FA Trophy 1st Round

UPDATE – 13 December 2014

Spennymoor Town’s good run came to an end with a 4-2 defeat at Hyde United, ending local interest in the competition.

FA Trophy state of play: 2 out.

FA Vase 3rd Round

UPDATE

With Shildon drawn away to West Auckland’s conquerors Shaw Lane Aquaforce (who play in Barnsley) a trip to Consett was on the cards to see if Marske United could progress. However an opportunity to visit the Etihad to see Man City intervened, which meant Marske’s 3-2 defeat goes unreported in detail.

Shildon’s tie was postponed (twice) due to problems with the pitch (too much aqua?) but eventually took place at Oakwell (Barnsley’s ground), resulting in a 3-2 defeat, and an early end to local interest in the Vase this year.

Three other Northern League teams are through to Round Four (last 32), with two playing each other (North Shields v Consett) while recent winners Dunston UTS are away at Heanor Town.

FA Vase state of play: 13 out.

FA Cup 2nd Round

UPDATE – 6 December 2014

Local survivors Hartlepool failed to take advantage of home field advantage in the Friday night match against non-league Blyth Spartans televised on BBC 2. Despite taking a lead they lost 2-1 with the winner coming late.

Blyth will be joined in the third round by Gateshead who despatched the first round giant-killers, Warrington Town, 2-0.

FA Cup state of play after the Fourth Qualifying Round: 1 yet to start, 12 out.

FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round

UPDATE – 29 November 2014

Spennymoor Town continued their good progress with a 3-0 home win over Chasetown

FA Trophy state of play: 1 through, 1 out.

FA Vase 2nd Round

WEST AUCKLAND TOWN v SHAW LANE AQUAFORCE – 22 November 2014

As last season’s runners-up West Auckland have been exempt so far, so this second round tie marks their entry to the competition, to face Shaw Lane Aquaforce, from Barnsley, who as a rapidly rising club in the Northern Counties East League should not be taken lightly.

There is fog elsewhere in the Tees Valley, but here, over the hill, it is bright and sunny, and colourful with the visitors in tie-dyed blue and pink shirts. Underfoot it looks a bit sticky after recent rain.

From the start West Auckland get onto the front foot and threaten a couple of times without getting anything on target. Shaw Lane struggle to get out of their half for the first ten minutes.

Then the visitors are awarded a free kick about forty yards from goal, and while an altercation erupts between Anton Foster of Aquaforce and Brian Close of West (during which the latter gets a slap in the face from the former), Shane Kelsey takes the kick and lofts it over keeper Lowson, who is on his way out of goal to add his two-penn’orth to the developing ruckus in midfield. One bounce and the ball is in the unguarded net and silence descends as spectators, players and officials try to work out what has happened. The referee, getting a shrug of the shoulders from his assistant, awards the goal.

Debate continues in the centre circle, delaying the restart with West doubly aggrieved, finding themselves a goal down instead of a player up, as Foster evades any punishment for his assault. Their frustration shows in their play that descends to ineffective scrappiness for the rest of the half, with both teams more concerned with disrespecting the referee and assistants than playing the game.

After the break West seem a little calmer and more concentrated on retrieving the match, but Aquaforce have the lead and their back four are winning every challenge, in the air and on the ground, to the extent that their keeper is totally untroubled.

Lowson on the other hand has to make a good one handed tip over the bar, as Shaw Lane begin to look more likely to add to their lead than surrender it.

As, in desperation, West throw men forward they lack cover at the back and on ninety minutes a Shaw Lane break sees Kelsey race through and score to settle the tie. Three minutes later the trick is repeated, this time Joe Thornton is given free rein to run on goal and slot in a third and final nail in the West Auckland coffin.

The home team having got to Wembley last season have failed to get out of West Auckland this year, such is football. Although their complaints over the first, and decisive, goal had some validity, they failed to get a single shot on target in the whole game.

Shaw Lane Aquaforce showed they are indeed a force to be reckoned with – an impressive back four, competitive midfield and forwards who can hit the target – and it is them who progress to round three with a valuable scalp.

ELSEWHERE

With three other teams having home advantage hopes were high of progress, but Bishop Auckland also lost by three goals, 1-4 to 1874 Northwich; however Shildon (2-0 v Runcorn Town) and Marske United (4-1 v Barton Town Old Boys) did go through. Guisborough Town’s visit to Dunston UTS ended in defeat by the odd goal in three.

FA Vase state of play: 2 through, 11 out.

FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round Replay

UPDATE

Spennymoor Town beat Leek Town by a single, late, own goal to go through to the next round.

FA Trophy state of play: 1 through, 1 out.

FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round

SPENNYMOOR TOWN v LEEK TOWN – 15 November 2014

After three traumatic results in cup and league Spennymoor are looking to get back on track with a game in the FA Trophy against Leek Town who play at the same level but in the NPL Division 1 South. The day is cool, grey and still, with a few hundred in the ground expecting an even contest.

From the start it is end to end stuff, but it is the combination play of Capper and Peacock on the Spennymoor left that catches the eye. They win a thirteenth minute corner, taken short to Capper whose in-swinging cross takes a touch off a defender and sails over the keeper’s dive into the far corner of the net.

Leek respond with forwards Grice and Shotton, big lads both, looking dangerous. And when Spennymoor centre half Chris Mason fails to cut out a cross, the ball falls to Grice; his chipped shot is going wide until Shotton appears at the far post to nod it into the goal.

The equaliser is slightly against the run of play, but Spennymoor get back in front before half time when Shane Henry slots a perfect ball through for Micky Roberts to run onto and steer home.

