FA Cup
4th Qualifying Round - 15 October 2016
The fourth is the scantiest of the FA Cup
qualifying rounds with just thirty-two ties across the country. Most of the
region’s teams still in the tournament are playing away but a short rail trip
is all that’s needed to see York City play Curzon Ashton.
Having lost their league status at the end
of last season York need to qualify for the competition proper for the first
time in four years. They are finding life in the Conference no easier than in
League Two and are towards the bottom of the table. Hence the manager is
serving notice while continuing in charge today. Opponents Curzon Ashton are a
level down in the Conference North, but are not tearing up trees either. So the
quality may not be high today but both teams will be keen to progress if only
to get a few seconds on the next round’s TV highlight show.
The weather is pleasant with a weak sun
peeking through the clouds over Bootham Crescent. Six pounds gains entry to the
main stand, from where a good view - elevated but close the good-looking pitch
- is available from the wooden tip-up seats. The Minstermen are in red and
their visitors in eye-catching bright green or yellow; as their travelling
support sing “we’re Curzon Ashton, and we glow in the dark.” Unfortunately in
the dark is where I could be with identifying the players as the programmes are
sold out and the PA announced line-up is less than crystal clear. In mitigation
the York players carry their names on their shirts.
Curzon have the best of the initial
exchanges until York wide man Rooney makes a break down the right and outpaces
his marker. The Curzon keeper rushes off his line but his challenge misses the
ball and trips Rooney instead. The resultant penalty is taken by centre forward
Brodie and despatched without fuss.
The early lead fails to settle York or
dispirit Curzon. The Ashton team continue their tidy play and the number 6
consistently finds space on the left. After 25 minutes he cuts in and places a
shot low towards the corner of the goal. But it is not hit hard enough and the
York keeper saves at full stretch. A couple of minutes later he again gets a
chance to shoot and, aiming for more power, drags the ball onto a trajectory wide
of the far post. However centre forward Cummings is following in and manages
from a tight angle to squeeze the ball home between goalie and the post.
The 1-1 score better reflects the play, and
close to half time Curzon get a chance to go ahead with a free kick five or ten
yards outside the box. It is Gareth Bale territory but unfortunately he’s
engaged elsewhere and the Curzon player entrusted with the kick puts it two
yards over the bar.
York come out after the break with more intensity
and for twenty minutes look the higher ranked team, particularly after making a
double substitution that introduces Felix and Dixon into the game. Both have
energy and Felix has serious speed; he leads a break down the right and his
cross gives the Curzon defender a moment’s concern as his lunged interception
narrowly misses his own goal. Dixon’s contribution is an ambitious 35 yard
strike that goes the same distance wide.
As the half wears on York’s dominance fades
and Curzon have a good spell. The half time substitute, wearing the number 17
shirt, is active on the left and, capitalising on a rare error from York centre
half Higgins, drives on goal but finds his shot blocked. Cummings gets the next
chance running onto a ball in the penalty area; his shot is blocked by a
defenders outstretched leg, and then arm as the ball deflects up, but it is no
penalty.
Into the last quarter hour there is a sense
that Curzon will be happy to keep the draw they have and they drop a bit deep,
conceding both possession and territory to York. The home team press on but fail
to make anything of it; however the visitors exploit the space left behind when
the enterprising number 17 again makes a break down the left. His pin point
cross provides Cummings with a free header five yards from goal. Cummings’ header
is firmly down to the foot of the post, but is anticipated and well saved by
the keeper.
With full time rapidly approaching both
teams sense a winner is still possible. The Curzon number seven weaves a
diagonal run past a few defenders and into the York box. He pulls the trigger
but the shot is well blocked by full back Oyerbanjo. The ball is cleared out to
Felix who races up to the other end but finds no team mates have been able to
keep up with him and, outnumbered, he is dispossessed. The ball see-saws back
to the other end but ends in a wild shot over the bar.
Into the added three minutes the tension is
affecting the tackling. The teams exchange ineffective free kicks from what
should have been dangerous positions. At the last gasp a York free kick does
create some excitement as the Curzon keeper’s punch clear is returned as a shot
that appears to strike an arm as it is blocked. It’s a similar shout to Curzon’s
earlier and gets the same negative response from the referee.
It is the last action, so a Monday night
replay will be needed to see whose cup run will continue to the relative
glamour of Round One.
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