Saturday 13th January 2001, Umbro FA Trophy 3rd Round
Marine continued their impressive winning run in 2001, with a comprehensive victory over high flying Unibond league side Stalybridge Celtic.
Marine certainly were not overawed by their opponents and why should they, having seen off Everton in midweek in the Liverpool Senior Cup.
Stalybridge, who prior to today had only lost one league game all season, put Marine under pressure from the opening moments of the game. Marine’s goalkeeper Chris Clarke, had to be alert when Stalybridge’s Matthew McNeil was put through on goal after two minutes. The Marine keeper saved bravely but could not keep hold of the ball, luckily it fell to Marine’s Gary Randles, who managed to clear his lines.
Marine managed to contain the early Stalybridge spell of pressure and even started to carve out chances of their own, prompted by the impressive Gerrard Courtney, who was at the heart of most of Marine’s attacks. Marine tried to pass the ball, despite playing on a pitch which had been hardened by the overnight frost.
Twelve minutes into the game, Marine had an appeal for a penalty waved away by the referee much to the annoyance of the home fans, after Kevin Formby was brought down inside the box. Moments later the Home supporters patience was tested further, following a two footed challenge by Stalybridge’s Matthew McNeil which went undetected by the referee.
On the half hour mark, Brian Burns broke down the left and put in Gerald Courtney who fired over the bar. Two minutes later, an identical move saw Courtney cushion a header just past the left hand post after a cross by Kevin Formby.
Stalybridge’s response was swift when on 34 minutes Tony Sullivan found himself one on one with the Marine goalkeeper but Sullivan put his shot over the advancing keeper and the bar.
Down the other end of the field, Marine fullback Ian Baines found himself in unfamiliar territory when he was put through with the keeper to beat. Stalybridge’s Stuart Locke appeared to clear the ball off the boot of Ian Baines, just as he was about to shoot goal wards. The referee inexplicably never saw the interception and only awarded a goal kick to Stalybridge.
The second half started in a subdued manner with both teams midfields stamping their authority on the game, this lull was soon banished, when on 57 minutes Marine took the lead following a spectacular lob by Marine’s top scorer Dave Gamble. The shot came out of nothing and in all probability it was a cross for the advancing Marine striker at the back post.
The goal sparked Stalybridge back to life and on 60 minutes, Marine goalkeeper Chris Clarke showed his bravery again when he denied Tony Sullivan who was again put through on goal. From the resulting corner substitute Nigel Evans, who had only been on the field a minute sent a header goal wards only for Marine’s Ian Baines to clear of the line.
The Marine defence stood firm in the face of constant Stalybridge pressure but still Stalybridge could not find an equaliser. Even though since Marine’s first goal, Stalybridge had been camped inside Marine’s half.
Dave Gamble looked to add to his earlier strike on 78 minutes with an equally impressive strike from long range but on this occassion he fired high and wide of the cross bar. Marine finally killed off the tie with six minutes to go, after good work by Marine number Seven Courtney who fed in Gary Randles who rifled a shot into the corner of the net.
Though Stalybridge were a disappointment considering their high flying position this is taking nothing away from Marine who at last seem to be putting a decent run together and put behind them the inconsistencies and the last few months. Marine were certainly good value for their two goal victory today.
* This report previously appeared on the now defunct website Pyramid Football
Sunday, January 14, 2001
Saturday, January 6, 2001
Blackburn Rovers 2 Chester City 0
F.A. Cup - Third Round, Saturday 6th January 2001
Second-half Goals from Blackburn's Martin Taylor and Marcus Bent put paid to a spirited performance from Nationwide Conference side Chester City.
City were backed a strong contingent of their own supporters almost 3,000 made the trip and even though the result went against them, they certainly could be proud of their sides efforts. So many of them had made the trip in fact, that the game had to be delayed by 15 minutes to enable them to reach the ground in time for kick-off.
When the game finally got under way, Chester made a mockery of the supposed gulf in class between the two sides, in the opening exchanges of the game, they began the game with a purpose. They coped well with Blackburn's early chances and they even managed to carve out chances of their own.
