Hadley 2 Kings Langley 1
I was on FA Cup duty at the weekend and saw me make my first visit to Brickfield Lane in
Arkley, just outside Boreham Wood, for a match between hosts Hadley and visitors Kings Langley.
Hadley are managed by ex Chelsea and Spurs midfielder Micky Hazard and he would of no doubt have used all of his cup pedigree and experience to help his side this season as the club were enjoying their best run inn the competition in their history, having dispatched Brantham Athletic,Hertford Town and Colney Heath to reach this stage.
However in opponents Kings Langley they were up against a side two levels above and had smashed Sporting Bengal United 6-1 in the last round. The Southern Premier League outfit, who had enjoyed three promotions in as many years, were on a good winning run in the league so this was going to prove tough for the Spartan South Midlands Premier hosts and understandably started as underdogs in this one.
But this is the FA Cup and it’s not been short of a giant-killing or two over the years and the hosts began by trying to take the game to their higher level opponents and saw skipper Sam Lyon loop an early header a foot wide of the goal. However the visitors then went close themselves after flashing a ball across the six yard box. It had been a decent start to this contest.
The visitors went close again when Sean Coughlan volleyed a Josh Chamberlain cross inches over the bar before the hosts responded in kind when a brilliant one two on the edge of the area released Ivan Machado but keeper Danny Boness managed to block the strikers effort.
And then on 18 minutes came the opening goal, and it went to the visitors, as a good pacey run down the left from Immanuelson Duku saw him burst into the box and be taken out inside the box for a penalty. Duku duly picked himself up and converted the spot kick and the Evo-Stik side had an early lead.
This understandably got the away sides tails up and they went searching for a quick second to try and totally stamp their authority on this contest. Connor Toomey fired just over from range for the visitors after a free kick wasn’t properly cleared by the hosts and then Toomey again fired another long range effort just off target as the visitors were now the better side since going in front.
However Hadley were no where near out of this contest and they saw a cross from the right almost falls to Machado in front of goal but the defence managed to block well and as the half was coming to a conclusion it was the home side who were coming on strong again but the visitors still lead 1-0.
Just before half time both sides tested each others goal, firstly when Zane Gangadeen struck an effort straight at Langley keeper Boness as they continued to look for a leveller, and secondly when Duku nearly got a second for the visitors after the ball had dropped to him inside the box but the hosts keeper Charlie Mann saved well to keep his side in the tie. It was a tie that was tight and still very much in the balance as the teams left the field for the half time break despite the visitors slender lead.
Half Time Hadley 0 Kings Langley 1
The next goal was always going to prove crucial in this tie and eight minutes into the second period came that second goal of the game, and it went to the hosts, in spectacular style. Dom Petrucci had only just come on as a substitute for an injured player when he received a pass and duly flicked the ball up and volleyed first time into the far corner of the goal. It really was a great piece of skill and it really fired up the hosts for a crack at a shock win.
However the visitors were the next to attack and they were screaming for a second spot kick after they felt Duku had been hauled down trying to get an effort in on goal but no penalty was given although it had now developed into a great cup tie.
The hosts then should really have taken the lead on the hour mark as a ball into the box found Machado totally free about eight yards out but he saw his effort blocked somehow and the chance went away. Hadley were doing a lot of the pressing and have been better side in this half but the scoreline remained 1-1 with just over twenty left.
The hosts then missed another wonderful chance when Machado beat visiting keeper Boness to a ball played into the area but saw his poked effort bounce just wide of the goal and you felt that they needed to have taken one of these chances if they were going to have any chance of causing an upset.
Langley spent the majority of the half on the back foot but they gave Hadley a couple of warnings that they could still pinch the tie, firstly when they missed a great chance to go back in front with thirteen minutes to go but Kyle Anthony could only head over a corner from point blank range, and then secondly moments later Oran Swailes got in behind the defence but miskicked his effort wide.
As the game entered its final few minutes Machado missed another great chance for the hosts but saw keeper Boness thwart him again and up the other end Duku forced a save from Mann as both sides were looking to find a winner and prevent a replay in the week.
Hadley then missed another great chance as Nick Chryanthou saw an effort blocked after getting in behind but as the clock ticked into stoppage time at the end of the ninety minutes the hosts finally took one of their chances as Machado looped a header beyond Boness and into the corner of the net to send the hosts wild with delight.
The forthcoming stoppage time period saw the hosts easily hold out and take their place in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history as they caused an upset today, and on their second half showing more than deserved their victory. The draw is tomorrow, and the Step Five outfit will be in the hat, eagerly awaiting who they get in the next chapter in their cup run.
