FA Cup Fourth Round 25 January 2014

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN v CHARLTON ATHLETIC

A day out in the Pennines for Round 4 and an all-championship tie that should give a competitive game between evenly matched sides. The John Smith’s Stadium is a convenient 20 minute walk from the station and is impressive both from the town and up close. Built into the hillside it is an all-seater with four matching steel arched stands separated by tripod legged floodlight pylons at each corner.

The weather is damp and cool with blustery, wintry showers forecast, but the pitch looks in very good condition, particularly to one more used to non-league grounds.

The attendance is quite good with home fans responding to the £10 (£5 concessions) offer, so both touchline stands are quite full with the areas behind the goals less so, particularly at the away end. Flag waving youngsters greet the players, Huddersfield in (a bit paler than traditional?) blue and white stripes; and Charlton in familiar all red.

Huddersfield take the game to Charlton early on and miss chances to take the lead with midfielders Norwood and Gobern heading over and shooting wide respectively. Norwood gets another opportunity in the box but his shot is well parried by goalkeeper Hamer, who then gets up quickly to dive on the loose ball.

Charlton full back Evina is gets on the wrong end of a couple of hefty tackles and team mate Stephens soon exacts retribution on Huddersfield winger Hammill, for which he is booked. Both Evina and Hammill limp out of the game shortly after, however Huddersfield’s loss looks the greater as the winger had been an attacking threat, swinging over dangerous crosses from the right.

Scoreless at half time is good news for Charlton who have been content to sit back and provide the odd ball forward for the nippy pairing of Sordell and Harriott to chase down; so far the bigger Huddersfield defenders (including the other Gerrard brother) have coped and keeper Smithies has been untroubled. The home team have played some neat stuff with Norwood and Gobern running midfield, Vaughan effective as a target man up front, and Ward and Hammill (until his exit) providing width; however the goal threat has been minimal.

Early in the second half a good run forward by Charlton full back Wilson has the home defence backpedalling, and when he releases the ball to Church on the edge of the box the Charlton striker gathers it up, takes it a pace or two to the right before angling a cross shot just inside the far post, to give the visitors an unlikely lead.

The goal seems pivotal; Charlton suddenly look interested while the confidence drains from Huddersfield. Even the weather has turned nasty with driving rain or hail for a while. Home manager Mark Robins responds by taking off Sinnott (who came on for Hammill but has looked out of his depth) and bringing on the more experienced Scannell.

The crowd murmur its approval, and no wonder as Scannell quickly roasts defenders out on the right and provides opportunities, first for Smith who shoots over, then for Ward who hits it wide. Next time Scannell dribbles into the box he has a go himself and at least forces a save and earns a corner.

Robins next throws on Holmes, a young American midfielder (featured in the programme) who is also welcomed by the fans as an exciting if unpredictable talent, and he helps put Charlton further onto the back foot. However Huddersfield’s relentless attacking gives some space at the back and a quick Charlton break puts Stephens through on goal, only to shoot wide.

Most of the action is at the other though end with Holmes working well on the right (at the expense of Scannell who has moved, less effectively, to the left).  As he prepares to take a corner his taller colleagues gather in a scrum-like huddle on the penalty spot in an attempt to confuse and foil the marking Charlton defenders; it almost works as the corner passes dangerously along the six yard line but without anyone getting a touch.

Five minutes from the end Holmes’ pace takes him through the centre and as Hamer races from his goal the youngster toe pokes just wide of the goal. For the remaining minutes, including four added, Huddersfield send in high balls but Charlton deal with them comfortably and hold on for the win.

It is a result scarcely deserved for Charlton’s general play, but their only strike on goal was good enough to beat their opponent’s keeper whereas all Huddersfield’s good build up play only produced a couple of shots on target and they were dealt with by the keeper.

So A Good Cup Run will not be back to the John Smith’s Stadium again this season, no matter how enjoyable this visit was and how family-friendly the fans were, noteworthy for their refreshing absence of foul language, even in defeat.  

FA Vase Fourth Round 18 January 2014

SPENNYMOOR TOWN V CAUSEWAY UNITED

The FA Vase, after a long lay-off, is back in town, Spennymoor Town to be precise, with the holders at home to Causeway United of the Midland Alliance, who got the draw nobody wanted.

The day is not bad for January, cold-ish but still, under a cloud cover that alternates light drizzle with heavier showers. The pitch is still green with traces of sand here and there but the surface will be soft and slick.

Spennymoor come out in their home kit of black and white and Causeway are in all blue with short white sleeves, which look odd over the blue under-armour worn by seven of the outfield players. Spennymoor show more northern grit with only right back Griffiths taking the soft sartorial option.

Causeway look to have won the toss and, having seen the slope of the pitch, decided to play up-hill in the first half. Spennymoor kick off but get to work slowly in a cagey opening ten minutes. Right wing Walton does get an opportunity for a speculative volley from well out as he spots Causeway keeper Turner off his line, but the effort goes just wide.

Spennymoor gain the upper hand and press Causeway back to their final third.  A Peacock miskick fortuitously puts centre forward Henderson one on one with Turner who stands firm to block well; when the ball comes back to Cogden he blazes it over the bar. Henderson’s next chance is a header from close range, but it is directed straight at Turner who takes it calmly.

When Causeway do push forward they open themselves up to the Spennymoor counter and twice Cogden uses his pace to outstrip defenders to a through ball. The first, and better chance, is foiled by Turner rushing from his line and closing down Cogden’s shooting angles; for the second the keeper forces the striker wide who then chooses the wrong option of an attempted chip when a pass to better placed teammates may have paid dividends.

