NRCFA Saturday Challenge Cup Competition

Smithy's Dave Smith bears down on goal in his sides North Riding Challenge Cup game against Heworth. __________________________________________________ Saturday, January 12, 2008 North Riding Saturday Challenge Cup – Fourth Round Teesside Athletic 2 St. Mary’s College 2007 1 - after extra time Any hopes of a Stokesley League side making it to the final of the North Riding Saturday Challenge Cup for the third year in succession disappeared when the leagues two remaining sides were both knocked out. St. Mary’s College 2007 came closest taking the game to extra time and only losing out to the very last kick of the game. The first half saw both sides effectively cancelling each other out with Teesside Athletic seeing there limited attempts on goal going wide of the target while the College openings were also limited despite the ground being covered by midfielders Craig Sillick and Chris Strike. Ten minutes after the break however, Athletic finally broke the deadlock but their lead only lasted ten minutes before the College were back on level terms. Paul Pearson brought the ball out of defence before finding Paul Smith with an inch perfect pass. Smith fired in a fierce drive that was deflected into the path of Ryan Mackey who forced the ball home from close range. The College might well have won the game in normal time when a cross from Smith was headed just wide of the far post by Lewis Kaid. Extra time was a much more one sided affair with Athletic dominating and only some sterling defensive work by Rob Allen and Paul Pearson coupled with a string of fine saves from Thomas keeping the scores level. Any hopes that the College might have had of taking the game to penalties however disappeared with the very last kick of the game when a break down the left wing ended with the ball being tapped home as it sped across the six yard box. Lingdale Tavern 5 The Smithy 2 The Smithy’s problems started before the game with the absence of three key personnel severely limiting their resources but they started well taking the lead on fifteen minutes when Paul Jenkins crossed for Darren Akami who beat one defender before finding the back of the net. Five minutes later, Lingdale equalized when the ball was scrambled home following a free kick but The Smithy’s lead was soon restored when Akami was again on target after excellent work from Nathan Tidy. Having used their only substitute when Jenkins was injured shortly before the break, The Smithy’s problems were compounded when midfielder Liam Robson also picked up a knock that meant he had to struggle on up front with over half an hour still to go. Lingdale drew level from the penalty spot just after the hour mark and their pressure finally told when took the lead with twenty minutes remaining. Two late goals wrapped up the tie that takes Lingdale Tavern through to the last eight of the competition. Saturday, December 1, 2007 North Riding Saturday Challenge Cup – Round 3 The Smithy 3 Heworth FC 0 Just two Stokesley league sides made it through to the last sixteen of this year’s North Riding Challenge Cup with The Smithy joining St. Marys College 2007 in the draw for the fourth round. Last season’s semi finalist’s had the benefit of a following wind in the first half but try as they might, they struggled to find the back of the net despite creating a string of good openings. Paul Jenkins was twice denied by the Heworth keeper in the opening ten minutes before it was Dave Smith’s turn to fire just wide when through on goal. After Heworth had gone close at the other end, it was Kevin Manson who was desperately unlucky not to break the deadlock when his effort came back off the post with the keeper beaten. Five minutes before the break however, The Smithy finally found the back of the net after Heworth had only partially cleared a corner kick. The ball broke to Mark Toogood who hammered the ball home from twenty yards out to put the Smithy in front. Having struggled to score with the wind, the home side wasted no time adding to their tally with a goal soon after the restart. Again, Heworth failed to deal with a corner and Peter King chipped the ball to the far post where Kevin Manson was on hand to slot the ball home. With Chris Hubbard and Antony Biswas in commanding form at the heart of The Smithy defence they rarely looked troubled during the remainder of the game and substitute Nathan Tidy put the icing on the cake when he got on the end of a cross from King in the last minute of the game. St. Mary’s College 2007 3 Bishopthorpe United 1 Once they had taken the lead in the fifth minute, St. Mary’s always looked the more likely to progress to the next round. Arran Thompson rounded the keeper, after picking up a through ball from Paul Pearson, and the College striker made no mistake from five yards out. York based Bishopthorpe tried to get back on level terms but St. Mary’s hard working midfield coupled with some solid defending at the back kept them at bay. On the rare occasions when Bishopthorpe did get through, Thomas Straker pulled off a number of fine saves including one double save that helped earn him the man of