In the second half Leek benefit from playing down the hill and (a familiar story to previous cup games here) Spennymoor are forced ever deeper as high balls rain in on their (Joe Tait apart) undersized defence. Sure enough, midway through the half, it is a high ball into the box that Shotton controls on his chest before volleying in a second equaliser. Ten minutes later it is a Leek free kick into the box that finds full back Dicker leaping high to head in at the far post, putting Leek ahead for the first time.

Spennymoor dredge up some reserves and attack while Leek fall back to defend what they have. Into time added on, with tension high, substitute Kinsey has an altercation with the referee that ends with a red card and Leek down to ten men, probably too late to matter. He takes an age to leave the pitch so it is three or four minutes after the ninety before the game can restart; even so Spennymoor move it forward patiently down the left, from where a good cross finds the head of substitute, makeshift centre forward Paul Johnson, who firmly heads home the latest of equalisers.

A great game ends 3-3 and it is off to the Potteries for a mid-week replay

ELSEWHERE

Darlington 1883’s trip to Cambridgeshire ended with a 3-1 defeat at St Neots Town.

FA Trophy state of play: 1 replaying, 1 out.

FA Cup 1st Round

HARTLEPOOL UNITED v EAST THURROCK UNITED - 8 November 2014

First round day sees Hartlepool United enter the competition with a non-too threatening visit from East Thurrock United of the Ryman League Premier Division, although with the home team bottom of the Football League an upset should not be ruled out.

The day before remembrance Sunday means two minutes silence, observed by all except the seagulls, and a commemorative shirt sported by Hartlepool encompassing a poppy on a single blue vertical stripe of their white shirts; no such frippery for East Thurrock who are in gold shirts and black shorts.

The morning’s heavy rain has relented by kick off and with the home side a bit tentative it is the visitors who have the first shot on target. This concentrates Hartlepool minds and they respond with a good shot from Jonathan Franks that is well tipped over the bar by East Thurrock keeper Hughes. Further Hartlepool pressure yields little result but, following a rare attacking spell from East Thurrock, a quick Hartlepool break sees Franks make ground and fire a 30 yard shot low into the corner of the goal.

A 1-0 lead after 30 minutes is not too convincing, and home keeper Flinders makes a meal of shuffling a shot round the post, and then flaps inconsequentially at the corner to give the visitors hope. In contrast, at the other end, Hughes collects corners and crosses for fun and makes a double save from the lumbering Marlon Harewood, first parrying a powerful shot then stopping a close range header as the ball is returned into the six yard box.

Hughes continues to impress in the second half with another double save on 60 minutes and later somehow denies Franks one on one. The few visiting fans start the chant “England’s number one”, and it is generously taken up by the home fans who are enjoying the display.

But with eight minutes left Harewood gets free on the right and his cross is uncharacteristically mishandled by Hughes, dropping for Franks to nod over the line and give the fans the comfort of a two goal lead.

The error does not prevent Hughes being named Man of the Match, or him being cheered off at the end by the Hartlepool crowd just pleased with a win and the progress to round two.

ELSEWHERE

With the local non-league teams all out, and Middlesbrough not due in until Round 3, it is worth noting two good wins in the wider region: Gateshead 4-0 at Norton United (Shildon’s conquerors), and Blyth Spartans 4-1 at home to Atrincham.

The only set back was York City drawing 1-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon (and subsequently losing the replay).

FA Cup state of play after the Fourth Qualifying Round: 1 yet to start, 1 through and 11 out.

FA Vase 1st Round

BISHOP AUCKLAND v HOLKER OLD BOYS – 1 November 2014

It is a cool day at Heritage Park, and it seems a bit low key after last week’s big FA Cup crowds at Spennymoor and Shildon, but this is still early days in the Vase and hopes are high for a few local Northern League teams, including Bishop Auckland.

The Two Blues are appropriately kitted out in their halved shirts while Holker Old Boys sport green and white hoops as all observe a minutes silence for Pat Partridge, a local born referee who went far in the game, including officiating at the World Cup, and apparently acted as an emergency linesman here in his eighties.

Bishop have the better of a scrappy first half, and come nearest to scoring with a few scrambles in the box, but Holker survive. Their hopes of surviving the second half are dented within a couple of minutes of the restart when a cute cross from the right is headed home by John Butler.

Twenty minutes later the home team pressure tells again with a succession of corners. One rebounds off the inside of the far post and falls to centre half Ben Riding who fairly smashes into the goal.

At 2-0 Bishop go for the kill, providing gaps at the back that give Holker some hope, but as the game wears on the visitors seem to settle for defeat. And in the dying seconds substitute Kyle Davis is able to nod in a third to complete a convincing passage into round two.

ELSEWHERE

The all northern league tie saw Billingham Synthonia go out at 3-1 Guisborough Town, but that was the only casualty in the local teams with Marske United beating Winterton Rangers 5-0 and Shildon getting a good 3-2 win at Colne.

FA Vase state of play: 1 yet to start (last year’s runners up West Auckland), 4 through, 8 out.

FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round Replay

SHILDON v NORTON UNITED - 29 October 2014

A cool, clear night at Dean Street and a crowd nearing a thousand for the replay, with the added incentive (particularly for Shildon) of a home tie with Gateshead for the winner.

Shildon start best and quickly test the Norton keeper; and continue to look most likely to score. Which makes a slip by centre half Jones, as half time approaches, hard to take, allowing as it does Norton centre forward Cropper to take advantage and shoot coolly into the net.

