FA Cup 1st Qualifying

13th September 2008

Attendance - 244

Team - Campbell, Brumwell, Janes, Lyth, Burgess, Nogan, Huggins, Hackworth, Raw, Brunskill, Charlton. Subs: Tinkler, Forster, Garvie, Pallender, Escritt.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - The Blues eventually made their two division advantage count in the FA Cup's opening round, but after racing to 3-0 lead, a late penalty and a sending off made for five minutes of nervous injury time against Northern League Dunston Federation at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.

Managers Phil Brumwell and Graham Clark were without on-loan duo Nick Liversedge and Jimmy Beadle as Darlington and York respectively wished to avoid their player being cup-tied plus injured skipper Richard Forster, so back came experienced duo Tony Hackworth and Lee Nogan, with veteran keeper Dave Campbell making his first appearance of the season following a hernia operation.

Despite three enforced changes, Town enjoyed the perfect start when Tom Raw saw his shot blocked and Danny Brunskill fired home a deflected close range effort with the clock showing 18.5 seconds!

The Blues hardly paused for breath before doubling their lead within five minutes. Again Raw was the architect, this time the pacey forward's pull back from the byline was parried by keeper Barry Poskett straight into the path of Karl Charlton who made no mistake following up for an early birthday present, a day before his 21st.

Within seconds, it should've been three when Raw's beautifully timed back-heel released Steve Huggins, but the ex-Billingham Town midfielder shot wide when clear on goal.

However Whitby did have their third goal on the half hour when Tony Hackworth worked hard to win back possession and strike for goal. Poskett let the ball slide skip up off the pitch, through his hands and on a plate for Raw to slide home on the goal line.

With the visitors restricted to a couple of punts from distance that Campbell caught with ease, it seemed more a case of how many Town would score rather than any kind of doubt over the result. Clearly the home side sensed this and appeared to relax a little too much after the break.

Sensing Town's collective foot was off the accelerator, Dunston began the second half strongly and, within three minutes, forced an almighty goalmouth scramble that Whitby stopper Dave Campbell did well to find the ball from.

Twice Fed number ten Andrew Bulford was allowed to run into the Town box from deep, once saw the forward fire narrowly wide, and the next effort forced a good save from Campbell at his near post.

At the other end, Nogan's deep right-wing cross, was headed down by the impressive Hackworth at the far post for Raw, on the edge of the box, to fire a stinging effort that pinged against Poskett's right-hand post.

Then came a possible turning point as Whitby lost centre-half Kevin Burgess who recieved a soft second yellow card for encroaching a Fed free-kick. Then within a minute, blow number two saw substitute Steve Preen send a bullet header past Campbell from just inside the Whitby box.

As Town reorganised, centre-half Forster, still recovering from a knock to the knee, replaced Nogan with Mark Tinkler making a welcome return after a calf injury saw him limp off at FC United a fortnight ago- Brunskill had to make way.

Within minutes of taking to the field, Forster tried a powerful strike from 20 yards that skipped up in front of the unconvincing Poskett who fumbled it off his chest, but as Raw followed up, the offside flag was raised to stop the 23-year-old in his tracks.

The same result then occured at the opposite end when a right-wing cross was nodded against the outside of the far post from an acute angle by the dangerous Preen.

However, just as it looked like Town had weathered the storm, a minute from time, referee Mr Chapman spotted an obstruction by Forster in the Whitby area as Campbell caught a high ball and pointed to the penalty spot. Former Blue Mark Sheeran was given the responsibility of handing Fed a late lifeline, and he did just that, firing emphatically right-footed into the top left corner.

The visitors were further buoyed by the announcement of five mysterious injury time minutes, but Town gave a professional showing, keeping the ball in the corners and ensuring there was to be no awkward replay in Tyne and Wear on Tuesday night.