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.