It is an undeserved lead, but in the second half Norton give as good as they get. And just when a dangerous attack on the Shildon goal appears to have been snuffed out the ball ricochets to Diskin who from a very narrow angle lashes a volley into the net far a safe looking 2-0 lead.

Shildon refuse to lie down and with fifteen minutes left centre forward Connor latches onto a through ball and places a well-judged shot into the goal. This encourages a frantic finale, but the chances created by Shildon are rather snatched at and fail to register.

Shildon played well but failed to make their chances count, whereas their opponents converted two from not many more created.

ELSEWHERE

Spennymoor also went out losing their replay to AFC Telford by 3 - 0

FA Cup state of play after the Fourth Qualifying Round: 2 yet to start and 11 out.

FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round

SPENNYMOOR TOWN v AFC TELFORD UNITED - 25 October 2014

The final qualifying round sees Spennymoor Town take on AFC Telford United from the Conference. There may be three divisions difference, but Spennymoor are on an eight game unbeaten run whereas Telford are bottom of their league, so an upset is possible.

Heading downhill in the first half, Spennymoor put on early pressure and after fifteen minutes a corner is hit deep to Mason whose hard low volley is heading wide until centre half partner Tait sticks out a boot and taps in the opening goal. For the rest of the half Telford play it long and direct while Spennymoor play sideways, with neither side threatening a goal.

In the second half Telford intensify the bombardment but a breakaway by Peacock and Cogden should have increased the lead, but the Telford keeper anticipates well to keep them out. The miss looks expensive but soon centre forward Henderson muscles his way through a couple of challenges on the edge of the box and rolls an unlikely shot into the corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.

It looks good enough, but to be sure Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley brings on a third centre half to combat the Telford threats which are creating pressure but there seems no one up front with the sharpness to capitalise.

Just as the referee signals five added minutes a good in-swinging cross from the left is glanced into the Spennymoor net, closing the gap to a single goal and initiating a frantic climax comprising: a disallowed Telford goal; a Telford equaliser from a crashing shot from close range into the roof of the net; and a good Spennymoor penalty claim turned down.

After the dust settles the 2-2 result means a replay, and the home team have let slip their best chance of progress into the first round.

ELSEWHERE

Shildon also got themselves into the first round draw; albeit as an “or” with Norton United after a 1 -1 draw in the Potteries.

FA Cup state of play after the Fourth Qualifying Round: 2 yet to start, 2 replaying, and 9 out.

FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round Replay

UPDATE

Tuesday night’s replay saw Shildon pull off a remarkable 2-0 win at Stourbridge to progress to the final qualifying round.

FA Cup state of play after the Third Qualifying Round: 2 yet to start, 2 through, and 9 out.

FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round

SPENNYMOOR TOWN v ASHTON UNITED - 11 October 2014

For the second round in succession the two remaining featured teams are close to hand, both at home today, but Spennymoor get the nod this week as they face Ashton United. It is my first visit to the Brewery Field this season, and last year’s promotion puts them just one step below their visitors. The weather is bright, still and crisp, and there is a decent crowd by the time the teams come out.

A minute’s silence is observed prior to kick-off, for reasons unknown and unstated, but impeccably observed nevertheless. The kits today are old-fashioned; black and white stripes for Spennymoor and red and white halves for Ashton.

Spennymoor start downhill and start well, bossing the play without threatening too much until twenty minutes in when a header from a corner has Ashton keeper Phillips scrabbling at the foot of the post. Moors then get even closer to a goal when Peacock robs a defender and smuggles the ball to Roberts to knock into the net, but from a position judged offside.

Ashton recover and slowly turn the tide, winning a few corners, and even getting one of them into the net but this too is disallowed, for a foul on the keeper. However it is indicative of the way the half is now going with Spennymoor getting rattled as shots rain in, a couple of long range efforts going wide and the one on target, from the quick (and splendidly named) centre forward Martin Pilkington is tamely hit straight at the beleaguered McHugh in goal.

The half time whistle is welcome respite for the home team and fans, but there is little change from the restart, with the visitors now going down the slope. Ashton’s left winger, Coppin, is troubling Moors full back Griffiths who is booked early on and then has to concede too much room when his opponent cuts inside and flashes a cross shot past the far post.

Next, Pilkington engineers a neat turn on the edge of the box to leave Mason and Capper in his wake as he angles in on goal, but McHugh stands up well and blocks the shot to preserve the status quo.

Twenty minutes into the half Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley makes a change bringing on two old favourites (to me surprisingly) omitted from the starting line-up – Graydon in midfield and Cogden up front. Within five minutes the speedy Cogden races after a ball down the channel, just toe-ending it past the out-rushing keeper and then going down with a somersault. Ashton contest the referee’s decision that it was both a foul, and that it was in the area.

They lose the appeal, and centre half Tait steps up to hammer home the spot kick to give Moors a lead against the run of play.

Ashton sense an upset and redouble their efforts, raiding full back Coo is particularly eye-catching. A free kick is parried by McHugh but then needs tidying up by the defence. In a rare Spennymoor counter attack a fierce shot from Griffiths is spilled by Phillips, but when Stephenson gathers and crosses, Henderson side-foots wide.

The lead looks slender now with Spennymoor backs to the wall. When McHugh comes for a teasing cross, he misses his punch and the crowd hold their breath until a couple of defenders do the necessary and see the ball into a back garden.

But that is the last panic and Spennymoor hang on through the four added minutes to record a good win and passage to the last qualifying round.

