FA Vase
5th Round
Down to the last sixteen in the Vase so it
is serious stuff; Stockton Town’s biggest ever game, for the third round
running, and again they have home field (or plastic pitch) advantage. The opposition today are from the Midland
Premier League in the shape of Stourport Swifts who interestingly claim to be
the oldest football club in the country (founded 1882).
It is a grey day weather-wise with early
rain petering out; cool but with little wind to affect the play. The crowd is
sufficient to warrant the noun and by kick off every bit of the perimeter fence
is occupied. The visiting support is not
so many as came from Liverpool two rounds previous but it is vocal enough to
make itself heard. Their team is in dark
blue shirts and black shorts, while Stockton wear familiar yellow and blue.
The game starts at a high pace. Stourport put a free kick into the box and
win two headers before the Town keeper gathers.
Stockton reply with a corner, but from it Stourport break quickly and again
Liam Jordan has to intervene with a palm over the bar. His counterpart in the Stourport goal soon has
to make a save too, low down as Jamie Owens gets his head to a Stockton corner.
This heralds a spell of sustained pressure
from the home side, but the visitors hold firm. There are good contests all
over the pitch but that between Stourport’s skilful right winger, Dan Sweeney,
and the Stockton left back James Ward looks critical. Ward has coped well so far but with ten
minutes to half time Sweeney makes progress infield and smacks a dipping shot
goalwards. Jordan dives to his left and
pulls off a great save.
By now it is Stourport who are finishing the
half stronger but in added time Stockton put together a good move down the
left. Owens plays a neat one two in the
box then dinks the ball from a narrow angle over the advancing keeper. It’s probably not going in but teammate Kevin
Hayes is in position to sidefoot it home for a late mood-changer of a goal. There is only time to restart before the
referee blows for half time.
Stourport do not seem fazed by the deficit, starting
the second half full of intent and getting the ball forward quicker. Twice Sweeney uses his pace to get past Ward,
reach the by-line and cross dangerously but without consequence. The Stockton manager responds quickly, hooking
off Ward and moving his speedier left winger James Risborough back to take over
defensive duties.
Risborough better matches Sweeney’s pace and
mainly keeps him quiet, once at the expense of a free kick on the edge of the
box that leads to an attacking header that needs saving. Stourport pressing gives Stockton room to
work up front and a break down the right produces a cross to the far post where
Chris Stockton (who came on for Ward and took over Risborough’s attacking role)
shoots into the side netting.
With the game entering the last quarter hour
Stockton, the player, pops up again but more centrally this time and drives in
a fierce shot. Keeper Dominic Richards
parries it but the ball comes straight out to Owens who drills it past the
prone keeper into the net.
Now they are two down, the Swifts press
forward with more desperation. Captain
Alex Perry has a chance but shoots wide.
Meanwhile the Stockton forwards are making hay in the space allowed,
nearly forcing an own goal then narrowly missing from a free kick. Good work from Hayes down the right releases
Fred Woodhouse down the inside right channel; he draws out the keeper before
squaring to Owens for a tap in. Three nil
with less than ten minutes to go.
Stourport have a brief flurry with shots
from Perry and Nick McPherson, one blocked and the other saved, but in their
hearts they know it is futile. In the
final few minutes it looks most likely that Stockton Town will add more; twice
goal line clearances are needed and a long range shot goes wide.
The game ends with a Stourport Swifts
corner, but no joy for the visitors. That
is reserved for Stockton Town who go on to the heady heights of a last eight
match-up.
