GATESHEAD v WORCESTER CITY

FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round

It is not my first visit to the Gateshead International Stadium, I was here amongst 20,000 plus to see the Athletics Europa Cup in 2013, but this is my first football match here. There will be a lot fewer of us today watching Gateshead play Worcester City, but the day is fine and the pitch looks good. The red tiered seats in the cavernous stands and the eight lane running track makes the ground less intimate than most at this level, but the upside is good facilities and catering.

‘The Heed’ play in the highest non-league division and have a one-step advantage over Worcester, but they are struggling of late and have a bit of an injury crisis; their opponents tasted cup glory last season, beating Coventry and taking Scunthorpe to a replay, so an even game is likely.

The first twenty minutes are even only in the score; Worcester are well on top. Gateshead’s understudy keeper, Shaun MacDonald, is already being tested in what is his first team debut, with teasing crosses which he claws away unconvincingly, and a looped header which he stretches to tip over the bar.

The latter only gives him another cross to deal with in the shape of a corner into a packed six yard box. It comes in low but somehow reaches Worcester centre forward Deon Burton, knee high three yards out, who gleefully volleys home.

The lead is deserved, but City cannot build on it. In a rare attack it is Gateshead who have the next chance when, from a corner kick, a Ryan Bowman downward header bounces near the goal line before being deflected up and over the bar. Worcester respond quickly and it needs desperate defending by Gateshead with a scrambling block, a diving save and a clearance off the line to keep it at one nil.

Neither dressing room will be happy at half time. Worcester City will be disappointed to be only one goal up; Gateshead will be dissatisfied with their performance that lacked any positivity. One home fan, seeing me writing notes, hopes I can spell ‘dire’.

But the second half opens with Gateshead unrecognisable. After just two minutes they have a shot on target (possibly their first) albeit straight at the keeper. Three minutes later another good chance is headed wide. Then an attack down the left produces a deep cross into the Worcester penalty area and Danny Johnson stoops to power a header goalwards. The keeper parries but Bowman is on hand to bundle the ball over for an equalising goal.

Worcester, lured by the first half into a false sense of superiority, take a while to get their game back together. But they do and slowly but surely regain their grip on the match. A succession of corners into that crowded six yard box proves troublesome for the debut keeper, who gets little help from a static defence. Sure enough one of these to the near post is smuggled over the line by Burton for his second goal.

City do not rest on their laurels but continue to press Gateshead back; the home team’s second half push has stalled. Worcester’ lead remains at 2-1 solely due to keeper MacDonald producing some fine saves including three in succession as each parry rebounds to an attacker. This is followed up by a dive to tip an overhead kick past the post.

His heroics leave the door ajar for a last gasp Gateshead charge which produces a late chance for centre-half Ben Clark, but his sidefoot effort is blocked by the keeper and the rebound rolls out of reach.

Worcester City, courtesy of two goals from their ex-Derby County man Deon Burton, go through to the first round again. Gateshead’s performance is summed up by their debut keeper being named man of the match.

It is another away win in this season’s Good Cup Run (the fifth in the six ties) and with the other match ending in a draw and a lost replay, my presence at a first round proper tie will not be welcomed by the home club.

WHITLEY BAY v CHORLEY

FA Cup Third Qualifying Round

It is a fine day for a cup tie on the North East coast; hazy sunshine on the green but undulating pitch, and a good crowd gathering in anticipation of a bit of giant-killing as Whitley Bay take on Chorley from three levels above in the non-league pyramid. The home side are in blue and white stripes with the visitors in an all green strip only a couple of shades brighter than the grass.

Early Chorley pressure forces a corner and their centre half Charnock spins away from his near post marker to reappear at the far post and get a firm header on target that deflects of a defender and clips the bar on its way over. More corners and crosses follow but Whitley Bay survive.

While camped out in their opponent’s half, Chorley take a throw back to a defender on half way, who is pressurised and dispossessed by the speedy Shanks. The home striker then spots the keeper well out of goal and strikes a fine lofted forty yard drive over his head and into the net. It’s against the run of play but, a quarter of an hour in, sets up the game nicely.

Play reverts to Chorley possession and tigerish Whitley Bay defending. Shots rain in but mainly high and wide. A rare excursion to the Chorley end sees Shanks connect with a cracking volley that unfortunately is straight at the keeper. The respite is short lived as minutes later Chorley’s Winter gets a good header on target, producing a fine save from keeper Jennison, low down to his left, finger-tipping round the post.