the match award. St. Marys started the better of the two sides in the second half with Ryan Maloney seeing his shot going just wide of the upright with the keeper beaten before Lewis Kaid increased the home sides lead when his free kick floated over a packed Bishopthorpe area before ending up in the top corner of the net. Ten minutes from time, Mackay added a third after good work from Paul Smith although it was Bishopthorpe that had the last word when a corner kick was scrambled home with five minutes remaining. Bedale Reserves 5 Acklam Steelworks 3 (After extra time) There was bitter disappointment for Acklam Steelworks who were denied a place in the next round by a late equalizer in normal time and ultimately lost out to Bedale in extra time. In a very closely fought encounter, the Steelies almost struck first when Lewis Reed hit the bar from fifteen yards out but it was Bedale who took the lead on twenty minutes following a breakaway. Minutes later, after Lewis Reed had almost equalized when through one on one with the keeper, Bedale doubled their advantage following another breakaway. Five minutes before half time, the Steelworks finally got some reward for their efforts when Craig Bishop crossed for Andy Bowman to find the back of the net with a powerful header. It got better on the hour mark for Acklam when Lee Bowes equalized with a fierce volley into the top corner of the net and just twenty minutes were left on the clock when Mark Rushton broke down the wing before crossing for Bowman to get his second goal of the game. With just seconds of normal time remaining however, Bedale broke away again and despite a great save from Chris Mason, the ball rolled kindly into the path of another Bedale forward who tapped the ball into an empty net. Hardly had extra time started than Bedale retook the lead and despite both Bowes and Bowman going desperately close for Acklam, Bedale were not to be denied and made sure of the tie with another goal in the last minute of extra time. The Miners 1 West Pier 4 There was no joy either at South Bank where The Miners entertained West Pier from Scarborough. A defensive error, ten minutes into the game, saw Miners go behind and their problems were compounded on the half hour when they conceded a second goal. Ten minutes before the break however, The Miners got back into the game when a shot from Steve Hutchinson was spilled by the West Pier keeper and Alex Davies was on hand to tap in from close range. The second half also started brightly for the Stokesley League side but they failed to make their pressure count and they paid the penalty when West Pier once again capitalized on some poor defending. A fourth goal, five minutes from time ensured West Pier’s place in the next round. 2007 - 08 Saturday, November 3, 2007 Round 2 South Bank St. Peters 0 St. Mary's College 2007 1 Currently riding top of the Teesside League Division 2 and semi finalists of the competition last season, South Bank St. Peters were favorites to go through but an ever improving College 2007 side were more than a match for their hosts in a highly competitive if low scoring game. Twice in the opening forty five minutes, College 2007 went desperately close with Craig Sillock rising to head Lewis Kaid’s free kick against the cross bar on fifteen minutes and Paul Smith seeing his thundering twenty five yard effort rebound back into play off the woodwork minutes later. With defenders Paul Pearson and Rob Moore in commanding form at the centre of the College rearguard, South Bank’s opportunities to score were few and far between. The decisive goal came five minutes into the second period when Arran Thompson ran at the Banker’s defense. Thompson committed two defenders before slipping the ball to Smith whose low, hard drive ended up in the back of the net. Stirred into action, South Bank began to dominate the midfield but the College held firm and might well have doubled their lead when Thompson went through one on one with the keeper. Reeth & District AC 0 St. Marys College OB 2 Meanwhile at Reeth, the College Old Boys chose a good time to record their first win of the season although it was not until very late in the game that they made sure of reaching the next round. Ten minutes into the game, Andrew Brothwood looked to have got the ball over the line following a corner only to be denied by the referee and the College Old Boys had a great chance to open the scoring when Tony McTaggart was brought down in the area. Unfortunately, Eddie Johnson’s spot kick hit the post and rebounded to safety with the keeper beaten. Early in the second half, Reeth had their best spell of the game but it was the College who finally broke the deadlock when Dave Aspery crashed the ball into the top left hand corner of the net following good work from Johnson. Once again, Reeth kept the pressure up on the College rearguard but they held firm and with just one minute left on the clock, Wesson and Johnson combined well before Johnson tapped home from the edge of the six yard box. The Miners 5 Whitby Fisherlads 1 Although The Miners were always ahead in this game, the score line flattered them with Whitby