Venue: Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone, Nottinghamshire
Competition: F.A. Cup Extra QR
Scorers: Ashley Rawson (58), Blake Owen (82)
Referee: Paul Tomes
Line-ups:
Courtesy Nigel Spalding
After being in existence for 86 years, Clipstone finally had their first taste of F.A. Cup football, and boy did it taste good!
Harrowby ply their trade in the UCL Premier Division, one step up the ladder from the Cobras, and for the first 25 minutes they battered the make-shift home defence. Club skipper Rich Mintoff was away at a wedding with Manager Chris Millington, so Clipstone moved Brandon Shaw into the space usually occupied by the skipper, and asked winger Callum Mawby to take Shaw's regular spot at left-back. Shaw is one hell of a defender - he handled the switch to the centre-half with some ease - and was easily the Cobras MOM.
We were given another warm welcome at the WVH Stadium - thanks again to Brett, Mick, David and Les.
Clipstone began the game well enough, and had a half decent shout for a penalty in the 5th minute when Jamie Smith appeared to be baulked as he ran to try and connect with Matty Ord's ball in from the left.
At the other end, Harrowby won a succession of corners, but with Smith's help they were able to United at bay. United front men Lee Shaw, Ian Ward and Scott Webb created enough to keep the home defenders busy, although it wasn't all one-way traffic, Welfare had their fair share of chances. Smith headed over Ord's cross on 18, then 5 minutes later Wood fired just over after he connected well with Smith's flick on.
On 31, United centre half Billy Stubbs fouled Dan Wood, and was cautioned by Referee Tomes. Ryan Hindley fired the free-kick just over the angle of post and bar.
Five minutes before the break, Mawby forced his way into the box and was unlucky when his shot deflected off a defender and onto the post. From the resultant corner, Wood headed powerfully at goal, but his effort rattled the bar before it was cleared to safety.
Ryan Hindley was booked just before the break for leaving a leg in after a tackle, could have been a straight red, but I can only assume the Ref didn't see it as too dangerous or too reckless. The games only red card was shown in stoppage time - Billy Stubbs receiving a second yellow after a cross from Mawby struck his hand. A bit harsh, but the Referee had had a poor game throughout and it was no surprise when he produced the players second yellow followed quickly by a red. H-T 0-0
Three minutes into the second period, Ward almost connected with Shaw's ball in from the left, as the visitors stated the half on the front foot. Soon after it was Ward the provider for Scott Webb, again the attacker just failed to connect.
Ward fails to connect...
...as does Webb
Now - I cannot possibly do justice to what happened in the 58th minute. I'm not a journalist, but I wish I could wax lyrical about just how good ASHLEY RAWSON's goal was. Stunning? Amazing? Superb? Or all of the above?
The Clipstone no.4 won the ball just inside the Harrowby half, flicked it over a defender, flicked it wide of another, and as the visitors stood mesmerised, was allowed to race past two other defenders before slotting the ball past Jack Drury from the corner of the box. Amazing technique - hopefully the teams' press officers can do a better job than me at describing this goal...
Rawson makes it 1-0, but what came before was different class
Harrowby fought back though, and Liam Harper had a great chance to level on 67, but fired way over from 12 yards.
Mawby was given half the pitch to run into on 73, but had too much time to think and Drury blocked the eventual shot.
BLAKE OWEN replaced Ord two minutes later, and it was the sub who added the Clipstone second after 82, tapping home from close range after Wood crossed in from the left.
As the game entered it's final knockings, Owen brought a fine save out of Drury and Smith fired wide, but by this time the writing was on the wall for United, and there were warm handshakes all around after Mr. Tomes blew the final whistle. F-T 2-0
A happy Chairman with a happy punter!!
Programme: £1
Attendance: 82
MOM: Brandon Shaw
Charity: £1.50
