What can only be kindly described
as a makeshift Fed team had to fight long and hard before overcoming a brave
Hebburn challenge in the Durham Challenge Cup. Manager Perry Briggs was forced
to name himself in centre midfield. Fed had the first couple of chances within
2 minutes when first Ludlow got into a good position but shot just over. Then
Pickering shot well wide from the edge of the area. It was the home side who
should have taken the lead after 3 minutes when after some good work on the
left Covell hit wide from near the penalty spot. Fed had an escape in the 13th
minute when Handy attempted a cross from the right which troubled Clark but hit
the top of the crossbar and bounced to safety. The home team were getting the
upper hand and after 22 Myers went on a solo run and got in a low shot which
was close but always wide. On the half hour Fed had a chance when Ludlow beat
the offside trap on the left, cut in and found Pattinson who was off target
from a good position. Hebburn took the lead after 35 minutes with what was the
game’s first shot on target - a good low cross from the right found Myers who
shot first time from 10 yards and gave Clark in the Fed goal no chance. Within
a minute it could have been worse for Fed when goalscorer Myers blasted over a
corner from close range. Fed hit back though and Ludlow beat the defence to a
long pass but hit straight at the keeper. Ladbrokes would have probably offered
long odds against Perry Briggs being the first scorer for the Fed but he tried
an ambitious 35 yard effort which did not trouble keeper Rogers. Fed finished
the half strongly and within a minute Pattinson crossed low from the right but
a far from fit Devine just failed to get in a foot to convert. Hebburn deserved
their slender first half lead.
Fed had the luxury of bringing on Swanston, Burns and McIntosh for the second
half and the team immediately looked better. Within a minute of the restart
Ludlow headed on a corner which took a deflection but landed safely in the
hands of the keeper. After 54 minutes it was Ludlow again who went close when
his 25 yard effort rattled the crossbar with Rogers well beaten. Within a
minute though Fed were level when after some good work from Swanston, Luds got
in the final touch and gave the keeper no chance. Fed were on top and on the
hour Luds had an effort blocked and then hit the rebound straight at the
keeper. Fed failed to keep up the momentum and the home side edged back into
the game and wasted a great chance from a 66th minute corner when Joe Donaghy
went for power and blasted over from inside the area. After 73 home sub Jacobs
went on a solo run and beat 2 defenders before getting in a good shot which was
well saved by Clarky. Hebburn lost a bit of discipline and Jacobs and Joe
Donaghy were both booked for off the ball kicks - the latter of which resulted
in a free kick which was headed just over by Dunn. To everyone in the ground’s
confusion the ref managed to find 9 minutes of stoppage time (I think he was
playing next goal wins) during which McIntosh crossed for Pattinson to head
over at the far post. Pattinson’s pace then put him clear of the defence but
Rogers made a good save. The game finally went into extra time.
The first half of extra time was a bit of a dour affair - Fed pushed forward
more but Hebburn always looked threatening with their height upfront. In the
second half Fed kicking towards the cemetery end almost took the lead
immediately when Ben Johnson cut inside from the right and unleashed a shot
which took a wicked deflection and Rogers made a great save pushing the ball
over for a corner. From the corner Fed had a penalty appeal for handball turned
down when the ball hit a defender’s hand but I think the ref was correct in
deeming it unintentional. Fed were getting on top again and Swanston cut
inside, shot low and forced another good save. From the resulting corner Dunn
took the ball into the area but shot straight into the hands of the keeper.
With 5 minutes remaining Ben Johnson beat the defence and placed a shot which
the keeper just managed to get a hand to and the ball hit the inside of the
post but defied the laws of physics by not going in. Despite being on the back
foot for the last 15 minutes Hebburn wasted a chance for a final minute winner,
shooting wide from a great position (sorry not sure by whom). So to penalties
(taken at the clubhouse end):
Nesbitt hits a piledriver to the left but Clark makes a superb stop. 0-0
Pattinson sends the keeper the wrong way 0-1
Hansen hit’s a poor effort almost straight at Clark 0-1
James Taylor helps out the groundsman by almost removing the net 0-2
Mccartney hits a good penalty low and left but Clarky is equal. 0-2
Ludlow sends the keeper the wrong way and we can all make the most of what
little drinking time there is left 0-3.
