FA Vase 2nd Round - Atherton Collieries 1 Seaham Red Star 2
Sat 22nd November 2014 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Atherton Collieries hopes of progress in the FA Vase were ended by Northern League Division Two side Seaham Red Star, on a frustrating afternoon at Alder House.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession and creating a number of good chances, Colls were undone by a penalty and a superb solo strike, coupled with some inspired goalkeeping by Red Star keeper Shaun Newbrook who kept his side in the game with some excellent saves.
Prior to the game, Red Star striker Sonny Andrews was highlighted as the visitors' obvious danger man, with 28 goals in 24 games in all competitions this season, and he signalled his intentions inside four minutes.
A long ball forward caught out the Colls defence, and Andrews reacted quickly to a sight of goal by rifling in a low shot that narrowly missed Danny Taberner's right hand post.
Colls then enjoyed a good spell of territory and possession, and after Brad Cooke headed over from eight yards, he played Ben Hardcastle in on goal, but after being forced wide by the outrushing keeper, Hardcastle screwed his shot wide.
Colls' leading scored Mark Battersby was next to cause consternation in the visiting defence, with a surging run and cross that produced a goal mouth scramble before the ball was hacked clear.
But against the run of play, the visitors broke the deadlock on 26 minutes when James Brooks was late with a challenge on Red Star's David Palmer, and as the midfielder hit the deck the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.
Red Star striker Sonny Andrews strode up with the confidence of a man used to taking chances, and he duly buried an unstoppable penalty into the corner of the net to give his side the lead and take his tally to 29 goals for the season.
Colls continued to dominate possession for the remainder of the first half, but found the well-drilled visiting defence difficult to break down.
Six minutes into the second half, Colls came desperately close to getting back on level terms, only to be denied by a fine double save from Red Star keeper Shaun Newbrook.
A neat move led to Mark Battersby playing Kristian Holt in on goal, and although he struck the shot well Newbrook got a vital touch to send the ball past the post for a corner kick. When the kick was taken, Brad Cooke rose to power a header goal wards, but Newbrook reacted brilliantly to push the ball over the bar.
It proved to be a turning point, as Red Star doubled their advantage as the game neared the midway point in the second half.
A quick break led to a great ball playing David Palmer through into the Colls half, and as the Colls backline retreated, Palmer unleashed a cracking shot from the edge of the box high into the top corner of the net that gave Taberner in the Colls' goal no chance.
But within four minutes, Colls had pulled a goal back, when Jordan Cover picked the ball wide on the left, cut inside and beat the keeper at his near post with a shot from 10 yards.
Cover very nearly had a minute to remember, as Colls regained possession straight from the restart after the goal, and Cover tested Red Star keeper Newbrook with a 25 yarder that the keeper did well to fist clear at full stretch.
Predictably, Colls threw men forward in search of an equaliser, but the organisation and resolve of the visitors' defence kept them at bay, with Mark Truffas coming closest to getting an equaliser when he got in behind the defence to fire in a shot from the bye line that Newbrook did well to hold at the first attempt.
Stoppages and substitutions produced six minutes of added time, but in the end the visitors held out for a hard fought win.
FA Vase 2nd Round - Atherton Collieries 1 Seaham Red Star 2
Sat 22nd November 2014 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Atherton Collieries hopes of progress in the FA Vase were ended by Northern League Division Two side Seaham Red Star, on a frustrating afternoon at Alder House.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession and creating a number of good chances, Colls were undone by a penalty and a superb solo strike, coupled with some inspired goalkeeping by Red Star keeper Shaun Newbrook who kept his side in the game with some excellent saves.
Prior to the game, Red Star striker Sonny Andrews was highlighted as the visitors' obvious danger man, with 28 goals in 24 games in all competitions this season, and he signalled his intentions inside four minutes.
A long ball forward caught out the Colls defence, and Andrews reacted quickly to a sight of goal by rifling in a low shot that narrowly missed Danny Taberner's right hand post.
Colls then enjoyed a good spell of territory and possession, and after Brad Cooke headed over from eight yards, he played Ben Hardcastle in on goal, but after being forced wide by the outrushing keeper, Hardcastle screwed his shot wide.
Colls' leading scored Mark Battersby was next to cause consternation in the visiting defence, with a surging run and cross that produced a goal mouth scramble before the ball was hacked clear.
But against the run of play, the visitors broke the deadlock on 26 minutes when James Brooks was late with a challenge on Red Star's David Palmer, and as the midfielder hit the deck the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.
Red Star striker Sonny Andrews strode up with the confidence of a man used to taking chances, and he duly buried an unstoppable penalty into the corner of the net to give his side the lead and take his tally to 29 goals for the season.
Colls continued to dominate possession for the remainder of the first half, but found the well-drilled visiting defence difficult to break down.
Six minutes into the second half, Colls came desperately close to getting back on level terms, only to be denied by a fine double save from Red Star keeper Shaun Newbrook.
A neat move led to Mark Battersby playing Kristian Holt in on goal, and although he struck the shot well Newbrook got a vital touch to send the ball past the post for a corner kick. When the kick was taken, Brad Cooke rose to power a header goal wards, but Newbrook reacted brilliantly to push the ball over the bar.
It proved to be a turning point, as Red Star doubled their advantage as the game neared the midway point in the second half.
A quick break led to a great ball playing David Palmer through into the Colls half, and as the Colls backline retreated, Palmer unleashed a cracking shot from the edge of the box high into the top corner of the net that gave Taberner in the Colls' goal no chance.
But within four minutes, Colls had pulled a goal back, when Jordan Cover picked the ball wide on the left, cut inside and beat the keeper at his near post with a shot from 10 yards.
Cover very nearly had a minute to remember, as Colls regained possession straight from the restart after the goal, and Cover tested Red Star keeper Newbrook with a 25 yarder that the keeper did well to fist clear at full stretch.
Predictably, Colls threw men forward in search of an equaliser, but the organisation and resolve of the visitors' defence kept them at bay, with Mark Truffas coming closest to getting an equaliser when he got in behind the defence to fire in a shot from the bye line that Newbrook did well to hold at the first attempt.
Stoppages and substitutions produced six minutes of added time, but in the end the visitors held out for a hard fought win.