The Hillmen fans are beginning to believe again – it can be taken as read the match day squad always have – after comprehensively winning this FA Vase 5th round replay at Dunston UTS. The bare goals don’t highlight their upper hand in play, particularly as they show that the home side led for nearly three quarters of the game.
Dunston UTS 1 Glossop North End 3 (AET)
FA Vase 5th Round Proper
Saturday 21st February 2015
Match Report – Jonathan Haggart
Photographer – Jim Lockwood
Dunston had taken an early lead. In the 4th minute a cross from the right was not dealt with and the ball dropped to Gary Ormston 6 yards out. His shot was weak, but hit the back of a Glossop player and nestled into the net.
By then Tom Bailey had already spurned a good chance, firing over from 18 yards when he ought to have hit the target, and that became the story of Glossop North End’s first half. Putting themselves in good positions without really troubling keeper Loam Connell.
Dunston had another good chance on 11 minutes when Bulford got the wrong side of Kelvin Lugsden, but his drive was well parried by Greg Hall. However, from that moment the Hillmen gradually took control.
That control was in most areas of the pitch, apart from the opposition box which was being well marshalled. The closest effort came from Bailey whose long range snapshot neither caught him napping and was pushed wide. Carey also went close with a poked shot from a corner kick that went over the bar. Dunston were relying on the long ball on the break, but by now the North End defence was dealing with them with relative comfort.
Glossop North End looked to open the second half with pace, and Bailey and Eddie Moran briefly had a two-on-one that looked a good opening but Moran hesitated and the chance was gone. Lee Blackshaw also had a shot from a tight angle that hit the outside of the net.
Chris Willcock responded by making a double substitution, Bailey and Blackshaw making way for Ben Richardson and Danny White, and the change paid dividends.
In the 76th minute Matt Russell & Danny White played a 1-2 at the edge of the area which ended with Russell taking the ball into the box at the left corner. Russell shot for the far corner that seemed to enter the net via the far post in slow motion.
North End sensed they could win it from here, but despite pressure they couldn’t create a clear opening, a couple of free kick routines not quite coming off. So for the second week running it was to be extra time.
It did not take long for the lead to be extended after the whistle though. Kieran Lugsden’s shot was blocked for a corner and from the second of consecutive flag kicks the cleared ball dropped to the feet of Dave Young 12 yards out. He had time to control and blast it goalwards, beating all the bodies on the line and giving the Hillmen the lead. A lovely 50th goal for the club.
5 minutes later the tie was effectively sealed when Lugsden got behind his man and advanced on goal. He delayed his shot as he headed towards to keeper, aware a tap from behind could mean a penalty and a red card. However the defender backed off and Lugsden clipped the ball over Connell to net the third.
Into the second period of extra time North End looked to hold the ball up front and use up the clock. It largely worked, as Dunston created nothing, the tireless Jason Carey going closest with a spin and shot that clipped the top of the bar and went over. When the whistle blew both fans and players celebrated. They knew they had come through a very stern test…with another waiting in the quarter finals at Shaw Lane Aquaforce next week.
FA Vase 5th Round Replay V Dunston UTS