As half time approaches Whitley Bay’s hopes of holding out are dented as influential defender Reid has to go off injured. However they do finish the half with a rare spell of attacking football, but without reward.

Chorley start the second half with the same intensity with which they began the match. Within minutes Bond cuts into the penalty area from the right, easily beating his man. His first effort is saved, his attempt to knock in the rebound is blocked, but when the ball again comes back to him he is able finally to force it over the line for an equaliser.

Whitley Bay’s response is immediate and promising. The rangy Kempster runs clear of his defender and he is closing in on goal before being tripped from behind. The home fans bay for a red card but with other defenders in the vicinity, the referee produces only yellow. Nevertheless the free kick is dangerous, ricocheting a few times before bobbling up and over the bar for a corner.

The corner proves dangerous in a different way. The ball is cleared and worked quickly upfield by Chorley, finding full back Ross overlapping on the right. He wastes no time in crossing well for team mate Cottrell to glance a fine header into the goal. Two goals in not many more minutes have turned the tie around.

Whitley Bay are on the ropes and narrowly survive a further blow when Chorley substitute Carver’s shot from twenty yards hits the inside of the right hand post and rebounds along the goal line, passing the other post before going dead. Chorley have their tails up now and look to have an appetite for more goals.

Somehow Whitley Bay weather the storm, and a reshuffle of personnel provides more attacking threat. With fifteen minutes left this produces dividends as a deep cross from the left finds Shanks at the far post; his header back across and over the keeper is good enough to find the net, and so set up a tense end to the match.

It is fast and furious now. Carver again is unlucky as his header hits the underside of the Whitley Bay bar but drops safe to be hoofed clear. The next chance also falls to Chorley. Centre forward Dean for once wrestles himself clear of marker Flynn and heads for goal. He’s forced wide in rounding the keeper and his attempt to slot home from wide is on target but weak, enabling a scrambling defender to block on the line. But Stephenson is following up and is able to tap in to restore the Chorley lead.

The last ten minutes see Whitley Bay, urged on by the home fans, throw everything at Chorley. This is literally the case with left back McDonald who has a phenomenal long throw, and whose overall excellent game is summed up late on when having taken a throw from the right wing he sprints back across to his left back position to foil the resulting Chorley break.

There are more throws, corners and free kicks aimed into the Chorley box; and equally some threatening counter attacks, but no more goals and Chorley hold out. So no giant-killing but still a great cup tie and both teams go off to resounding applause.

Chorley will go forward to the final qualifying round but will remember the testing they received in the North East of England up at Hillheads Park.

SPENNYMOOR TOWN v BURSCOUGH

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round

Expectation is high at the Brewery Field as Spennymoor, unbeaten in their eleven games so far, take on fellow NPL Division 1 North team Burscough. The Moors defeated last season’s NE cup heroes Blyth Spartans in Qualifying Round 1, so they hope to take on the mantle for this season but their biggest hurdle today may be that expectation.

The afternoon is pleasant for early autumn, and the pitch looks good, though not quite as green as Burscough’s strip as they line up opposite Spennymoor in their familiar magpie stripes. The Lancashire team must have won the toss and decided to play downhill first (an unusual choice as this slope can play a big part).

Spennymoor are careless of possession in the early stages, conceding a couple of corners and also caught out by a long, low trajectory, kick from the Burscough keeper that gives Caddick an opportunity he doesn’t take. In contrast it is 15 minutes before the home team threaten; a cross from the left finds the diminutive Peacock on the far post and his header is on target but clawed out by keeper Hare. Spennymoor claim it has been clawed out of the net, but with no goal line technology here the ref waves play on.

By the half hour Burscough’s early threat has receded and Spennymoor’s passing game is finally working, but no more chances are created before the break. The half will not live long in the memory, it is always a bad sign when balls kicked out of the ground (at least ten) as a result of wild shots or unsophisticated clearances exceed attempts on target (maybe two).

At the start of the second half, the ball remains largely in the park as Spennymoor exert some control. They are awarded a free kick about 25 yards out; full back Griffiths curls it on target but with insufficient power to really trouble Hare who, diving to his left, catches it in fine style.

