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A deflected shot from Peterborough Northern Star substitute Avelino Vierra three minutes from time ended Norton United’s hopes of progress in the FA Vase.

It was a harsh ending for United after taking the lead just after the half hour and matching their opponents for much of the game.

But they were left wondering what might have been had the referee given a goal when a Wayne Brotherton shot hit the cross bar and then appeared to have crossed the goal line in the 13^th minute.

In front of a crowd that comprised a good sized travelling contingent from Peterborough, the game began under blue skies and sunshine in the Potteries, but a strong swirling wind that blew diagonally across the pitch caused problems for both sides throughout.

The opening minutes saw both sides struggle to adapt to the windy conditions, with the only effort of note being a speculative 25 yard effort from Star’s Jonny Stead that flew wide of the goal.

But the first clear cut opportunity of the game on 13 minutes provided the major talking point of the afternoon.  A long throw from Norton’s Tom Winkle into the Star penalty area was flicked on by Dan Brown, and United skipper Wayne Brotherton volleyed a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar, bounced on the goal line and was then hacked clear.

The assistant referee waved play on despite furious appeals from Norton players, led by Brotherton, that the ball had crossed the line, and the strength of the protests led to the Norton captain being spoken to by the referee.

Despite the setback, Norton continued to press and after Tom Winkle fired in a shot that Star keeper Luke McShane did well to gather at the near post, the keeper had to react quickly to a long cross from Mark McDonald that needed to be pushed over from underneath the cross bar.

Star’s first clear cut chance arrived at the midway point in the half, from a good run down the left from Adriano Staffieri saw him cut inside and fire in a shot that Norton keeper Llloyd Parry could only push out, and only two desperate blocking tackles from Norton defenders averted danger as the loose ball bobbed around in the penalty area.

However, it was Norton who made the breakthrough just after the half hour with a well worked goal.

A trip on Norton full back Steve Brunt on the edge of the penalty area was penalised with a free kick, and when Delroy Fox floated the ball into the area Richard Smith timed his run perfectly to evade his marker and glance a header into the far corner of the net.

Star hit back and the dangerous Staffieri almost pulled his sided back on level terms when he pounced on a loose ball and fired in a fierce shot that Parry in the Norton goal fielded at the second attempt.

Two minutes before half time, a great through ball from Dan Brown sent Mike Machin in on goal, but as he rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net, the assistant referee flagged for offside.

After the break, the early exchanges were confined to the middle of the park with neither keeper being troubled, but Star began to enjoy the better of the possession and drew level just after the hour mark.

A strong run down the left flank by Star full back Matt Cook took him clear of the Norton defence, and he cut the ball back into the patch of Jonny Stead who sidefooted the ball home from eight yards.

It almost got worse for Norton five minutes later when Star centre forward Karl Gibbs headed a Cook cross into the net, but was flagged offside by the assistant referee.

Star began to dominate and Norton’s forays upfield became more infrequent, but with 13 minutes remaining, they won a corner which Delroy Fox curled in and Richard Smith almost grabbed his second of the afternoon with a header that was held by the keeper.

A snap shot from Gibbs that flew just wide was a warning that the visitors continued to pose a threat, and they finally made what turned out to the crucial breakthrough with three minutes left on the clock.

A break down the left gave Star substitute Avelino Vierra the opportunity to pick up the ball in space, and he cut inside and fired in a shot from 25 yards, which took a deflection that carried just beyond the outstretched hand of Norton keeper Lloyd Parry.

It was a heartbreaking blow for a Norton side who had demonstrated terrific battling qualities throughout the game, and despite throwing men forward in the dying moments in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game, the visitors held on to secure victory and a place in the Fifth Round.      

Despite the disappointment in the home camp, Norton manager Scott Dundas insisted there were plenty of positives to draw from the afternoon.

“The lads have done exceptionally well to get to this stage of the competition, but it’s obviously disappointing in losing so close to the end with a deflected shot.  But we have to take it on the chin, move on and focus on the next league game.

“Getting this far in the competition means we’ll be exempt to the Second Round next season, so we’ll only have a couple of games to get through to get to this stage again, which is a bonus for us. 

“The wind played a major part in the way the game panned out, it was with us in the first half and against us in the second half.  We adapted well, and obviously we had a great chance early on with the goal that wasn’t given.  The ball boy behind the goal told me it was definitely over the line, which doesn’t make me feel too good, but sometimes you get those and sometimes you don’t.

“We didn’t get that one, but we pushed on and got the goal and I thought we were looking pretty comfortable at half time.  I said to the lads at half time they’d probably find it more difficult against the wind in the second half, but just to keep working and hopefully we’d snatch another goal.  Bu tit just didn’t happen for us.

“You can see why they are a step higher than us, they have a bit more quality in midfield and found a little bit more time on the ball, and played the ball a bit better.  But it’s been a good learning curve for our lads to come up against a team like that and they’ll benefit from that.

“We wish Peterborough Northern Star all the best in the competition – except if they draw Runcorn Town of course!”

Reflecting on the day, Norton Secretary Dennis Vickers said it had been a good day for the club.

“Putting aside the obvious disappointment of losing, I am very proud of Norton United today.  We were the only Step 6 team left in the competition, and one of only two teams in the North West Counties Legaue left at this stage of the competition, and we put on a terrific Fourth Round tie in the FA Vase. 

“I was nervous at the start of the day, but I’ve enjoyed it and I think Norton United have shown themselves to be a good club, a good team and well able to host matches of this magnitude.  We attracted a much bigger crowd than we normally do, and there was a good atmosphere throughout the game.

“I must pay tribute to the groundstaff here who worked incredibly hard to get the pitch up to standard so we could get the game on, and their efforts were fantastic.  

“I think overall we have to say that Peterborough Northern Star probably just shaded the game and that’s reflected in the scoreline.  We had our chances and this game’s all about taking them.  If you don’t take them that can come back to haunt you, and today it did.

“It’s been a terrific journey, I’ve learned a lot during the run, and we’ve made loads of friends along the way”.   

The picture below shows Norton's Michael Machin coming in for some close attention from Peterborough Northern Star defenders.