FA Vase Third Round - Penrith 0 Atherton Collieries 3
Sat 3rd December 2016 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Atherton Collieries are in the Fourth Round of the FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history after a fine 3-0 win over Penrith of the Northern League.
Colls will now be our League’s sole representatives in the last 32 after Bootle’s last gasp exit to Cleethorpes Town.
After a goalless first half, Colls cranked up the pressure after the break, and Matty Grimshaw broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, before two goals from Jordan Cover wrapped a notable victory for manager Michael Clegg and his side.
It was a game that Colls deserved to win on the run of play, against opponents who they had opposed on league business many times in the past when Penrith were members of the NWCFL.
The Blues were founder members of our League in 1982 and remained in the league until they transferred to the Northern League in 1997.
In those days, the Blues played at their old Southend Road ground in the centre of Penrith, but on this occasion it was their new Frenchfield Stadium on the outskirts of town that played host to a good sized crowd, that contained a large following from Atherton.
After a couple of early half chances at both ends , Jordan Cover had Colls first clear cut opportunity on 14 minutes, when he collected a through ball from Mark Truffas and struck an effort narrowly wide of the right hand post.
Ten minutes later Jake Kenny picked out Ben Hardcastle unmarked at the back post, but he headed wide of the target, and as half time approached Josh Messer beat two defenders fired in a cross that flashed across the face of goal, evading attackers and defenders alike.
But Colls finally made the breakthrough on 58 minutes, when Matty Grimshaw got on the end of a short corner driven into the box to open the scoring. It got better ten minutes later when Colls scored a second goal on the counter attack, with Jordan Cover’s clinical finish into the bottom right corner putting them in the driving seat, and Cover ensured the game was over as a contest with a third goal in the 73rd minute, and it was another fine finish in a one on one encounter with the keeper.
Afterwards Atherton Colls first teamcoach Andy Nield said that they couldn’t have hoped for a better afternoon.
“It was a really good overall team performance”, he said.
“We had watched a couple of videos and had a report sent through so we knew quite a bit about them, and we set ourselves up to be fully prepared for them and it was just a case of being disciplined.
“We knew they were a very workmanlike team, and would be quite direct as they had a lad up front who was quite powerful.
“We lost Dave Sherlock with a knock and brought on young Liam Wood and he was superb, and we pushed Ben Hardcastle into the 10 role, and Penrith found it hard to deal with him.
“As they started to press high up the pitch, he created havoc in behind along with Jordan Cover.
“The scenes at the end were tremendous, we took over 100 fans up and it was like having an extra player, it was brilliant. It’s good times for the club right now.
“We are made up to be in the next round (of the FA Vase). The lads know how special it is at this level of football to do well in the Vase.
“We talked before the game about how Glossop got to the final last year, and in that season, we played them in the League Challenge Cup final and there was nothing massively different between us.
“We’ve not conceded a goal yet in the competition, we are up for it and we will see what comes next”.
FA Vase Third Round - Penrith 0 Atherton Collieries 3
Sat 3rd December 2016 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Atherton Collieries are in the Fourth Round of the FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history after a fine 3-0 win over Penrith of the Northern League.
Colls will now be our League’s sole representatives in the last 32 after Bootle’s last gasp exit to Cleethorpes Town.
After a goalless first half, Colls cranked up the pressure after the break, and Matty Grimshaw broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, before two goals from Jordan Cover wrapped a notable victory for manager Michael Clegg and his side.
It was a game that Colls deserved to win on the run of play, against opponents who they had opposed on league business many times in the past when Penrith were members of the NWCFL.
The Blues were founder members of our League in 1982 and remained in the league until they transferred to the Northern League in 1997.
In those days, the Blues played at their old Southend Road ground in the centre of Penrith, but on this occasion it was their new Frenchfield Stadium on the outskirts of town that played host to a good sized crowd, that contained a large following from Atherton.
After a couple of early half chances at both ends , Jordan Cover had Colls first clear cut opportunity on 14 minutes, when he collected a through ball from Mark Truffas and struck an effort narrowly wide of the right hand post.
Ten minutes later Jake Kenny picked out Ben Hardcastle unmarked at the back post, but he headed wide of the target, and as half time approached Josh Messer beat two defenders fired in a cross that flashed across the face of goal, evading attackers and defenders alike.
But Colls finally made the breakthrough on 58 minutes, when Matty Grimshaw got on the end of a short corner driven into the box to open the scoring. It got better ten minutes later when Colls scored a second goal on the counter attack, with Jordan Cover’s clinical finish into the bottom right corner putting them in the driving seat, and Cover ensured the game was over as a contest with a third goal in the 73rd minute, and it was another fine finish in a one on one encounter with the keeper.
Afterwards Atherton Colls first teamcoach Andy Nield said that they couldn’t have hoped for a better afternoon.
“It was a really good overall team performance”, he said.
“We had watched a couple of videos and had a report sent through so we knew quite a bit about them, and we set ourselves up to be fully prepared for them and it was just a case of being disciplined.
“We knew they were a very workmanlike team, and would be quite direct as they had a lad up front who was quite powerful.
“We lost Dave Sherlock with a knock and brought on young Liam Wood and he was superb, and we pushed Ben Hardcastle into the 10 role, and Penrith found it hard to deal with him.
“As they started to press high up the pitch, he created havoc in behind along with Jordan Cover.
“The scenes at the end were tremendous, we took over 100 fans up and it was like having an extra player, it was brilliant. It’s good times for the club right now.
“We are made up to be in the next round (of the FA Vase). The lads know how special it is at this level of football to do well in the Vase.
“We talked before the game about how Glossop got to the final last year, and in that season, we played them in the League Challenge Cup final and there was nothing massively different between us.
“We’ve not conceded a goal yet in the competition, we are up for it and we will see what comes next”.