ELSEWHERE

Shildon held their own against Southern League Premier opposition, drawing 0-0 with Stourbridge.

FA Cup state of play after the Third Qualifying Round: 2 yet to start, 1 through, 1 replaying, and 9 out.

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round Replay

UPDATE

Billingham Synthonia won their replay 2-1 against Celtic Nation to go through.

FA Vase state of play: 3 yet to start, 3 through, 7 out.

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA v CELTIC NATION – 4 October 2014

I visit Central Avenue always with trepidation. It is often cold with the wind whipping down the cavernous stand, and for some reason it’s rarely a good game. True to form the mild weather of late has ended and though dry after early rain, a cool wind is trying to pick up. But hopefully the match will buck the trend and provide a keen contest between Billingham Synthonia and Celtic Nation, two clubs from the Northern League Division 1, who can have realistic hopes of progressing far in, if not of actually winning, the Vase.

There are two distinctive kits on view. With Billingham in green and white quarters and Nation in black and yellow hoops it could be two rugby teams lining up – London Irish v Wasps springs to mind.

Latecomers are still arriving as CN’s diminutive number eleven, Dean Douglas wins a race to the ball in the Billingham half, easily evading the lunge from his opponent; from there he outpaces everyone and side-foots past the advancing keeper with a cool finish to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

Billingham respond quickly and a cross from the left creates a great chance but Furness places the ball wide from close in. Their next threatening attack sees Hughes through into the penalty box; he pushes the ball past the keeper, heading a bit wide, but Casson brings him down anyway, conceding a penalty. Nathan Porritt steps up and nets the equalising spot kick.

Nation shrug it off and start to look the better team. An exquisite dummy is bought by the home defence and Dean Armstrong strides towards goal; his shot is well saved by keeper Jonny Ball. As half time approaches the Synthonia keeper saves again at full stretch to keep out a well-placed but gently-hit shot.

So by half time the football has been bright and lively, if a bit error-strewn, and the sun is out to banish those early forebodings. As ever at Central Avenue the refreshments are tasty, as evidenced by the benched players joining the queue and tucking in.

Synthonia improve in the second half. The introduction of Jack Bradbury up front seems to add pace, which he uses well to beat the CN keeper to a fifty-fifty ball outside the box. His toe poke rolls towards the goal but slowly enough for a defender to catch it up and clear. Chances follow for Porritt and Hughes but keeper Casson saves both efforts.

Synthonia’s ascendency restricts the Nation’s attacks, but one hopeful punt up field results in Ball failing to gather a simple headed back pass. Instead he fumbles it into McMath’s knees, from where it rebounds towards goal providing the surprised but grateful McMath with a tap in.

The 2-1 lead is against the second half run of play and Billingham press hard, winning corners from which centre halves Bott and Matthewman threaten. With ten minutes left it is Matthewman, still up from a corner who benefits from a Casson misjudgement to head in an equaliser.

The ebb and flow continues but it is Celtic Nation who come closest with a late shot, saved by Ball.

Under the Vase rules it is straight to extra time, which produces more of the same end to end stuff. Both teams are going for the win and half chances come and go. At the death the ball finds Synthonia centre half Bott in the Celtic Nation six yard box and with the last kick of the match he misses the open goal.

Level after extra time means no penalties and a replay in Carlisle on Tuesday night.

ELSEWHERE

Bishop Auckland and Marske United both won at home against Birtley and Chester-le-Street, fellow Northern League clubs (albeit from Division 2). Crook Town lost out in the all Division 1 tie at Sunderland RCA.

Durham city and Billingham Town were beaten by more exotic opposition, at Holker Old Boys and at home to Yorkshire Amateurs respectively.

FA Vase state of play: 3 yet to start, 2 through, 1 replaying, 7 out.

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

SHILDON v STALYBRIDGE CELTIC - 27 September 2014

The two remaining featured teams are both within reach today, with Spennymoor at Dunston and Shildon at home to Stalybridge Celtic; I decide to return to Dean Street to see if Shildon can pull off some giant-killing.

Stalybridge Celtic are in the Conference North, three steps up the non-league pyramid, and are a familiar name to me from an age ago when I lived in Tameside and often spent a pleasant autumn afternoon at the leafy Bower Fold.

Today it is not unpleasant, cloudy but mild enough, as the teams come out. Celtic in what must be a change strip of eye-catching lime green and black, resembling  nothing so much as liquorice allsorts. Shildon, at home, are in their traditional red complete with retro hooped socks.

The start is ominous with a good shot on the Shildon goal inside two minutes, well saved by Kyle Hayes, but Shildon soon settle and give as good as they get. In fact the next few attempts all come in from the home side: Craddock heads powerfully down to such an extent the ball bounces over the bar; a Scroggins shot from a narrow angle stings the palms of the Celtic keeper; and Greulich-Smith fails to force over a loose ball in the six yard box with the keeper out of commission.

But as the half wanes Stalybridge come back strong, though most efforts are blocked by determined defensive challenges before they get anywhere near Hayes’ goal. One effort does come close, hitting the inside of the post then rebounding to Dickinson for a tap in, unfortunately for him from an offside position. Shildon hold on to nil-nil until half time.

Stalybridge start the second half as though they have had some stern words in the interval, upping the tempo and pressing hard. Shildon hold out and on a breakout  Greulich-Smith carries the ball into a mass of Celtic defenders, somehow emerges unscathed the other side of them, and crashes a sweet left foot shot into the corner of the net.

Shildon fall or are pushed back, but Hayes has only to gather the occasional corner, which he does commandingly. The defence hold strong and Shildon breaks continue to threaten; with more care Greulich-Smith could have added another.