Fisherlads still in the game till late on. The Miners took the lead with fifteen minutes on the clock when Liam Martin tapped in at the far post when he got on the end of fine cross from Lee McQuillen and they went further ahead when Craig Foster headed in on goal from Martin’s corner. Foster’s initial effort was blocked by the Fisherlads keeper but he reacted well to head home the rebound in off the underside of the bar. The second half started well for the Fisherlads and they deservedly pulled a goal back on fifty five minutes. That however, was as good as it got for the visitors and they fell further behind when substitute Graham Cousans scored following another corner from Martin. There was no lack of determination from the Eskvale and Cleveland League side but two late goals put paid to any hopes that they might have had of taking the game to extra time. Twice in as many minutes, Terry Strange hit pin point crosses that first Martin and then Foster managed to get on the end of to put the result beyond doubt. Kirbymoorside 0 The Smithy 4 Following their good run in the competition last season only going out in the semi finals, The Smithy got off to a good start this year with a comfortable win at Kirbymoorside. A Darren Hakami effort off the post was the only highlight of a scrappy opening forty five minutes but two goals within six minutes of the restart put The Smithy in the driving seat. A long ball from Steve Manson found Paul Jenkins who chipped the keeper from fifteen yards out and moments later Jenkins was on hand again following good link up play from Robson and Toogood. During the reminder of the half, Kirbymoorside rarely threatened while at the other end, The Smithy doubled their goal tally with Jenkins completing his hat trick from the penalty spot before setting up Hakami to sweep the ball home into an empty net with ten minutes remaining. Grangetown YCC 3 Edgehill 7 AET There was bitter disappointment in the Grangetown YCC camp following failure to reach the third round in a game that they dominated for the vast majority of the initial ninety minutes. Despite going behind on ten minutes, Tony Doyle headed home an equalizer for Grangetown and they really should have led at the break given the number of chances that went begging. Good goal scoring chances continued to come Grangetown’s way after half time and they took the lead when Sam Noteyoung broke down the left before giving Mark Jones an easy tap in from the edge of the six yard box. Stewart Roberts gave Grangetown the cushion of a two goal lead minutes later and for much of the remainder of the half it was a case of how many good chances Grangetown were going to waste and how many saves the Edgehill keeper was going to make. Five minutes from time however, Edgehill reduced the arrears and in the dying seconds, the visitors managed to scramble the ball home to take the game into extra time. Unfortunately for Grangetown, Edgehill came into their own in extra time regaining the lead during the first period and wrapping the tie up with two goals in the last five minutes of the second. Loftus Athletic 3 Rudds FC 0 League leaders Rudds FC suffered their first defeat of the season being eliminated from the Challenge Cup by Loftus Athletic. They trailed from the tenth minute when Loftus took the lead following the award of a penalty. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Loftus increased their lead and they put the result beyond doubt with a third goal with fifteen minutes remaining. Bulls Head 1 Eastfield St. James 10 When Chris Dixon put the Bulls Head in front from the penalty spot with fifteen minutes gone, things looked good for the home side. Two Eastfield goals before half time turned the tables however and although the Bulls Head stayed in touch up until the hour mark, once the goals started to flow again, there was only going to be one winner Round 1 Whinney Banks YCC 2 Grangetown YCC 6 Grangetown YCC made it through to the second round of the North Riding Saturday Challenge Cup at the expense of Teesside League side Whinney Banks YCC with Sean McCallister producing an excellent man of the match performance. Grangetown went ahead on ten minutes when Mark Jones reacted well when a shot from McCallister had only been partially saved by the Whinney Banks keeper. McCallister and Jones combined again on the half hour for Grangetown’s second with Jones firing low into the bottom corner and the visitors added a third when Stewart Roberts ran on to a long through ball from Mick Dalton before scoring from the edge of the area. Whinney Banks did manage to pull a goal back from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time but McCallister restored Grangetown’s three goal advantage when he found the top corner with a fierce drive from twenty yards out. McCallister then tapped home from lose range after Chris Blakey’s shot was only partially saved and he completed his hat trick minutes later dispatching a loose ball into the back of the net. Late in the game, Whinney Banks YCC gave the score line a little more respectability with a headed goal but it will be Grangetown YCC that go into the next round.