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.