, compact with plenty of cover for both seated and standing spectators, is filling nicely with the home fans optimistic despite facing at team from the league above.

The omens are interesting. After a sticky start, Hartlepool’s recent results have earned the League 2 manager of the month award for Colin Cooper, and young forward Luke James has bagged the player of the month award. However these often presage a poor performance; and although Notts County are at the bottom end of League 1, they have just changed manager, which often gives a team a boost.

The teams come out and, it being the Saturday before Remembrance Day, a minutes silence is observed, impeccably, with only the continued clicking of the turnstiles to be heard as late comers enter the eerily quiet stadium. Hartlepool are wearing a special kit of white shirts with a vertical blue band with a red poppy motif. Notts County are in an eye-catching away strip of deep purple shirts and socks clashing with bright yellow shorts, (these do however match the officials’ shirts).

Hartlepool start the stronger creating two or three dangerous situations in the first quarter hour, and winning several corners. These are distinguished by worse than normal wrestling and wrangling, and the home players’ complaints are finally heeded by the referee who issues a stern lecture. When the next corner comes over centre back Baldwin is able to get an unimpeded run and crashes a header into the net to give Hartlepool a deserved lead.

Notts County have shown little and from the restart merely pump the ball long and diagonal, but full back Austin’s header back to his keeper is misjudged and Flinders can’t prevent it going for a corner. This is swung into the crowded box where it pinballs around before coming to rest in the Hartlepool goal, with Leacock getting the final, if inadvertent, touch.

The lead lasted a minute, and the County goal has given them belief and confidence that starts to reflect in their play. Conversely the home team are visibly deflated, and are on the back foot for the next quarter of an hour with Flinders regularly in action, and one County effort grazing the post.

Slowly Hartlepool restore parity in possession and territory and it becomes a good cup tie with ebb and flow and even a bit off edge. Two minutes from half time Hartlepool’s Duckworth pushes forward from midfield and unleashes a firm shot, hard and low, that County keeper Bialkowski can only parry. Golden boy James, unremarkable to this point, anticipates this eventuality before anyone else, is quickest to the ball, and passes it calmly into the goal for 2-1.

Mindful of how long their initial lead lasted, the home team defend nervously as County come back strong, winning corners and threatening the goal. Into added time a free kick is curled into the Hartlepool box where pushing and shoving continues long after Flinders has flopped on to the ball, just about on the goal line. Repeated whistling by Mr Boyeson brings things to order and the outcome is a home free kick rather than a visitor penalty, but there’s a man booked on either side.

Notts County open the second half with more pressure but no impact, and after 15 minutes resort to a route one game plan by bringing on big centre forward Showunmi at the expense of the ball playing Grealish, who has caught the eye with his easy style and exposed shins. Hartlepool are penned back for long spells but do manage to win a corner and then a free kick in shooting distance.

Dolan curls the kick over the wall and into the post; the rebound to the edge of the box is fired back by Franks; and when that is blocked, James is on the spot again to fire home and give Hartlepool some breathing space at 3-1.

There are still 15 minutes to go and County have not given up, firing crosses from either wing into Showunmi, but Pool’s centre halves Collins and Baldwin cope well until, with five minutes remaining, a loose ball falls to County substitute Murray who hooks the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

More scares ensue but Hartlepool hold out for a 3-2 win in a tie that could have gone either way. The new County manager has not had instant success, Colin Cooper has defied the manager of the month curse, and Luke James has continued into November the goal-poaching instincts that earned him his award for October.

Hartlepool will hope he is still going strong in December when the next round comes around.