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.