Brave 'Bridge sunk in the Mud

Harrogate CSC 3, Boroughbridge AFC 1, (After Extra Time)

Claro FA Challenge Cup – 16.03.08

"You always pass failure on the way to success" - Mickey Rooney. If the Hollywood veteran is correct, then manager Rich Donohoe can take comfort from this defeat and look forward to next weekend's League Cup Semi Final at home to The Ship, and the Knockout Cup Final in April which features these two teams again. As a rookie manager he is learning the ropes quickly and looks to have the "Gaffer's Jacket" secure for some time to come. Sadly, he is also learning the other side of grass roots football which delivers a great team midweek but a totally different one come the weekend. With a couple of drop-outs and Saturday first teamers Ben Clayton, Chris Stephenson and Danny Webster all on the touchline but unfortunately injured, his charges showed great grit and determination, refusing to give in to what seemed to be inevitable until eventually extra time took its' toll and CSC claimed what was ultimately a well deserved victory.

On an absolute quagmire of a pitch with the wind blowing across Killinghall Moor, Bridge kicked off looking to reach their second Cup Final of the Season. They seemed to be the first team to adapt to the strong winds by attempting to play the ball on the ground, not an easy task given the pitch. In particular, one patch on the edge of Alastair Hogg's area was thick, sticky mud, and both teams did well to last the 120 minutes needed to settle this tie. Paul Scaife was ploughing a lonely furrow up front (pun intended!!) and was involved in the first goal opportunity of the game after 6 minutes, going one on one with keeper Steve Purvis on the edge of the area but seeing the ball break to safety without causing CSC too much discomfort. He was involved in two more good attempts during the half, both times turning defenders to fire off powerful shots to either side of the goal, one on the stroke of half time. Most of the first half spotlight was on the men in red and black though as they pushed against the wind and it seemed only a matter of time before they would break through the 'Bridge defence. Mike Syms was heavily involved in much of their approach play, supplying Carl Baranovsky (shot blocked) and Matt Thompson (fluffed shot) before being dispossessed when looking to shoot himself by an impressive tackle from Dave Burniston, and then finding the formidable figure of Hogg in his way in a one on one with only one winner! Dan Harper also found acres of space but shot over the bar, so it was against the run of play when the visitors scored first with a stroke of luck. Although the back line was kept busy Chris Chapman had already found time to get upfield for a tame shot, and Andy Layton had launched a lob from the half way line which Purvis tipped over magnificently whilst back-pedalling furiously. So it was a touch bizarre when Purvis cleared the ball from the edge of his area only to see Chapman's backside line up a perfect shot which had the ball nestling in the net for a surprise lead. As CSC forced the game, Biagio Diamore shot at Hogg then shot wide, but the whistle blew to give 'Bridge a lead they would always find hard to keep.

Half Time – Harrogate CSC 0, Boroughbridge AFC 1

Syms started the second half in the thick of the action again shooting at Hogg from the right side of the six yard box before having a second bite at the cherry from his blocked return, only to see another block go behind. From the corner Hogg looked stranded in a goalmouth scramble as the ball looped over his head, but he somehow reached up and clawed the ball out to safety to preserve the fragile lead. The heroics came to nought though on 59 minutes, as Thompson stooped low in a mass of bodies from a Syms cross box header to head past Hogg and put the hosts firmly back in the match and in control. 'Bridge rarely threatened after that, whilst Harper, Carl Baranovsky, Mark Baranovsky, Mike Woodcock and Syms again all went close to adding to the CSC lead. Scaife was fed by Dan Saxon but put over the bar before firing a shot in the dying minutes straight at the body of keeper Purvis, but it was perhaps a surprise the 'Bridge had made it to extra time.

Full Time – Harrogate CSC 1, Boroughbridge AFC 1

With an extra 30 minutes looming on a very heavy and boggy pitch, the result was probably never in doubt. Tom Ekin had replaced Donohoe during the second half, and Hogg left after 90 minutes to fulfil an obligation elsewhere, but with a Man of the Match performance under his belt. Craig Kitching came on and Ollie Barton took over the gloves, admitting to being exhausted after a full 90 minutes the day before but with no other recognised keeper in the side. He could little after 10 minutes when Carl Baranovsky collected a right wing cross and put the ball low to Barton's left to finally edge his side in front. Shortly after the restart, CSC should have put the game to bed as Thompson forced a save from Barton which fell to Tony Dowden who calmly rounded the prone keeper but somehow managed to scuff his shot against the post when faced with an open goal, the ball subsequently breaking back to Thompson who likewise managed to hit the bar!! Almost immediately afterwards Syms beat Barton to feed Woodcock, but his effort was ruled offside. 'Bridge had two efforts for Chapman and Layton in extra time, but CSC made the Final place secure with a Woodcock effort in the dying minutes. An unseemly scuffle on the stroke of time saw Kitching involved with two CSC players, all three perhaps lucky to see yellow rather than red. Burniston though was shown red after the game, his petulance with the officials marring an otherwise fine performance. Elsewhere, Steve Paffett was excellent after his long layoff and somehow managed to last the full 120 minutes, and Craig Tetley was again Mr Dependable. Ultimately though, the better team won and Donohoe will have learned from this "failure" which could prove Mickey Rooney was right and help immensely towards success in the coming weeks.

After Extra Time - Harrogate CSC 3, Boroughbridge AFC 1

Man of Match – Alastair Hogg

Harrogate CSC - S Purvis, J Baranovsky, D Ramshaw, M Baranovsky, J O'Halloran, D Harper,. C Baranovsky, M Whitehead, B Diamore, M Thompson, M Syms. Subs R Dearden, T Dowden, D Skelton, M woodcock
Goal Scorers – Thompson, C Baranovsky, Woodcock

Boroughbridge AFC – A Hogg, J Kidd, C Tetley, C Chapman, D Burniston, S Paffett, D Saxon, A Layton, P Scaife, O Barton, R Donohoe. Subs T Ekin, C Kitching, C Woods
Goal Scorers – Chapman