19th January 2008, Dunston FFC 8 Shrivenham 0, FA Vase Round 4

Fed cruised into the last 16 of the competition today with an awesome performance at Fed Park. Fed quickly gained the upper hand from the kick off.  In the 3^rd minute Cattenach won the ball on the half way line and forced his way to the goal line but hesitated at the vital moment and his cross was cut out for a corner. The visitors had a small period of pressure in the 7^th minute and forced two successive corners without really threatening. 

Fed took the lead a minute later though. 

They were awarded a free kick on the left and the Shrivy defence stood flat-footed as Jack Burns flicked home Harkin’s set piece.  Shrivenham had not settled down in attempting to get back into the game when they were 2-0 down after 12 – Harkin won the ball 25 yards out, beat two men and shot low past the once again unsupported Morse in the Shrivy goal.  The game went to a bit of a lull at this stage and the visitors clawed their way back although Harkin was causing them all kinds of problems on the right and got in two telling crosses which were cleared by the defence.  It took until the 25^th minute for the visitors to have their first effort when after a period of pressure the ball fell to Fila 25 yards out but he sliced his shot well wide.  In fact the nearest the away side came to scoring in the entire game came 2 minutes later when Dunn hit a cross against his own post and Fed were relieved to stay 2 clear. 

It took until the 40^th minute for Fed to extend their lead – from a throw on the right Micky Laws did well to cross from the goal-line and Devine scored with an amazing overhead kick and once again Morse could only  look on in amazement.  3 minutes later it was 4-0, another throw was flicked on by Laws to Devine who, in space, turned and hit into the bottom left.  It could have been even worse for the visitors on the stroke of half-time as Devine raced onto a long ball and although he was beaten to the chase by Morse the ball fell to the striker’s feet but he couldn’t gain his composure and the move resulted in Pickering hitting straight at the keeper. 

The visitors ran off at half time as if the whistle was their saviour.

 

The second half started very slowly and it looked as if it was going to be a repeat of last week as Fed seemed happy to play out their 4 goal lead. Shrivy forced 2 successive corners after 50 minutes resulting in Silvanus trying a 20 yard shot which dipped but just over. 

This was the visitors’ best period of the match but it became 5-0 after 65 – they were a little fortunate when Dunn’s 30 yard effort was blocked but fell nicely into the path of Laws who easily beat the keeper from 10 yards.  Shrivy’s hearts were now broken and there were arguments between the defence and the keeper (who was blameless in my opinion).  Fed went close once again after 70 when Morse punched out a free kick to the edge of the area to Pickering but the keeper recovered to push Picker’s effort over the bar. 

The corner resulted in carry-on film style action when one defender sliced a kick towards his own goal only to be cleared off the line where it was played back into the danger area where the keeper totally failed to collect and the ball fell to Mark O’Bern who couldn’t believe his luck and tapped into the empty net.  It was one way traffic and after 74 Pattinson played in Ludlow who left Byrne standing and the defender could only trip him with a penalty being the only result.  Devine, on a hat-trick, took the kick and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it seven. 

 

Shrivy to their credit fought on although they almost fell further behind when Pickering got into a good position on the edge of the area and forced a good save and Devine looked certain to convert the rebound but hit wide.  It was one way traffic and Fed were awarded a free kick on the right and Harkin tried an ambitious low shot which was well covered by Morse.  Sub Ludlow was then played clear on the left but his effort was well saved by the keeper.  In stoppage time in was 8-0 when Campbell reached the goal line and crossed for Lee Ludlow to make the simplest of head-ins with the Shrivenham fans still singing.  The final whistle was a little like a boxing ref stepping in to stop the fight.

 

Finally a word for the Shrivy fans who sang on to the end, “always look on the bright side of life” was very appropriate and “the greatest team the world has ever seen” at 7-0 down was amusing.  I hope you had a good night in the toon and a safe journey home.

 

Fed:  Clark, Cattenach (Campbell 45), Dunn, Robson, O’Bern, Burns, Harkin, Laws (Pattinson 70), Preen (Ludlow 66),

Devine, Pickering

 

Shrivy:   Morse, Sproule, Flanagan (Davis 70), Byrne, Cole, Lane, Fila (Cornfield 81), J Peters, M Peters, Silvanus, Bohane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fed Up News Man of the Match – Despite Devine’s hat-trick Harkin tore their left side apart and wins my vote

Match Report By Dave O'Neil (AFF)

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