Two minutes later it is Burscough who have the free kick opportunity. The ball is delivered from the right and although dealt with initially, it then falls invitingly to Jewell, still inside the box, and he leathers an unstoppable volley into the net.

A goal down with half an hour to go is not irretrievable for Spennymoor, but they have lost through injury the dominant presence of Tait at the back and more importantly the influence of Peacock in midfield. Shuffling his pack manager Jason Ainsley pushes Risbrough upfield and the most likely route for a goal looks to be via him. Indeed he latches onto a through ball and lofts it over the advancing keeper into the net, only to see a linesman’s flag raised for offside (to the consternation of the crowd and the bench).

Burscough, though on the defensive, are coping well with Spennymoor's not very imaginative attacks. And five minutes from time left back Devine suddenly surges forward on a fifty yard diagonal run, drawing out the Spennymoor defensive line, before shifting the ball to the right wing. The winger crosses immediately and centre forward Jones stoops to head firmly past the again helpless Lowson in goal.

It is a fine goal and one that puts the tie to bed. Spennymoor huff and puff for the remaining minutes (including five added) but without bothering the Burscough keeper.

Burscough go through having had just two efforts on target (a shot and a header) that produced two good goals; but Spennymoor can’t complain much as their one shot and one header on target were not of the same quality and were both saved.

So the expectations are dashed, and the cup run that looked rosy a couple of weeks ago, is prematurely ended.

GUISBOROUGH TOWN v ASHTON UNITED

FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay

It is a clear, cool, dry and still night at the King George V Stadium at Guisborough, perfect conditions for the home team to take on Ashton United in a replay earned with a nil nil draw on Saturday. It was a good result against opposition from two leagues higher, but the test will be no easier tonight.

It is a lively start with some early chances. Ashton fire two powerful shots over the bar, while at the other end only a good save keeps Guisborough from taking the lead.

Ashton get a corner which is easily cleared; not so the ball back in which falls to Matty Chadwick, who lashes in an unstoppable shot to give the visitors a ten minute lead.

Having kept their opponents out for the whole of the first match this does not bode well for the Priorymen. Indeed they have difficulty in getting out of their own half, often resorting to back passes to, and hoofed clearances from, keeper Liversedge. But a similar long ball from the back pays dividends when it is misjudged by the Ashton centre half who allows it to drop beyond him. Danny Earl has read the flight better and lets the ball bounce once before volleying a sweet dipping shot over the keeper, under the bar and into the net. So, fifteen minutes in, it is all square again.

Three minutes later Ashton pressure resumes and results in a shot that takes a wicked deflection. The home fans breathe a sigh of relief as it hits the post, but as Ashton recover possession and the ball is chipped against a raised hand, the same spectators gasp in dismay as a penalty is awarded. Chris Baguley converts tidily, and we have had three goals in the first twenty minutes.

The game settles down to one of high pace and good quality. Ashton have more of the ball but it is their keeper who has to make the next save, a good one low to his right. It is competitive too and when, just before half time, Guisborough’s Gary Wood niggles Chris Baguley, the Ashton number ten’s overreaction – a wild kick – is effective in flooring Wood but inevitably gets him a red card.

Starting the second half with ten men, Ashton go solid at the back, leaving just Dale Johnson up front. Guisborough playmaker Steven Snaith now has space to play, but it is mainly forty yards from goal. His outlet is often left back Dan McWilliams, but his marauding runs and crosses are comfortably dealt with by the Ashton defence.

Ashton make a sensible substitution, replacing target man Johnson with the more mobile Martin ‘Killer’ Pilkington; his speed has immediate impact with a run and shot that goes narrowly wide. They now have an out ball and when delivered it provides a great contest between him and the excellent Andrew May who is often left to deal with him single-handed.

On one occasion May needs Liversedge to help out with a double save; and the keeper is soon in action again but this time his save hits his own man and rebounds to Pilkington (in the clear in what would otherwise have been an offside position) who rolls it over the line. The linesman flags but the referee has seen it all and awards the goal.

It looks over for Guisborough but with twenty minutes still left they continue to plug away. The strikers Earl and Blythway, usually lethal, can’t make anything out of the few half chances they have. Then with five minutes left Luke Blythway swings a left foot at a bouncing ball twenty yards out and sees the hopeful effort hit the post and squeeze into the net.

