FA Vase 4th Round - Newcastle Benfield 3 Congleton Town 1
Sat 18th January 2014 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Congleton Town's interest in the FA Vase ended at the hands of Newcastle Benfield, despite a spirited performance in the North East.
Although they fell to defeat, the Bears gave their Northern League opponents a tough 90 minutes, and hit the woodwork four times on an afternoon when luck and refereeing decisions were not in their favour.
The opening stages of the game were evenly contested as both sides weighed one another up, but gradually Congleton began to enjoy the better of the possession and created the first clear cut chances.
Michael Koral fired wide after good build up play, and then Scott Sephton had two efforts in the space of a few minutes, first firing over after good build up play and then bringing out a good save from the Benfield keeper with a well struck shot.
But it was the home side who took the lead in the 24th minute with a well worked goal involving some neat one touch football to set up Billy Ions, who fired home the opener from close range.
That was bad enough, but worse was to come four minutes later when Benfield were awarded a contentious penalty.
Matthew Worrall was deceived by the bounce of the ball when it struck him on the hand inside the penalty area, and although the referee initially waved play on, the assistant referee flagged for handball and the referee then pointed to the penalty spot. Benfield's leading scorer Paul Brayson made no mistake with the spot kick and the Bears found themselves two goals down.
But the Bears hit back, and hit the woodwork twice in the space of a few minutes. Jack Graham went on a jinking run and let fly with a thunderbolt that rattled the post, and then Michael Koral picked the ball up wide on the right, cut inside on to his left foot and curled a shot that hit the crossbar.
Early in the second half, the Bears struck the woodwork again, when a free kick was blocked and the ball fell to Graham who fired a shot against the post with the keeper beaten.
As play flowed from end to end Martin Pearson in the Congleton goal was called on to make a great one on one save to keep the margin to one goal, but the Bears finally got the goal their play deserved with 18 minutes remaining, when Jack Graham successfully converted a penalty.
The Bears threw caution to the wind and pressed forward looking for an equaliser, but were caught on the counter attack in the last minute, with Paul Brayson grabbing his second goal of the game to seal victory for Newcastle Benfield with a fine shot into the top corner of the net.
Congleton Town Secretary Ken Mead said: "On another day we would have come away with a win. If we had just had a little bit more good fortune, we'd have pulled it off.
"A 3-1 score looks like it was a comfortable win, but I don't think anyone connected with Newcastle Benfield would say it was comfortable.
"Once we had struck woodwork for the fourth time early in the second half we did begin to think it was going to be one of those days.
"The penalty to Benfield was a key moment in the game. Everyone in the ground didn't think it was a penalty, and it was disappointing as the referee initially shook his head when the ball hit Matthew's hand. There was no danger and no one near him when it hit his hand, it wasn't as if he was trying to stop someone get to the ball.
"The consensus from Benfield officials and our supporters was that the better team over the run of play had lost, but you also have to say that you can't hit the woodwork four times and expect to win.
"We are pleased with the boys, and if we play like that for the rest of the season we'll do OK. We didn't let the club or the League down in terms of our performance, even though we lost, and all our supporters agreed that you couldn't fault the effort the players put in".
FA Vase 4th Round - Newcastle Benfield 3 Congleton Town 1
Sat 18th January 2014 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Congleton Town's interest in the FA Vase ended at the hands of Newcastle Benfield, despite a spirited performance in the North East.
Although they fell to defeat, the Bears gave their Northern League opponents a tough 90 minutes, and hit the woodwork four times on an afternoon when luck and refereeing decisions were not in their favour.
The opening stages of the game were evenly contested as both sides weighed one another up, but gradually Congleton began to enjoy the better of the possession and created the first clear cut chances.
Michael Koral fired wide after good build up play, and then Scott Sephton had two efforts in the space of a few minutes, first firing over after good build up play and then bringing out a good save from the Benfield keeper with a well struck shot.
But it was the home side who took the lead in the 24th minute with a well worked goal involving some neat one touch football to set up Billy Ions, who fired home the opener from close range.
That was bad enough, but worse was to come four minutes later when Benfield were awarded a contentious penalty.
Matthew Worrall was deceived by the bounce of the ball when it struck him on the hand inside the penalty area, and although the referee initially waved play on, the assistant referee flagged for handball and the referee then pointed to the penalty spot. Benfield's leading scorer Paul Brayson made no mistake with the spot kick and the Bears found themselves two goals down.
But the Bears hit back, and hit the woodwork twice in the space of a few minutes. Jack Graham went on a jinking run and let fly with a thunderbolt that rattled the post, and then Michael Koral picked the ball up wide on the right, cut inside on to his left foot and curled a shot that hit the crossbar.
Early in the second half, the Bears struck the woodwork again, when a free kick was blocked and the ball fell to Graham who fired a shot against the post with the keeper beaten.
As play flowed from end to end Martin Pearson in the Congleton goal was called on to make a great one on one save to keep the margin to one goal, but the Bears finally got the goal their play deserved with 18 minutes remaining, when Jack Graham successfully converted a penalty.
The Bears threw caution to the wind and pressed forward looking for an equaliser, but were caught on the counter attack in the last minute, with Paul Brayson grabbing his second goal of the game to seal victory for Newcastle Benfield with a fine shot into the top corner of the net.
Congleton Town Secretary Ken Mead said: "On another day we would have come away with a win. If we had just had a little bit more good fortune, we'd have pulled it off.
"A 3-1 score looks like it was a comfortable win, but I don't think anyone connected with Newcastle Benfield would say it was comfortable.
"Once we had struck woodwork for the fourth time early in the second half we did begin to think it was going to be one of those days.
"The penalty to Benfield was a key moment in the game. Everyone in the ground didn't think it was a penalty, and it was disappointing as the referee initially shook his head when the ball hit Matthew's hand. There was no danger and no one near him when it hit his hand, it wasn't as if he was trying to stop someone get to the ball.
"The consensus from Benfield officials and our supporters was that the better team over the run of play had lost, but you also have to say that you can't hit the woodwork four times and expect to win.
"We are pleased with the boys, and if we play like that for the rest of the season we'll do OK. We didn't let the club or the League down in terms of our performance, even though we lost, and all our supporters agreed that you couldn't fault the effort the players put in".
