A sell out crowd of 1,500 packed into Shields tiny Daren Persson Stadium in anticipation of their side progressing through to the final at the twin towers (or should I say the Arch now???!!!) on May 9th after leading 1-0 from the 1st leg a week ago.
However the hosts looked nervous in the first fifteen minutes as they seemed to be slightly overawed by the occasion. The hosts lacked that tempo and the windy conditions were not helping the game one bit. The visitors seemed to settle much quicker and were keeping Shields well at bay despite the hosts attacking with the strong wind in the first half.
The first half hour passed with barely a chance registered in what was a very tight and tense affair. You could sense that nervousness in the crowd as well as the normally boisterous home support was unusually subdued. The first sight of goal went to the hosts when a corner was glanced across the goal but wide but at least it was a chance.
Two minutes later the hosts had another shot at goal when Richardson curled wide from outside the box but it was the first period in the match that Shields had any sort of pressure on the Highworth goal. Three minutes before half time Town keeper Stevens goal kick went out for a throw on near his own corner flag, which kind of explained how strong the wind was, it was causing the players untold problems at times.
This largely led to the lack of quality in the game so far and so at the half it was goal less with the visitors in the knowledge that they would have the wind behind them in the second half so very much all to play for. Shields knew they were definitely in a game and the subdued atmosphere at half time suggested the fans knew that too.
Half Time: North Shields 0 Highworth Town 0 (aggregate 1-0)
Town had an immediate chance at the start of the second period when the ball was played to Clarke who sliced wide from the edge of box in a great position and then up the other end on 52 minutes a great challenge from Worthians centre half Wadieh prevented Richardson striking at goal after he had burst into the box from the right.
It was certainly a much livelier start to the second half and on 57 minutes Towns Davoile struck inches over from distance with Shields keeper Robinson struggling as he saw the ball sail just over. A Highworth corner was almost blown in by the wind but Robinson managed to keep it out but was fouled anyway so it wouldn’t of counted. Shields were now well on the back foot and on 65 minutes Town had yet another chance as a reverse pass inside found Parsons who fired inches over from the right hand side of the box.
Then on 69 minutes came a moment of controversy. A free kick from the visitors by King out on the right was swung in and it seemed to hit the inside of the upper post and somehow didn’t go in when it bounced back into the goalmouth as it was cleared off the line and then from the next cross an effort was hooked over. Some folk have suggested the ball did actually go in as it came back off the stanchion inside the goal but the bottom line was it wasn’t a goal accordingly to the officials.
It certainly was a massive moment and Shields were clinging onto their aggregate lead and the home crowd were more than restless. Shields had their first shot on target on 71 minutes when Banbridge was played in but he scuffed his first time effort into the hands of Stevens, which failed to decrease the nerves inside the stadium.
However on 76 minutes Shields got the breakthrough. After a cross was flicked just wide of the post by a town defender the resulting corner eventually fell too Bainbridge who smashed past Stevens and sent the crowd wild with delight and the relief around the ground was for all to see. This totally changed the atmosphere inside the ground and with six minutes left it was almost two as Lancaster’s ball into the near post just missed the incoming Carr allowing Stevens to gather.
Highworth did their best to rally and on 85 minutes Bahone’s free kick in a decent position went straight into the arms of Robinson and time was now running out for Highworth to score twice to level the tie overall and take it to extra time.
Then with two minutes to go of the ninety Shields sealed their place at Wembley in calamitous circumstances. Stevens tried to clear the ball on the edge of his box but his clearance struck Shields sub Walker and came back off the post but Town failed to properly clear their lines and from another effort keeper Stevens inexplicably spilled the effort and Holmes was on hand to poke the loose ball over the line and send everyone wild and saw every single Shields player run over to celebrate the goal.
It was celebration time now as the hosts knew they were going to Wembley and a minute later Highworth summed up their luck in the tie when a break down the left saw the ball played across goal to Drewitt but he side footed wide when it was easier to score. After four minutes of stoppage time the referee brought proceedings to a close and the North East side were the ones celebrating. Hats off to Highworth Town, they were unlucky to lose the game but missed chances and that proved to be the difference in this game. Well done to Shields though they dug in and got the job done which at the end of the day is all that matters.
Full Time: North Shields 2 Highworth Town 0 (aggregate 3-0)
No comments:
Post a Comment