Fed: Clark, Stewart, Dunn, Cattenach, Taylor, Pickering, Johnson. Briggs,
Devine, Ludlow, Pattinson subs: Burns, Allport, Swanston, McIntosh, Preen)
Hebburn: Rogers, Nesbitt, Gray, P Donaghy, J Donaghy, Pattison, Handy, Covell,
Hanson, Myers, Heads subs: Carroll, Dalziel, McCartney, Jacobs, McMann
Stats: Attempts Fed 23 Town 12; On Target Fed 10 Town 2; Corners Fed 12 Hebburn
9; Fouls committed Fed 14 Town 15 Offside Fed 7 Town 0
Fed Up News Man of the Match (Despite Swanny’s match turning effort and
Clarky’s penalty heroics I think Lee Ludlow was enough of a thorn in Hebburn’s
side for the entire 90 (or 120) to clinch it.
Managers Man of the Match - Perry Briggs
6th October 2007, Dunston FFC 4 ( Devine, Ludlow, Preen 2) Stokesley 2, FA Vase
Fed finally overcome their second divisions opponents today but were made to work hard to do so. It was the visitors who started the brighter and Clark was forced to save from Hore after only 2 minutes. After 4 minutes Clark parried a cross to former Fed front-man Andy Fletcher who would have been disappointed to shoot over. Fed’s first effort came after 6 minutes when Devine beat the offside trap on the right and tried an ambitious chip which was well wide. Fed were getting into the game more and had a great chance after 24 minutes when Pattinson screamed down the right touch-line and crossed perfectly for Preen to head just wide. Stokesley hit straight back and Fletcher headed down for Campbell to miss a glorious chance. The 2nd Division side took the lead after 31 when Newton crossed from the right and the ball fell to Andy Fletcher who had his shot blocked but crept past Clark into the corner. The visitors were having a good period of play and full back Jamie Poole tried a 30 yarder which went just over. Within a minute Newton shot on the turn from 6 yards but his effort was blocked for a corner. The lead was doubled after 40 when Fletcher beat the offside trap and totally misjudged his shot on goal only to see it fall at the feet of Newton who made no mistake from 8 yards. Stokesley had a good 40 minutes but the next 5 had a telling effect on the game. After 42 Fed had a free kick on the left which was glanced home by Devine. A minute later Preen went on an individual run, took on 2 defenders, before placing the ball into the bottom corner to level things. It could have been worse for the visitors when a 44th minute corner was cleared to Pickering on the edge of the area who tested keeper Drury. The last 5 minutes totally lifted the Fed side who had looked ordinary for the first 40.
Fed looked a better team in the second half and in the 51st minute Devine got clear on the right and keeper Drury just got enough on the ball to parry it against the crossbar. Within seconds the crossbar was rattled again when Dunn hit a 30 yard screamer. Within a minute Pattinson got a shot on target but was easily saved. After 55 the woodwork was bothered again when a looping header from Pickers hit the top of the bar and over. Fed were on top now and nearly took the lead on the hour when Laws played in Pattinson who crossed for Preen who hit just wide from 8 yards. 3 minutes later Pattinson was clear on the right and with no options open forced a save from Drury. The pressure paid off after 67 when Michael Laws could have let the ball go out for a corner but crossed to the near post where Preen headed home. Within a minute Pickering shot over from a good position. The visitors were not beaten though and Fletcher got on the end of a cross but Clark blocked his close range effort well. After 77 Murphy went on a brilliant individual run for the visitors but never managed to get in a shot. Fed made it 4-2 after 84 - Preen, in an offside position, made no attempt to play the ball and allowed Ludlow to run on and round the keeper - he appeared to have taken it too wide but managed to slide the ball home from the narrowest of angles. Any thoughts of going into cruise control disappeared when Hore hit just wide from 25 yards. Fed were not to be troubled again though overall deserved to win this game. Stokesley surprised me though and played well.