Undeterred, Cogden then chases a lost cause to the corner flag, retrieves the ball, beats a man, charges along the dead ball line and shoots from the narrowest of angles; again Turner is equal to the task and concedes no worse than a corner.

Spennymoor’s approach play down the left with Capper, Graydon and Peacock is outstanding, particularly in the sticky conditions underfoot. Their dominance continues right up to the half time when, just as left back Capper makes a surge into the penalty area with a clear sight on goal, the referee rather unconventionally whistles, puncturing the crowd’s anticipation like a pooper at a party.

Causeway have done well to survive the first half onslaught, they have been on the ropes but Spennymoor can’t land the knock-out punch. The visitors may be expecting an easier second half going downhill, but my experience is that the home team use the uphill terrain to good effect to hold up those through balls for the speedy Cogden and Walton.

Second half reality dawns early for Causeway who are immediately clamped back in their own penalty area. Henderson and Turner compete for a high ball and the keeper comes off worse, spilling the ball for Henderson to gather and fire home, but the referee decides it’s a foul.

When Spennymoor get a decision the free kick is central and 35 yards out; full back Griffiths takes a lengthy run and rifles a shot past the wall towards the bottom corner of the goal, only to see the increasingly impressive Turner at full length tipping it past the foot of the post. The resultant corner is met by Henderson’s head but the ball flies just over the bar.

Spennymoor’s frustration is growing and the supporters are beginning to recognise one of those games where a team has all the play, can’t score, and then lets in a soft goal to lose. With 20 minutes to go the manager replaces the excellent Peacock with the more attacking Phillips who quickly gets his step-overs going down the left.

Causeway’s defenders and midfield have closed down and tackled well but are tiring and Henderson draws a foul to give Spennymoor another free kick, again central and this time maybe 30 yards out. Griffiths tees it up again as Turner tries to position his wall against raucous interference from the home fans behind his goal who are randomly calling ‘left’ and ‘right’ to confuse matters. Griffiths is a bluff this time and instead Graydon steps up to curl an exquisite strike into the top corner of the net. It has taken something special to beat the Causeway keeper, but will it be enough with 15 minutes to go or will it open the floodgates?

The visitors make a few substitutions to give more support their centre forward (and captain) Lloyd, who has looked good but outnumbered, and then place their hope in long kicks from the keeper. An immediate opportunity arises for Chilvock whose shot from the edge of the box is deflected but is still on target when Jeffries, called into action in the Spennymoor goal for the first time, goes full length to push it round the post.

Causeway’s attacking changes give Spennymoor more chances but Turner continues to shine with saves from Cogden, who if he drops the soap in the shower will probably find Turner catching it before it can hit the tiles.

Eventually Spennymoor settle for the one nil win and retreat repeatedly to the corner flag, a tactic that creates frustration in the visitors and results in Pearlman taking a wild hack at Walton and, amid a session of handbags, he is sent off in the dying seconds.

It’s a narrow but deserved win for Spennymoor who have played worse in other games and won by a handful, but that is cup football and they will be happy just to progress. Causeway have put up a good fight and though out, have given the holders a nervous afternoon.

FA Cup Third Round 4 January 2014

MIDDLESBROUGH v HULL CITY

Third round day is mild for January, grey but still for the start of the FA Cup run for the Premiership and Championship clubs. How seriously will they compete? Steve Bruce makes nine changes to the Hull side claiming a virus – “a real one not a FA Cup one” – methinks he doth protest too much. It’s Karanka’s first shot at the competition and he claims to be fielding his best side, but is without his loan players.

Boro are in their traditional red and white but Hull have decided against their amber and black stripes and turn out in all blue. There is a good solid wedge of visiting fans but the home supporters are spread out round most of the ground with only those in the “main” stand are packed cheek by jowl.

The first ten minutes are fairly open, but then Boro are pressed back and miss a few chances to clear their lines. When the ball breaks to Meyler he takes the chance to shoot from range. The shot is blocked at source but the deflected ball breaks midway between debut keeper Konstantopoulous and McLean; the latter is quickest to the ball and toe pokes it into the net.

With the lead, Hull comfortably settle into a possession game with Quinn in particular catching the eye. Boro players try to respond with the same passing game but worryingly they can’t find the same space nor can they match the accuracy or control of the Premiership squad players. Too often the only option is a pass backward (credit to a hard-working Hull for that) until even that is not an option and a high ball forward to diminutive strikers follows to give Hull the ball back. The last ten minutes of the half are Boro’s best with a shot on target finally finding its way into Harper’s gloves.

Boro start the second half with a beefed up attack with Jutkiewicz and Adomah on for the youthful Williams (Luke not Rhys) and Ledesma, and immediately some of the balls forward start to stick and enable the midfielders to support. Emnes for once gets free down the left and although his cross is cleared it falls invitingly to Whitehead who from outside the box disappointingly fires wide of the goal.

A few minutes later it is Hull who have an advanced position on their right. McShane jinks between two defenders and cuts a pass back to Boyd; as Boro are drawn to him he too cuts it back, this time to Proschwitz who hits the ball sweetly, first time into the roof of the net. It is a quality goal that effectively settles the game at 2-0.

Boro continue to huff and puff but threaten only from corners; Hull continue to pass the ball around as if in a training session, only discomforted for the final five minutes when Boro centre back Gibson adds his considerable bulk and, more importantly, effort to the attack. Harper proves equal to a couple of late strikes from Main.

It’s all to no avail and Steve Bruce’s squad players have proved good enough on the day for them to take the club through to the next round. Middlesbrough’s cup run has ended on day one and Karanka will have to wait a year to sample again the delights of the FA Cup.