On thirteen minutes, Chester’s left wing back Matt Doughty made good ground down the left wing, but he could not steer his cross in to the path of another Chester player. Blackburn tried to clear their lines, but only as far as Steve Whitehall who fired his shot over the bar.
It would not have been a typical cup tie, without the odd over ‘enthusiastic’ tackle and this game was certainly no different. Chester’s Carl Ruffer was booked on 15 minutes after a rash challenge on Blackburn’s Matt Jansen. Seven minutes later, Rovers former Liverpool and Norway wing-back Stig Inge Bjornebye followed Ruffer into the referees note book, after an equally crude challenge.
The game settled down again and after 23 minutes, Craig Hignett fired a shot on to the post from 25 yards. The early composure that Chester had shown in the first 30 minutes was not apparent when, Chester centre half Lancaster conceded an unnecessary corner after a breakdown in communications between himself and Chester goalkeeper Wayne Brown. From the resulting corner, Paul Carden almost put through his own goal, under no pressure from any advancing Blackburn forwards.
City managed to retain the ball well in the first-half, but it was Blackburn who managed to out carve the best chances, Jansen came close twice, but on both occasions he fired wide. Chester’s Matt Doughty wasted a good opportunity after a great tackle in his own half saw him run the length of the pitch, but instead of putting Whitehall through, he fired over the bar.
It certainly was not Chester who wanted the first-half to end. As the half wore on they showed the greater urgency of the two teams and looked the more assured.
Blackburn manager Graeme Souness, no doubt had a few things to say to his players at half-time. In an attempt to shake things up Souness replaced the largely ineffective Darren Dunning with the youngster Jonathon Douglas for the start of the second period.
Blackburn were on the attack early in the second-half, with the words of Graeme Souness, no doubt still ringing in their ears. Looking a little sharper than they did in the first half, they should have scored after 50 minutes, when David Dunn sent over a cross to Egil Ostenstad, who could only steer his header at the Chester goalkeeper.This was to be Ostenstads only and last contribution to the game, he was replaced by Marcus Bent on the hour mark.
Chester were still pushing forward in search of a goal to break the deadlock. With 20 minutes to go they thought their endeavours had been rewarded when Steve Whitehall put the ball past Blackburn’s Brad Friedel but the referee had adjudged that Carl Ruffer had climbed all over Martin Taylor, from Cardens inswinging corner.
As thoughts were turning to a possible replay, on 72 minutes Blackburn scored. Alan Mahon sent over a teasing corner which found the tall central defender, Martin Taylor, who glanced his header past the despairing dive of Wayne Brown.
Chester could have laid down and died at this point, but they fought back and they very nearly equalised. Steve Whitehall who had been denied earlier by a referees whistle this time found himself denied by a superb save from Friedal, the ball eventually fell to Paul Beesley who fired wide of the post. Then again, with eight minutes to go, after good work by Chester substitute Darren Wright down the left put in Whitehall, who fired over the bar from close range.
Blackburn then sealed their passage through to the next round with eight minutes to go. After a harshly awarded free kick for an alleged foul on the left touch line by Neil Fisher on Alan Mahon. From Dunn’s resulting free-kick found Bent unmarked, who then headed past the unlucky Wayne Brown in the Chester goal.
Though Blackburn were just about worthy of their victory, it was certainly cruel that Chester did not get a replay that their endeavours deserved. Chester manager Graham Barrow, although disappointed to lose reflected on the positive aspects of the day
“I thought my players were quite phenomenal and I couldn’t ask for anything more from them. Although I'm disappointed with the result, I am pleased with my players attitude. This performance can give us hope for the future”
Graeme Souness reflected on the game that it was a no-win situation for Blackburn and was just pleased to go through “ I was disappointed by our first-half performance, we weren’t at the races at all. I’m just glad that we never came unstook”
Attendance 15,223
Second-half Goals from Blackburn's Martin Taylor and Marcus Bent put paid to a spirited performance from Nationwide Conference side Chester City.
City were backed a strong contingent of their own supporters almost 3,000 made the trip and even though the result went against them, they certainly could be proud of their sides efforts. So many of them had made the trip in fact, that the game had to be delayed by 15 minutes to enable them to reach the ground in time for kick-off.