As time ebbs, Shildon drop back deep but Stalybridge’s only effort, from close in, is grabbed by the safe hands of Hayes, and with the minimum of panic the game is seen out.

On the day the gap in league status was invisible, and Shildon deservedly go through to the heady heights of the third qualifying round.

ELSEWHERE

Spennymoor Town made their status tell in a comfortable 4-1 win at Dunston UTS, so both local teams progress.

FA Cup state of play after the Second Qualifying Round: 2 yet to start, 2 through, and 9 out.

FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replays

UPDATE

Tuesday night’s replays saw Darlington 1883 well beaten 0-3 at Blyth Spartans and Marske United lose 2-3 at Dunston UTS.

On Wednesday however, Shildon pulled off a great result, winning 2-1 at Whitby to go through

FA Cup state of play after the First Qualifying Round: 2 yet to start, 2 through (Spennymoor & Shildon) and 9 out.

FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round

SHILDON v WHITBY TOWN - 13 September 2014

There are four tasty ties on offer locally but I settle on Shildon v Whitby Town. The visitors are two steps up in the non-league pyramid but home advantage and a good start to the season will give Shildon hope.

Conditions are mild and cloudy with a breeze hardly worth the name, and the pitch looks grassy and firm. There is a good turn-out of Whitby fans in blue and white, so there are a couple of hundred in the ground by kick-off.

The first twenty minutes are pretty even, without either team threatening the goal, but then Whitby seem to come to life. Farrell has a free header at the far post that finds only the side netting, then Shepherd’s cross shot is palmed round the post, and McTiernan shots over from well out.

Shildon survive this spell, break out, and win a corner. The ball is cleared but falls to Ben Wood outside the penalty area; he allows it to bounce once before volleying a spectacular shot into the top corner of the net. It’s slightly against the run of play for the first half hour but is a high quality goal worthy of taking the lead.

Whitby respond and pressure builds. On the right wing Shepherd is increasingly troubling full back Brackstone and, five minutes before half time, the latter backs off once too often giving his tormentor room in the box to cut inside and fire an unstoppable drive past keeper Graham and into the goal.

One each at half time is fair enough. Whitby are playing the more controlled football; Shildon’s is more one touch stuff that looks good when it comes off but when it doesn’t, gives up possession too quickly.

Whitby start the second half fired up and press high, but a Shildon through ball sees Connor clear with only the keeper to beat. Keeper Bland forces him wide and though Connor’s angled attempt is on target, it is weakly hit, and Bland is able to scramble back into goal and save.

The game settles down, both teams seem OK with a replay and don’t over-commit. Long range shots are tried, including a palm-stinger from Shildon’s Scroggins, and an effort from teammate Emms that comes back off the post. Substitutions are made including Matthew Waters for Whitby, who catches the eye with his Chris Waddle gait and knack for finding space. His best effort is deflected just over the angle of the goal.

As full time approaches it is Shildon who press for the winner, and goalmouth scrambles ensue, but Whitby survive. It is honours even, and the tie will now be decided at the Turnbull on Wednesday night.

ELSEWHERE

The other three ties to follow produced two more draws, Marske United 2-2 with Dunston UTS, and on Sunday, Darlington 1883 0-0 with Blyth Spartans. In the derby game at Heritage Park, Bishop Auckland lost to Spennymoor Town by the odd goal in five.

FA Cup state of play after the First Qualifying Round: 2 yet to start, 1 through (Spennymoor), 3 replaying (all now away from home), and 7 out.

FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round Replay

UPDATE

Billingham Town won their replay 1-0 against Ryton and Crawcrook to go through.

FA Vase state of play: 7 yet to start, 2 through, 4 out.

FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round

DARLINGTON RAILWAY ATHLETIC v SUNDERLAND RCA - 6 September 2014

The FA Vase gets underway today with clubs from step 5 and below taking the first steps to (hopefully) Wembley. So although four of the local teams to follow are excluded, another four from the Northern League Division 2 come into play, including Darlington Railway Athletic at home today to Sunderland RCA of Division 1.

After a poor start to the season Darlington RA have picked up and are unbeaten in five, in contrast Sunderland RCA have yet to record a win, so an upset is a possibility. Brinkburn Road is looking neat and tidy and there is no cricket adjacent today to distract, possibly due to a morning’s rain, but now it’s fine, dry and still, perfect football weather.

It is National Non-league Day and once the clubhouse bar empties there’s about a hundred or so watching, not bad for this level.

The start is error strewn with the bumpy pitch giving the players difficulties, but the RA keeper is the busier, dealing well with it all until he fails to stop a speculative long range effort from RCA captain and full back John Jury. The ball somehow eludes Richardson’s grasp and rolls into the net.

RA hold their own for the rest of the half, managing to test the opposition keeper a couple of times, and go in just the one down. But early in the second half Jury intervenes again, this time crossing from the right to for centre forward Barton to head down and just inside the far post to double the lead.

Ten minutes later an RCA free kick from outside the box strikes an elbow protruding from the defensive wall and a harsh penalty is awarded. Price takes it and confidently scores. The home team do not lose heart and when they are awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, it is struck hard and low. Keeper Carmichael saves only for top scorer Sims, now on as replacement, to tuck in the loose ball, but from an offside position.

A goal then may have made a difference but instead RCA attack and a firm shot from Garry Guyan is well saved by Richardson; however the rebound finds Barton well placed to knock in his second and RCA’s fourth goal. And as the game drifts to its inevitable conclusion Guyan tries his luck again and this time Richardson is slow to react and lets in another.

