Dunstable 2-3 Peterborough Sports
Heavy rain was to feature throughout the game with the added ‘bonus’ of an often gusty wind, but Sports made a good start to the game and from very early on were dominant, causing problems for the Dunstable back line. The deadlock was broken on 18 minutes and it was a brilliant solo effort from midfielder Josh McCammon who collected the ball centrally, drove forward and unleashed a piledriver from 25 yards out that skipped on the wet surface past the despairing home keeper. It was no real surprise on 32 minutes when Sports doubled their lead. Good work out wide by Luke Warner-Eley allowed him to cross deep into the box and Mark Jones rose high and powered a header down past the keeper.
Two minutes before the break it looked like Jordan Nicholson was going to add another as he was free on goal but just as he was about to shoot he appeared to be caught, no penalty given and the score line remained 2-0 to the Turbines at the break. Sports were almost totally dominant into the first 15 minutes of the second half and the introduction of Josh Moreman from the bench saw him go narrowly wide with his first touch of the game.
Sports increased their lead further on 75 minutes when a deep Dan Lawlor corner was headed hoem by Jones for his second goal of the game. It very much seemed the job was done, but inexplicably Sports allowed Dunstable to get two goals back in the final 15 minutes to leave a nervy few minutes for Sports to navigate until the referee blew the final whistle.
Next up for the Turbines is an away trip to National League side King’s Lynn Town in a couple of weeks in the 4th qualifying round.
Steve Street @SteveStreet71
Bedfont Sports Club FC 3-3 Sholing FC
Wow. Half time entertainment by Wet Wet Wet covering Rhianna’s ‘Umbrella’ and Bob Dylan’s ‘A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall’? It was raining here at The Bedfont Recreation Ground. The sort of rain where you think it can’t possibly get any heavier and then it does. And then it does again. Fair play to Bedfont Sports (The Eagles), Sholing (The Boatmen), the officials and 151 hardy souls who cheered on both teams in this exciting encounter.
The Bedfont Recreation Ground has a 3G surface and, thankfully, some decent overhead cover in a few seated and standing areas. I learned that the venue was a host for the 2018 CONIFA World Cup; a tournament I wasn’t aware of until now. It’s an international trophy competed for by states, minorities, stateless peoples and regions unaffiliated with FIFA. The 2018 tournament was held in and around London and won by Kárpátalja (a Hungarian minority mostly in western Ukraine). There we are…every day (for me, at least) is a school day.
The backdrop to this match was also the soundscape. An impressive audible array of vuvuzela’s (remember them?….2010 World Cup, South Africa) which were decent competition to the frequent aircraft taking off from nearby Heathrow. The teams must have found it tricky to communicate with each other…
…and indeed early in the first half it was The Boatmen, who should have been at home in these wet conditions, experiencing communication difficulties. Sholing, formerly Vosper Thornycroft and VT FC (side note….Vosper Limited built Donald Campbell’s 1939 water speed record breaking Bluebird K4), were behind after just 3 minutes when a Darryl Sanders shot beat the ‘keeper from 20 yards.
The Boatmen endeavoured to stay afloat with some decent pressure for the next 25 minutes as the rain became torrential. Following a succession of corners, tekkers on the right hand side led to a crafty back-healed attempt by Sholing and a decent save by The Eagles’ custodian, Dimitrios Kyriatzis. The first half-hour also saw a Sholing effort which struck the post and the most magnificent clearance into the Heathrow flightpath.
31 minutes. Steppin’ out in style was Joe Jackson to double the Bedfont lead. 32 minutes. Ricky Wellard struck his left foot shot, er…..very firmly, to make it 3-0 at half time. Surely that’s it, all done. Bedfont through to the next round?
It was nearly 4-0 after 52 minutes when a finely struck Darryl Sanders free-kick brought a fine save from Ryan Gosney in the Sholing goal and later in the half Bedfont had other chances to put the game beyond reach with Kevin Diomande missing that cutting edge from a free header and Michael Dwayne-Holden putting a great chance just past the post.
It was The Boatmen who still had the wind in their sails. On 55 minutes some penalty-box-pinball from a corner ended with Stuart Green firing home. 3-1 and more Sholing pressure against a visibly tiring home side. On 69 minutes it was Brad Targett hitting the, er…back of the net with a header. 3-2 and all set for a frantic finale as the rain continued to fall.
Bedfont were holding on to the prize of their name in the hat for the fourth qualifying round as the assistant referee held up the board indicating 3 minutes of injury time. This proved to be just enough time for Stuart Green to equalise for the visitors with his second of the game. 3-3 final score? No, wait….Sholing on the attack once more…..it can’t be a winner surely? Nope. Hit the post.
Despite the conditions (which were truly awful), a really entertaining tie and, you know, a game of two halves. Well done to both teams for simply keeping going. It’s off to Southampton for the replay. Will the Eagles still be flying high or will The Boatmen secure their berth in the final round before the first round proper?
David Johnson @PlanetDAJ
This report first appeared on https://longandwindingroadtowembley.blogspot.com/
Pontefract Colliery 6-0 Handsworth
With a place in the final qualifying round for the first time in their clubs’ history and with confidence high in both camps, this tie was going to be exciting for both sets of supporters. Spirits weren’t dampened by the wet conditions and with a crowd of 455 in attendance expectation was high for both clubs.
Handsworth we’re looking for another cup upset after dumping two higher league teams out of the competition in previous rounds, whilst the home side were looking to bring some home joy to their supporters after their away trips in their fa cup journey so far.
Spurred on by good support for both teams the game started well with the home side setting their stall out in an attacking sense. For Handsworth they have been accustomed to defending well throughout their campaign and this wouldn’t be an exception.
With only minutes played Handsworth goalkeeper Townsend was tested and knew he would be in for another busy match, his resolve would be tested. With Pontefract strong in all departments Handsworth we’re under pressure and in time their resistance was broken with Jack Greenhough, 23, Vaughn Redford 24 and 34 setting the platform for a comfortable first half.
With Spencer Clarke getting the fourth early in the second half , Pontefract constantly got behind the Handsworth back line , who in previous matches had stood strong against all opposition. Today their defences were broken and with two more goals from Eli Hey 73 and Scott Smith 84 and an unfortunate sending off for the Handsworth substitute, Nano Nyarico , the home tie celebrated a wonderful victory in front of their supporters.
For Handsworth they carried their heads high throughout their five matches and will have great memories of their journey. They can be proud of their performances and they should use this experience to continue to strive forward to achieve further league success. It wasn’t too long ago that Pontefract and Handsworth were competing in the same league. Handsworth’s successes this year maybe warrant a place in the higher division next season.
For the Northern Premier team they will now look forward to an exciting tie in the final round of qualifying. They will give a good show of themselves and with their strength in all departments they should compete with any team in the next round.
Andy Davis @Spireite1964