When the game finally got under way, Chester made a mockery of the supposed gulf in class between the two sides, in the opening exchanges of the game, they began the game with a purpose. They coped well with Blackburn's early chances and they even managed to carve out chances of their own.
On thirteen minutes, Chester’s left wing back Matt Doughty made good ground down the left wing, but he could not steer his cross in to the path of another Chester player. Blackburn tried to clear their lines, but only as far as Steve Whitehall who fired his shot over the bar.
It would not have been a typical cup tie, without the odd over ‘enthusiastic’ tackle and this game was certainly no different. Chester’s Carl Ruffer was booked on 15 minutes after a rash challenge on Blackburn’s Matt Jansen. Seven minutes later, Rovers former Liverpool and Norway wing-back Stig Inge Bjornebye followed Ruffer into the referees note book, after an equally crude challenge.
The game settled down again and after 23 minutes, Craig Hignett fired a shot on to the post from 25 yards. The early composure that Chester had shown in the first 30 minutes was not apparent when, Chester centre half Lancaster conceded an unnecessary corner after a breakdown in communications between himself and Chester goalkeeper Wayne Brown. From the resulting corner, Paul Carden almost put through his own goal, under no pressure from any advancing Blackburn forwards.
City managed to retain the ball well in the first-half, but it was Blackburn who managed to out carve the best chances, Jansen came close twice, but on both occasions he fired wide. Chester’s Matt Doughty wasted a good opportunity after a great tackle in his own half saw him run the length of the pitch, but instead of putting Whitehall through, he fired over the bar.
It certainly was not Chester who wanted the first-half to end. As the half wore on they showed the greater urgency of the two teams and looked the more assured.
Blackburn manager Graeme Souness, no doubt had a few things to say to his players at half-time. In an attempt to shake things up Souness replaced the largely ineffective Darren Dunning with the youngster Jonathon Douglas for the start of the second period.
Blackburn were on the attack early in the second-half, with the words of Graeme Souness, no doubt still ringing in their ears. Looking a little sharper than they did in the first half, they should have scored after 50 minutes, when David Dunn sent over a cross to Egil Ostenstad, who could only steer his header at the Chester goalkeeper.This was to be Ostenstads only and last contribution to the game, he was replaced by Marcus Bent on the hour mark.
Chester were still pushing forward in search of a goal to break the deadlock. With 20 minutes to go they thought their endeavours had been rewarded when Steve Whitehall put the ball past Blackburn’s Brad Friedel but the referee had adjudged that Carl Ruffer had climbed all over Martin Taylor, from Cardens inswinging corner.
As thoughts were turning to a possible replay, on 72 minutes Blackburn scored. Alan Mahon sent over a teasing corner which found the tall central defender, Martin Taylor, who glanced his header past the despairing dive of Wayne Brown.
Chester could have laid down and died at this point, but they fought back and they very nearly equalised. Steve Whitehall who had been denied earlier by a referees whistle this time found himself denied by a superb save from Friedal, the ball eventually fell to Paul Beesley who fired wide of the post. Then again, with eight minutes to go, after good work by Chester substitute Darren Wright down the left put in Whitehall, who fired over the bar from close range.
Blackburn then sealed their passage through to the next round with eight minutes to go. After a harshly awarded free kick for an alleged foul on the left touch line by Neil Fisher on Alan Mahon. From Dunn’s resulting free-kick found Bent unmarked, who then headed past the unlucky Wayne Brown in the Chester goal.
Though Blackburn were just about worthy of their victory, it was certainly cruel that Chester did not get a replay that their endeavours deserved. Chester manager Graham Barrow, although disappointed to lose reflected on the positive aspects of the day
“I thought my players were quite phenomenal and I couldn’t ask for anything more from them. Although I'm disappointed with the result, I am pleased with my players attitude. This performance can give us hope for the future”
Graeme Souness reflected on the game that it was a no-win situation for Blackburn and was just pleased to go through “ I was disappointed by our first-half performance, we weren’t at the races at all. I’m just glad that we never came unstook”
Attendance 15,223
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