The upset didn’t materialise and the good win may give Sunderland RCA the season’s lift-off they needed. For Darlington RA their appearance in A Good Cup Run has been full of goals but short lived.

ELSEWHERE

In addition to Darlington Railway Athletic the other three Northern League Division 2 clubs coming in to make thirteen to follow in the Vase are Norton and Stockton Ancients, Thornaby and Billingham Town.

Of these only Billingham Town survived the day, drawing 1-1 at Ryton & Crawcrook. Norton and Stockton Ancients lost 0-3 at Holker Old Boys, and Thornaby went out 1-2 at Birtley Town.

Of the Northern League Division 1 clubs, only Marske United and Newton Aycliffe were obliged to play in this round, and only Marske progress, courtesy of a 2-0 win at Hebburn. Newton Aycliffe’s disappointing 2-3 defeat at Daisy Hill means they exited both Cup and Vase at the earliest rounds.

FA Vase state of play: 7 yet to start, 1 through, 1 replaying, 4 out.

FA Cup Preliminary Round Replays

DARLINGTON 1883 v WEST AUCKLAND TOWN - 3 September 2014

Hostilities resume from Saturday’s 1-1 draw, tonight at Heritage Park, Darlington’s temporary Bishop Auckland home, which is of course nearer West Auckland than Darlington so unsurprisingly it is another good crowd. It’s cloudier than Saturday but warmer with (unusually at this ground) no breath of wind; and the pitch here is flat, green and looking positively manicured.

Darlington start at a high tempo that puts West Auckland on the back foot but it takes a while for the pressure to produce goal attempts. Fifteen minutes in West full back Gibson loses the ball to Dowson who races in on goal and unleashes a fierce shot; keeper Lowson parries well and the loose ball is hoofed clear. There is more to come as first Mitchell and then Thompson send screamers just over the bar.

West are able to respond, though their efforts from Richardson and Francis are from narrow angles and are easily handled by Jameson. Their biggest threat seems to be from Gibson’s long throws to the near post.

Darlington’s next effort comes when a Thompson cross from the right stretches the West defence and the ball falls to Mitchell on the penalty spot. He hits it sweetly but Lowson pulls off a great save to keep West on level terms. A minute later, down the other end Knight’s turn is too good for Galbraith, resulting in a trip and a penalty. His subsequent kick from the spot is successful and as in the first game West Auckland take a surprise lead into half time.

In the second half Darlington start fast and furious and it gets a bit testy when West respond with a bit of time-wasting, the benches getting involved. Darlo’s agitation shows when a quick free kick catches them unprepared; and although Richardson, in the clear, makes a hash of the shot he gets another chance when Ward returns the ball into the box. This is better hit and beats Jameson, but not Brown on the line.

The next melee is at the West Auckland end, and concludes with the keeper down needing treatment and more pushing and shoving. Lowson recovers enough to save well from Dowson but the ensuing corner is turned past him by his own centre half Hall to make it 1-1.

Darlo continue to press and force Lowson into saves, notably tipping a Dowson header over the bar. More corners follow and from one Armstrong leaps and heads the home team into the lead.

West Auckland refuse to lie down and as they attack the space for the counter grows, making for an open game. But with five minutes left, another Darlington corner arrows in from the left and this one is met at the far post by substitute Hatch who heads it home.

At 3-1 the heat goes out of the contest and after a bout of substitutions and injury stoppages, Darlington see the game out. It has been a much better game than on Saturday, with higher tempo and greater passion; West Auckland acquitted themselves well but in the end were beaten by three corners where Darlington’s greater physical presence told.

ELSEWHERE

Bishop Auckland’s replay at Jarrow was almost as spectacular as the first game with them finishing just ahead in a seven goal thriller.

FA Cup state of play after the preliminary rounds: 2 yet to start, 5 through, 6 out.

FA Cup Preliminary Round

WEST AUCKLAND TOWN v DARLINGTON 1883 - 30 August 2014

Forty minutes before kick-off the crowd is already building at Darlington Road for this tasty cup tie. It is the Darlington fans’ first FA Cup tie since November 2011, and the reincarnated club’s first ever. Darlington 1883 are now a step up from West Auckland, but the home team despatched a couple of Northern Premier League teams last season so they will believe they have a chance here.

It’s the brightest day yet in this year’s Good Cup Run, with sunshine, blue sky and fluffy white clouds, but a stiffish breeze for the players to contend with. The pitch looks firm and lush with only the familiar slopes and undulations to prevent comparison with the proverbial billiard (why not snooker?) table.

Kick-off is delayed five minutes as one goal net does not come up to the assistant referee’s exacting requirements but when the game gets going it is West Auckland who settle quickest. Ten minutes in, an innocuous looking ball finds Knight in the penalty area with his back to goal. A drop of the shoulder and quick turn gains him space and an accurate cross-shot finds the corner of the net, putting West 1-0 up.

Darlo respond well to going behind. A through ball sees the West Auckland keeper race out of his area only to be rounded easily by Mitchell, and when the ball comes across to Armstrong there is only the defender on the line to beat, but Pattinson spreads himself, miraculously blocks the shot and the ball is hacked clear. Next star man Thompson wriggles clear and unleashes a fierce shot that cannons off the inside of the post but fails to cross the line. West are hanging on and get another let off when a cross finds Armstong unmarked at the far post, but he heads over.

West survive to half time; after the initial ten minutes and the goal it has been all Darlo but the underdogs have defended with determination and no little luck.

