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.