Fed: Clark, Burns, Dunn, Robson, Taylor, Pickering, Young, Laws, Preen, Devine (Ludlow 76), Pattinson
Stokesley: Drury, L Poole (Price 81) , J Poole, Wilson (Humberstone 76), Wise, Mohan, Hore, Campbell, Newton. Fletcher, Murphy
Stats: Attempts Fed 17 SSC 16; On Target Fed 9 SSC 6; Corners Fed 4 SSC 4; Fouls committed Fed 14 SSC11; Offsides Fed 8 SSC 3
Fed Up News Man of the Match - Steve Preen
25th
August 2007, Dunston F 2 (McIntosh, Preen) West Allotment 1 (Douglas),
League Match
Fed gained all 3 points today in a poor but then again interesting game at Fed
park today. Fed, kicking towards the car park, started brightly and forced a
first minute corner which Preen just failed to convert and it was cleared to
the edge of the area where Pattinson’s shot was blocked. Fed created a good
move after 11 when when Pattinson and Johnson out passed the West defence and
played the ball to Chris Laws whose 20 yard effort was brilliantly pushed over
by keeper Ames. Fed had a lucky escape after 17 when O’Bern headed a high cross
against his own bar then cleared his effort for a corner. West forced
successive corners and were awarded a penalty for a soft push (but a push
nonetheless) by Young who was harshly booked. Keith Douglas made no mistake
with his spot-kick sending Clark the wrong way. Fed tried to hit back and
Michael Laws headed over from along free kick. A couple of minutes later
Pattinson’s corner was headed over the bar at the far post by Taylor. Fed had
the upper hand and Preen rose above the defence to head a free kick over. Fed
were almost caught on the counter though when the sharp looking Macdonald beat
Clark to the ball and his goal bound effort was cleared off the line by Laws.
Just before half-time Ben Johnson was carried off on a stretcher causing a long
delay to the game (I have no news on how he is). Things got worse for the Fed
as Mark O’Bern was injured and the stretcher team were out again, fortunately
the stretcher was not needed but Mark had a bad limp after the game. Terry
Stewart came on as a 55th minute sub and the game was still in the first half!
The half time whistle went and Fed knew things could only get better.
It took only 6 minutes of the second half for Fed to level when they were
awarded a penalty for handball (no complaints about this one either). Ames
dived correctly but Preen's effort grazed the inside of the post and in. After
this there was a 10 minute period where Fed could not get the ball but in
fairness West were not making the most out of their lion’s share of the
possession. It was Fed who had the next chance when Preen dummied a pass and
Chris Laws shot on the turn but straight at the keeper. In the 73rd minute
there was what I will kindly call a ‘bizarre’ sequence of decisions. Kane Young
robbed a defender and cut into the area where he was brought down - the ref
seemed to give nothing so the liner shook his head in agreement then the ref
pointed to the spot. Almost the entire West team surrounded the ref and Locker
was booked. Steve Preen had to wait almost 3 minutes before being allowed his
chance which was well saved by Ames (who had a good game in the WA goal) -
Chris Laws despatched the rebound but the liner’s flag was in the air. The ref
came over to be told that the keeper had “moved” no problem I thought advantage
rule, goal given but the ref punished the attacking team and awarded the kick
to be retaken. Preen hit to the same side and this time the keeper made a legal
save. To exacerbate matters Kane came straight back on the field, lost his cool
and kicked the first green player he saw and was sent off for his second book
able offence. With only 10 men though Fed took the lead after 81 when Andy
McIntosh tried his luck from 30 yds and the ball took a wicked deflection (off
Chris Laws I think) and bounced over the unlucky Ames. Ray on the tannoy
awarded the goal to Andy and I will not deny him his first league goal for the
Fed. The home team were guilty of sitting too far back and allowed West to push
forward, MacDonald made the most out of some slack defending and forced Clark
to parry his shot for a corner. As the game approached stoppage time West
appeared to have equalised when Dixon (I think) headed from close range and
Clark failed to collect cleanly but somehow the Fed managed to scramble the
ball for a corner. Any fingernails re-grown after Consett were gone again. Over
3 minutes of stoppage was played and we were all relieved when the ref blew his
whistle - this time for the last time. Fed didn’t play well but I thought just
deserved this win but would not argue too much with the WA fans who thought
they were worthy of a draw.
Fed: Clark, Taylor, Dunn, Pickering, O’Bern (Stewart 45), Johnson
(McIntosh 44), Young, M Laws, Preen, C Laws, Pattinson
WA: Ames, Monaghan, Patterson, Douglas, Hughes, Locker, Watson (Kris
Hughes 77), Dixon, Vickers, MacDonald, York
Stats: Attempts Fed 11 WA 7; On Target Fed 5 WA 5; Corners Fed 5 WA 8;
Fouls committed Fed 15 WA 24 Offsides 1-1 Fed Up News Man of the Match Mick
Laws
All Reports By Mr Dave 0'Neil