Next up for the Y&E is an FA Cup Replay away at West Auckland Town following our 2-2 draw against the Northern Premier League side last Saturday.
The game kicks off at 7.45pm at the Northern Metal Recycling Stadium DL14 9HU. Thanks to our away game sponsor Dragontail Consulting. Your support is massively appreciated.
Saturday would have been an entertaining game for a neutral. It had a little bit of everything: a penalty, goals, a sending off, and a tense, close finish to the game. A healthy crowd of just over 220 were in attendance on a beautiful Billingham afternoon. With a few players missing, Jacko made some changes to the starting XI, including a debut for new signing Joe Hood in goal. 16-year-old Joe only signed for the Y&E on Friday morning and was straight in between the sticks. Marshy dropped back to partner Ethan Jones at centre back, with Foz and Joe Dalton as full backs—Dalts stepping up to be captain today, quite the honour to captain our first FA Cup game. In the middle of the park we had HST, Charlie Fixter, and Bubba, another 16-year-old. There was a bit more experience up front, with Josh Larkin, Pete Bulmer, and Mikey Roberts filling out the starting XI.
Within 15 seconds of the kick-off we were on the back foot. A foul in the box and Wests were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Cieran Jackson who slotted it home to give the visitors the lead. That understandably knocked us back a little, but we started to come into the game. A lovely mazy run from Bubba (think prime Gazza) took him past 3 players, but his shot was over. Mikey Roberts was next up with a lovely break down the left; his shot was saved, as was Bubba’s effort from the rebound. On 20 mins, Wests scorer Jackson was shown a straight red after an off-the-ball altercation with Josh Larkin. With a break in play, the lads took a hydration break—with this utter woke nonsense sponsored by Dave Portas. Cheers Dave. We were making use of the numerical advantage, but Wests were very much still in the game and had a few decent chances. As the half wound down to a close, a few set pieces, Ethan’s throws, and HST free kicks and corners caused some chaos in the opposition box, but we were unable to equalise. Half time 1-0 down, but we had played well. Often last season if the opposition went down to ten we would struggle, but we were moving the ball well with some good passing and link-up play.
Into the second half and Pete Bulmer had an early chance, but his shot to the near post was well saved. Not long after, Wests doubled their advantage: a low ball from the right and Fin O’Gorman was on hand to put the ball away from close range. Not the start to the half we wanted! We kept pressing, and Ste Roberts came on for Pete Bulmer. On 62 minutes we managed to get one back—a bit of a goalmouth scramble and Bubba was on hand to put the ball away to score for the second consecutive Saturday and earn the honour of being the Y&E’s first ever FA Cup goalscorer. One for the Cleveland Bay Pub Quiz in 10 years’ time! Our tails were up and we sensed we could get back into this. Another Dave Portas sponsored hydration break. We should have levelled on 68 mins—somehow Ste Roberts couldn’t connect with the ball as it came across the box, with the goal at his mercy. It wasn’t long before we did get the equaliser with the Roberts double act: Ste down the left, ball across the box, and there was Mikey to score from close range. 2-2 with 17 minutes left. Momentum was very much with the Y&E now. There were a few free kicks against the visitors, but we had a couple of bookings as well, with Larkin and Fixter both shown yellows to add to an earlier card for Bubba. Wests’ number 14 Connor Shields, chasing down a long ball, collided with Joe Hood in the Y&E goal, knocking him over. A bit of a discussion post-foul and an altercation, and he was sent off. Up against 9 men now. A few more chances as we headed to stoppage time: Ste Roberts with a shot wide, HST with a shot well saved, and Hillers seeing a late chance well saved by the Wests keeper Matty Cassap. Full time and a 2-2 draw. Time to do it all again on Tuesday.
An entertaining cup fixture. Credit to West Auckland: they are a very good team and coped well initially with going down to 10 men. Their supporters came in good numbers and their committee were sound. The replay delays their debut in Northern Premier League East until next Saturday when they will face North Ferriby away.
As for the Y&E—a bit of a different line-up, starting with a 4-5-1 kind of set-up. We played well, played some nice football, and coped well with matching up against 10 men, something we have struggled with at times. Some stand-out displays, particularly from Bubba and Marshy, Bubba picking up man of the match selected by Match Sponsor Stoneacre Volvo. Marshy was outstanding in defence alongside Ethan Jones. Credit as well to new keeper Joe Hood, who did what he had to really well and had a strong debut.
It’ll be interesting to see how the replay goes; West Auckland on home turf will be the favourites. Both sides know more about each other than they did a few days ago and it has the potential to be another good game. Will there be some tactical and personnel changes tomorrow evening? We’ll see when the game kicks off at 7.45pm.
Hope to see plenty of Y&E support at the replay! #utyae