Within five minutes of the resumption Darlington resume their attacks and Dowson is put through on the right. He shoots powerfully, Lowson parries it onto the post but the ball rebounds inside the six yard box where it eventually falls to Adam Mitchell. With defenders throwing their bodies onto the goal line he manages to find a route through to side foot the equalising goal.

The expected domination from the NPL team doesn’t materialise; they take their foot off the gas and fail to capitalise. After fifteen minutes manager Grey swaps his strikers, but that makes matters worse as they start to play long and narrow.

Slowly West regain composure and regain a share of possession and territory, and look the more threatening; Pattinson has a shot cleared off the line, Knight has a rising effort that clears the bar, and even giant centre half Daryll Hall, up for a corner, gets in on the action with a left foot swinger that shaves the post.

But there are no more goals; honours are shared and it will be a short trip down the road to Heritage Park for a replay on Wednesday night.

OTHER MATCHES ROUND-UP

Of the other five teams in action, there were good away wins for Spennymoor (2-0 at Tadcaster), Marske United (4-1 at Armthorpe Welfare) and Shildon (1-0 at Padiham); but Durham City crashed out 3-0 at Dunston UTS. Once more Bishop Auckland failed to make home advantage count, but survive, drawing spectacularly 4-4 with Jarrow Roofing, and will hope to repeat the previous round trick of winning the replay.

FA Cup state of play: 2 yet to start, 3 through, 3 replaying, 5 out.

Football League Cup Round 2

MIDDLESBROUGH v PRESTON NORTH END - 26 August 2014

The Football league Cup (under its present sponsored guise of the Capital One Cup) makes its debut in A Good Cup Run, and with Hartlepool already having disappeared in round 1 without a whimper 6-2 at Port Vale, only Middlesbrough remain to carry the flag for the locality. After a sound win at Oldham in the last round they once more face League 1 opposition, this time at home, against Preston North End.

Middlesbrough have had a hit and miss start to the season but Preston are going well in their division so this could be a good game. Unfortunately not many home fans seem to fancy it as, despite the attractive £10 entry price, twice as many seats are empty as filled.

The first half starts slow and only fitfully gets above walking pace. Some of the loudest cheers are when established first-teamers get off the bench and go for a jog down the touchline, manager Karanka having adopted the fashionable ‘squad rotation’ approach the this increasingly Cinderella competition.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, the nearest thing to a shot on target occurs when Clayton hits an uncontested drop ball to the Preston keeper with a bit too much elevation. Unsurprisingly it’s nil-nil at half time; the crowd, announced as 10,727 are wondering if even £10 was excessive for this fare.

If the game needed a goal there was not long to wait. A Boro free kick is awarded on the edge of the Preston box from which Tomlin bends a shot up, over the wall and down into the unguarded side of the goal; it’s so perfect the Preston keeper only moves to retrieve the ball from the net.

You wait 51 minutes for a goal and then three minutes later another one arrives – this time at the other end. Again a free kick starts it, but Preston play it left of the Boro box from where an unchallenged cross eventually finds the net via Jordan Hugill’s head (capping a good performance from the local lad who featured for some years in the Northern League).

Suddenly it’s a goal-fest as only another three minutes elapse before Albert Adomah finally makes his pace tell on the Boro right, getting to the by-line half a step ahead of the full back and crossing hard and low to the near post. Boro centre forward Fewster can’t get put it in but Preston centre half Clarke does the job instead for an own goal.

The game is lively now and after nine more minutes Tomlin picks up the ball just inside the Preston half and drives forward. Despite four opponents in attendance he maintains possession to the edge of the box from where he coolly slots home to give Boro a 3-1 lead.

Preston gamely try to respond and Boro threaten more, particularly when Kike comes on, but there are no more goals and Middlesbrough progress to round 3 to maintain the League Cup state of play as: 1 through, 1 out.

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replays

UPDATE

Bishop Auckland won 2-0 at Sunderland RCA to go through.

Guisborough Town drew at 2-2 Armthorpe Welfare but went out on penalties.

FA Cup state of play: 4 yet to start, 5 through, 4 out.

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

NEWTON AYCLIFFE v GARFORTH TOWN - 16 August 2014

Tradition is maintained with a visit to Moore Lane Park, Newton Aycliffe, for the start of the FA Cup. The first game of the season is usually a shirt-sleeve job but today is cloudy with a cool breeze more like early autumn than late summer.

The visitors are Garforth Town from the Northern Counties East League, provide a touch of the exotic, particularly when they line up in a strip of purple (more puce actually) and black.

Newton Aycliffe start well and dominate the early exchanges forcing the tall Garforth keeper into a save and winning a couple of corners. From one of these the ball goes in and out of the box a few times before the diminutive Paul Broom nods a cross into the net for 1-0 lead.

More goals threaten but by the mid-point of the half Garforth have found their feet and are giving as good as they get. Just before half time they get a free kick on the left outside the box; Jason Davis screws a shot into the near post where keeper Jake Johnson makes a bit of a hash of it, allowing it to squirm under him and into the goal.

It could get worse as Garforth press for another, but Newton Aycliffe hang on until the break. On the resumption the home team start well but miss a couple of half chances. Then a poor Aycliffe clearance presents Jason Davis with the ball within 35 yards of goal; he dances through a couple of tackles, steps into the box and slots home a good goal to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

There is plenty of time left and Newton Aycliffe swap a few players and press hard but without really threatening, in fact as time goes on a breakaway goal for Garforth looks the more likely.

