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.