Full Time Hadley 2 Kings Langley 1 (some photos below)
Here are the Second Qualifying Round results in full:-
Saturday 17th September
Bridlington Town 1 Harrogate Town 1
Handsworth Parramore 2 Burscough 0
Witton Albion 1 Stalybridge Celtic 1
Blyth Spartans AFC 2 Morpeth Town 4
Bishop Auckland 1 Trafford 0
Nantwich Town 2 Marine 2
Ashton Athletic 0 FC Halifax Town 5
Curzon Ashton 1 Consett 1
Altrincham 3 Gainsborough Trinity 2
Kidsgrove Athletic 1 Matlock Town 2
Lancaster City 2 Darlington 1883 1
Alfreton Town 1 AFC Fylde 0
Tadcaster Albion 0 Farsley Celtic AFC 2
Bradford (Park Avenue) 0 Salford City 1
Workington AFC 3 Shildon 1
Dunston UTS 0 Chorley 2
Stockport County 2 Hyde United 0
Ossett Town 1 FC United Of Manchester 7
Spennymoor Town 1 Whitby Town 0
Rushall Olympic 1 Kettering Town 2
Kirby Muxloe 1 Boston United 2
Sutton Coldfield Town 2 Hereford 3
Brackley Town 6 Rugby Town 0
Coalville Town 0 AFC Mansfield 1
Mickleover Sports 1 Stourbridge 2
Westfields 4 Highgate United 2
Kidderminster Harriers 4 Tamworth 0
Nuneaton Town 1 Lincoln United 2
Halesowen Town 1 Belper Town 0
Gresley 1 Stamford AFC 1
Barwell 0 Ilkeston 1
Chasetown 0 Bedworth United 1
Worcester City 0 AFC Telford United 0
Sevenoaks Town 2 Chesham United 2
Concord Rangers 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 3
Beaconsfield SYCOB 3 Witham Town 1
Egham Town 2 VCD Athletic 1
Dulwich Hamlet 0 Hendon 2
Hythe Town 2 Walton Casuals 4
Dereham Town 1 St Albans City 2
Wingate & Finchley 0 Tonbridge Angels 3
AFC Dunstable 1 Hampton & Richmond Borough 7
Wealdstone 4 Histon 0
Chelmsford City 2 Dartford 3
Staines Town 1 Maidenhead United 0
Hayes & Yeading United 0 Worthing 2
Hemel Hempstead Town 1 Herne Bay 1
Eastbourne Borough 2 Metropolitan Police 1
Kempston Rovers 1 Burgess Hill Town 1
South Park 1 Leiston 4
Hadley 2 Kings Langley 1
Ebbsfleet United 5 AFC Sudbury 0
Felixstowe & Walton United 2 Bishop's Stortford 1
Cambridge City 1 Slough Town 3
Folkestone Invicta 3 Waltham Forest 1
Uxbridge 1 Harrow Borough 2
East Thurrock United 2 Whitehawk 3
Canvey Island 2 Potters Bar Town 2
Whyteleafe 0 Welling United 2
King's Lynn Town 1 Harlow Town 0
Billericay Town 2 Bognor Regis Town 1
Faversham Town 2 Hitchin Town 2
Hanwell Town 1 Thamesmead Town 1
Merstham 0 Colliers Wood United 0
Margate 2 Biggleswade Town 0
Barton Rovers 0 Hastings United 1
Swindon Supermarine 1 Farnborough 0
Winchester City 4 Truro City 0
Havant & Waterlooville 5 Highworth Town 1
Alresford Town 1 Cadbury Heath 3
Chippenham Town 4 Poole Town 1
Salisbury 1 Gloucester City 2
Cirencester Town 1 Banbury United 6
Basingstoke Town 0 Hungerford Town 1
Weymouth 3 Gosport Borough 2
AFC Portchester 0 Merthyr Town 2
Taunton Town 2 Slimbridge AFC 0
Brislington 1 Brimscombe & Thrupp 2
Bath City 1 Oxford City 1
North Leigh 2 Weston Super Mare 1
Monday 19th September
Replay
Hitchin Town 0 Faversham Town 1
Tuesday 20th September
Replay's
Stalybridge Celtic 2 Witton Albion 1
Marine 2 Nantwich Town 3
Consett 0 Curzon Ashton 1
Stamford AFC 1 Gresley 0
AFC Telford United 1 Worcester City 3
Chesham United 2 Sevenoaks Town 1
Herne Bay 1 Hemel Hempstead Town 5
Burgess Hill Town 3 Kempston Rovers 1
Potters Bar Town 3 Canvey Island 2
Thamesmead Town 4 Hanwell Town 2 (AET)
Oxford City 1 Bath City 2 (AET)
Harrogate Town 3 Bridlington Town 2
Wednesday 21st September
Replay
Colliers Wood United 1 Merstham 2 (AET)
So that concludes the Second Qualifying Round of the competition. I will be travelling to the Sunshine Coast in the next round for Eastbourne Borough Vs Hadley at the start of October so go check out the Third Qualifying Round section for that.
No comments:
Post a Comment