So that is how it ends, and one of my thirteen teams is out of the Cup.

OTHER MATCHES ROUND-UP

Of the other eight teams in action, four played each other with Shildon beating Crook Town 7-1, and Durham City winning 2-1 at Billingham Synthonia. Two other teams progressed with straight wins, West Auckland Town 2-1 at Nelson, and Marske United 7-1 at home to Billingham Town. The remaining two clubs, Guisborough Town and Bishop Auckland, both squandered home advantage giving up 1-1 draws to Armthorpe Welfare and Sunderland RCA respectively.

FA Cup state of play: 4 yet to start, 4 through, 2 replaying, 3 out.

2014-15 Season Preview

This year’s Good Cup Run will have a change of emphasis from taking in a match from every round of the FA Cup and FA Vase, having completed two full Vase runs from qualifying round to Wembley final, and one complete FA Cup run from extra preliminary round to quarter final.

Instead, this season I will be following the fortunes of my closest 13 clubs (all within 25 miles) taking in matches in the four main cup contests – the FA Cup, Trophy and Vase, and the League Cup – to see which is the last team standing.

The thirteen (hopefully lucky rather than unlucky) clubs are, in reverse order of status:

From the Northern League Division 1: Billingham Synthonia, Newton Aycliffe, Bishop Auckland; Crook Town, Durham City, Guisborough Town, Shildon, West Auckland Town, Marske United.

From the NPL Division 1 North: Darlington 1883, Spennymoor Town

From League 2: Hartlepool United

From the Championship: Middlesbrough

FA Vase Final 10 May 2014

WEST AUCKLAND TOWN V SHOLING

An early start and a trouble free trip following my tried and trusted route (a four hour drive to Banbury station and a direct train to the stadium) used for Darlington’s Trophy triumph in 2011 and Spennymoor’s Vase victory 12 months ago, got me to Wembley in good time to see if West Auckland could get a similar successful outcome for the North East.

West Auckland were here just two years ago when they lost to Northern League rivals Dunston UTS, but today they have opposition from the other end of the country -  Sholing is near Southampton, and it is the ‘Boatmen’s’ first trip to the National Stadium. The strength of the Northern League, whose teams have lifted the Vase for the last 5 years, along with their Wembley experience, makes West Auckland favourites but when two unfamiliar teams meet in a cup tie anything can happen.

Heavy showers were forecast and have arrived, and with the roof open the pitch will be slick and fast, but no non–league player will complain about playing on this green carpet they call grass.

Seven minutes to kick-off the orchestrated preliminaries begin with filing out for presentation to the VIP of the day. Sholing in red and white stripes (Sunderland-esque) and West Auckland in blue tracksuit tops soon stripped off to reveal the familiar amber shirts.

It is sunny by the start and Sholing start well, thrusting down the left where McLean shows worrying pace to force a foul from Pattinson. West slowly get into the game and create a chance for Campbell, whose placed effort is easily blocked by keeper Brown. Sholing break with pace, this time Wort threatens the goal but West keeper Nixon blocks with his legs.

A pattern emerges with West Auckland trying to play a passing game but giving the ball away before achieving any penetration; Sholing are defending well and looking to break quickly with their speedy forwards. The speediest, McLean, leaves Pattinson for dead again and cuts inside before curling a shot well over.

Long range shots are exchanged with West’s Knight having his effort parried by Brown and Sholing’s Fennimore blazed attempt flying over the bar. Then West are awarded a free kick about 35 yards out and Briggs’ excellent shot to the top corner is matched by a top notch save as Brown tips it round the post. From the resulting corner the ball bobbles to West centre forward Moffat but he can’t swivel and shoot.

The second half gets under way and the pattern continues with huff and puff from West Auckland and sharper attacks from Sholing. Nixon is troubled with a Bowers long shot that goes just wide, and then has two unconvincing punches from dangerous crosses.

The teams exchange attacks with Masor having a couple of chances for Sholing, one saved and one hit wide, and West Auckland missing the target twice with efforts from Moffat and Campbell, both over the bar.

On seventy minutes an excellent cross-field ball is misjudged by West full back Pattinson and McLean on the Sholing left gathers and speeds in on goal. Galpin gets across to cover but only succeeds in deflecting McLean’s shot over Nixon and into the net. Sholing fans celebrate wildly; West fans are stunned but soon urge their side on.

The response is impressive with first Campbell then Briggs having goal-bound shots brilliantly saved at full stretch by Brown. West the shuffle the attacking deck bringing on Richardson and Banks for Moffat and Vipond. The speedy Richardson soon poses problems and a promising run is only ended by a foul on the edge of the box; Knight’s free kick is heading for the top corner until Brown intervenes again to finger-tip it over.

West’s frantic efforts to equalise go up a notch with added time due and even goal keeper Nixon joins in to attack a corner. He does not connect but Galpin does, and this time Brown can’t reach the header but sees it come back off the bar.

In these dying seconds Brown is rightly announced as man of the match, and he is not troubled again as Sholing see out time around a far off corner flag where their fans are gathered and where they are able to celebrate their win.

West Auckland deserved better from their last twenty minutes, but they began to play too late and even then the inspired Brown proved unbeatable.

Sholing’s win owed much to two players: McLean looked too good for Pattinson from the off and scored the telling goal; and while keeper Brown looked anything but lithe he proved agile enough to get to all corners of his goal as and when needed.

So the Northern League’s stranglehold on the Vase is broken but the majority of West Auckland fans take it well and stay to applaud the winners as well as their own team, possibly comforted by the expectation of returning before too long for a third crack.