The allure and romance of cup football was in short supply on Wednesday night when the Lilywhites visited deepest Northamptonshire to take on Woodford United FC in the third round of the Red Insure Cup.
A quick shufti round the ground revealed some 30-odd hardy souls who had managed to turn their backs on the Villa-Blackburn snooze-fest. Credit to City, the directors made a good show of it, as did the parents of four of the players. In such circumstances, it would be churlish not to mention Messers Dunn, Ledran, Dewey, two Satchells and the parents of Pat Bexfield, Zac Barrett, Dave Theobald and Laurie Stewart. Add Andy Abbott and your reporter and the away end was full to bursting.
Apologies if I missed anyone. This may have been the first game I have attended when the number of people who had to be there – two squads of 14 players, managers, physios, match officials and stewards – outnumbered those who wanted to be there.
If the UK ever fancies launching a space programme, then it would do worse than to hold its astronaut training at the ground, such was the lack of atmosphere.
It was a slightly strange match but not without its excitement and incident. For fact fans, Lee Chaffey, Robbie Nightingale and Tony Burke all remain injured. Ashley Fuller dropped to the bench, John Frendo starting.
The pitch, whilst being perfectly playable and even, was utterly lifeless, the ball bouncing like a dead cat. Throughout the match, referee Neil Hair called for harder balls (Insert your own joke here. Take your time) but in truth, it was probably the heaviness of the pitch that was the problem.
City started slowly, while the home team had a little zip in their heels. On just three minutes, their industrious number six Neil King received the ball with his back to goal and with one neat flick, turned his man and drove the ball home. An excellent finish, rewarded by a bit of enthusiastic throat clearing at the back of the stand.
Ten minutes later, King was at it again, this time setting off on a fine solo run down the right before dummying a shot that left Zac Barrett sprawling. King took in slightly across goal and slipped the ball home for 2-0. Arguably, both were against the run of play but each was well taken and deserved.
Two down and while City didn’t look awful, they were hardly carving out an array of chances either. Neil Midgley’s snap shot was beaten out for a corner on 7 minutes, the resulting header from Dave Theobald going slightly wide. However, a weak defensive back header on 18 minutes gave Jamie Barker the chance to pick up the loose ball and slide it past Mathew Findlay to record his first strike for the club.
By now, City were building up a head of steam and beginning to move through the gears. On 20, the Lilywhites managed to get men forward and for once, were getting their shots away. On this occasion Midgley was able to capitalise on a rebound which he struck cleanly to equalise.
Four goals in twenty minutes and it seemed likely that more would be on their way. As it happened, it took until after the break for the next meaningful action to take place.
The second half saw the withdrawal of Matt Haniver, Neil Midgley and Jamie Barker, with Ashley Fuller, Pat Bexfield and Lee Brennan taking their places. For a time it looked as if the new line up was up to the task of breaking the deadlock, John Kennedy thudding a decent shot against the post on 52 and then Fuller having his effort saved at the near post.
But it was the Northant’s side that were to take the lead. Substitute Ricky Johnson struck home on 69 minutes following a good spell of pressure and possession. Another good goal and once again, City were chasing the game.
I would like to describe Bexfield’s run from inside the half and his subsequent 25 yard screamer into the net but I was too busy writing up the last goal. At least I think it was a 25 yard screamer. My informant might have been dressing up a 2 foot tap in as something better than it was but – well, let’s say it was a wonder strike. And it was.
3-3 and time running out. I used to think that the words I most dreaded in sport were, “And now we go live to Jonathan Pearce” but on a damp and dank evening in the middle of field “Extra time will be played” have a far more chilling impact.
Zac Barrett made a terrific finger tip save on 90 minutes to keep the scores level and that was that – 30 more minutes. It has to be said that City looked the fitter by this point. Two Woodford players went down with cramp early on and it was the Lilywhites who had the ascendance. John Frendo nearly notched one but had his effort cleared off the line and Bexfield’s attempt was blocked away for a corner.
Adrian Cambridge went down and stayed down on 103 minutes following a mistimed tackle but dusted himself down and saw the game out.
A penalty shoot out was avoided when Steve Gentle scored a goal which was nearly indescribable. Which is a bit of draw back in a written report. All I can say was that it wasn’t very pretty; it wasn’t one for the purists and is unlikely to reckon in any goal of the season features. To be honest, things were getting a bit blurry by this point. The floodlights managed to appear to be bright without illuminating very much, parts of the pitch looking dingy and ill-defined. I do know that City had many men forward and that the ball was played high into the box. When it hit the deck there was a scramble – a melee if you will – and City surged forward as if going for a push-over try in a different code. But no – Steve Gentle poked home a two foot scorcher to give his team the lead and ultimately the tie.
All credit to Woodford who gave City a couple of major scares in the last three minutes, Barrett again saving well and Mr Hair turning down a penalty claim for handball.
3-4 and game over. Being hard-nosed about it, I’m sure no-one really wanted two hours of football on a heavy pitch. But if you’re in it, you might as well win it and that’s exactly what happened. A home tie is the reward – and who knows, a little silverware might be just around the corner.
