Crook Town FA Cup Saturday 28th August
Spennymoor Town safely progressed into the First Qualifying Round of the F.A.Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Crook Town at The Brewery Field. Moors controlled most of the entire game and almost paid the price for missed chances as it took a goal in the last minute of the first and the final minute of the second half to finally settle this cup tie.
Moors now travel to the winners of North Shields and Newcastle Benfield, who replay in midweek following a 3-3 draw, on Saturday 11th September.
Spennymoor were today without the injured Lewis Dodds, therefore captain Leon Ryan came back into the side and Michael Laws moved into midfield for the only other change to the side that tackled Dunston UTS in midweek.
Moors couldn’t have asked for a better start as they camped out in the Crook half and created a catalogue of chances. Gavin Cogdon shot wide, Craig Ruddy fired straight at the keeper, and the same player’s neat shot was well handled by Ian Myers in the Crook goal. Moors, however, had to rely on a last ditch tackle from Chris Mason on Kevin Devine as the visitors broke on the attack before Steven Richardson’s attempted lob landed on the roof of the net as the half came to a close. This came after a superb run by Anthony Peacock ended with his shot being saved by Myers, and Cogdon dragged his shot wide following an excellent diagonal cross by Kallum Griffiths in a one sided opening half. The opening goal arrived in stoppage time when Cogdon was fouled on the edge of the area and Stephen Capper stepped up to lift the ball over the wall and into the top corner for a delightful finish, despite Myers getting a hand to his shot.
The second half was a poor affair, with both sides rarely threatening on either goal, although it took a good block from Moors keeper Craig Turns to deny Andrew Appleby, meanwhile Moors still enjoyed the bulk of possession and even with the introductions of Craig Hubbard and Michael Rae, Moors just couldn’t get shots in on the Crook goal to wrap up the game.
Crook pushed men forward as the second half wore on, and it allowed Spennymoor to finally kill off the game in injury time through a fantastic shot from fully 30yds by Ruddy into the top corner to end the nerves and seal Spennymoor’s passage into the next round. Rae almost made the score line more respectable but sliced his shot wide of the upright in the dying seconds.
The news filtered through of local rivals Bishop Auckland’s draw with Whitley Bay in the same competition, and now bank holiday Monday’s derby game at The Brewery Field is postponed due to a replay needed in midweek. Moors next game is Saturday 4th September at home to West Auckland Town, kick off 3pm.
Line-Up:
1. Craig Turns, 2. Kallum Griffiths, 3. Chris Mason, 4. Matthew Welch, 5. Leon Ryan(c), 6. Stephen Capper, 7. Craig Ruddy, 8. Michael Laws, 9. Steven Richardson, 10. Anthony Peacock, 11. Gavin Cogdon.
Subs Used: Craig Hubbard on for Gavin Cogdon. Michael Rae on for Steven Richardson. Chris Emms on for Anthony Peacock.
Not Used: Tommy English, Carl Beasley, Chris Lawther, Liam Beeston