This sets up a frantic last few minutes but the nearest to a score is when Pilkington finds himself alone on the half way line with just Liversedge between him and the goal. The keeper back-peddles impressively, dives at the forward’s feet and miraculously comes up with the ball.

That keeps the score respectable, but the game is over, as is the Priorymen’s gallant cup effort for this season.

BISHOP AUCKLAND v JARROW ROOFING

FA Cup Preliminary Round

After their surprise defeat of neighbours Shildon, Bishop Auckland host Jarrow Roofing to compete for a place in the first round proper. It is sunny but, as ever, breezy at Heritage Park and, with the wind behind, Bishops start well. Their key man Andrew Johnson, at centre forward, makes a couple of dangerous darts down the channels, but without end effect.

Jarrow look less lively but ten minutes in an innocuous handball in the box gives them a penalty. Their own key man, also centre forward, John Campbell hits the spot kick well but Bishop keeper Mark Bell dives right to save even better. The home team react well to the let off and press forward. Nichols passes cleverly to Palmer in the Jarrow box; his shot comes back off the far post and Lane, alive to the situation, hits the rebound into the net.

It is Jarrow’s turn to respond, and Campbell soon beats Bell to a cross to get the ball in the Bishop net, but only by using his fist; so no goal and a yellow card. It’s a while before they threaten again, but on the half hour another cross is floated over and a Bishop defender, misjudging the wind, allows it to pass overhead. Behind him Lewis Teasdale controls the ball and despite the difficult angle he fires low into the goal.

The half time score of 1-1 looks better from Jarrow’s viewpoint, as Bishop Auckland have had more of the play, and all of the wind.

The first action of note in the second half is a Jarrow free kick awarded thirty yards from goal. Campbell takes it and balloons it thirty yards over the bar and into Sainsbury’s petrol station. They come closer with a corner which Bell fails to gather, but the resulting scuffle at the far post end with the ball in the side netting.

Jarrow have the wind in their sails and when the next corner is whipped in full back Alex White’s close range glancing header proves unstoppable and gives the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Bishop fight back but find it hard work into the wind. With ten minutes left a chance falls to Johnson six yards from goal but he delays his shot and is closed down. From then on it becomes high speed hit and hope, but even the intervention of your correspondent, returning the ball quickly for a throw-in, cannot produce an equaliser.

So disappointment for the Two Blues but celebrations for the Roofers who have not yet reached the ceiling of their ambition in the 2015-16 FA cup.

BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA v CONSETT

(FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round)

It is been a few years since the Cup Run began at Central Avenue, but August is the best month to visit the Billingham ground - any later in the year and a cold wind whistles in from the Tees estuary. Today the sun shines and the breeze is merely fresh as the teams warm up.

The new season sees big changes at Billingham Synthonia. After the club was relegated last season for only the second time ever, long term (21 years at the helm) Chairman Stuart Coleby has stood down and new leadership is in place. Support for the new regime, led by Chairman David Hillerby, however is not unanimous, and at 2.57 a banner is unfurled on the far touchline saying “Hillerby Mafia Out”; at 2.58 it is removed by manager Conrad Hillerby.

As for opponents Consett, they have started comfortably in the first division of the Northern League and, in another reminder of Synthonia’s decline, they field at centre forward Michael Sweet – who last season was Billingham’s leading scorer and player of the year.

After a cagey start to the game both goals are briefly threatened; in fact the Consett goal begs for mercy as a good Synthonia move down the right produces a precision cross that finds centre forward Jamie Clarke in the clear six yards out. His header is too deliberately downward and bounces up and over the bar. Clarke’s next involvement is to draw a foul 25 yards out; his free kick is on target but Consett keeper Jeffries has time to kneel down and gather the powder puff shot.

By the half hour Consett are in control. Synthonia can’t keep possession and so are pushed back repeatedly, but the defence stands firm and at half time there is no score.

The second half opens as a more even contest, rather due to the visitors losing their rhythm than the home team improving. And again Consett come closest to conceding, as a near own goal is clawed away by the keeper. But from then on it is increasingly Consett on the attack with Synthonia relying on their five man back line to hold firm.

With ten minutes left, phase two of Synthonia’s game plan is revealed when a second forward is brought on as a substitute in a bid to snatch a win. It doesn’t quite work, but neither can Consett take advantage of the additional space in midfield, so it ends, as it started, at nil – nil, and a replay in mid-week will be needed to determine whose cup run will continue.