Saturday 21st April 2001, Nationwide Conference
A goal in each half was enough for Southport to consolidate their position in the top four of the Nationwide Conference, with an easy victory over relegated Hednesford Town.
But as is seemingly the case these days at Haigh Avenue, attention was focused on what was going on off the field more than on it. Southport’s ex-Liverpool player is rumoured to have played his last game for the Sandgrounder’s, following a bust up with club chairman Charlie Clapham, over his refusal to travel to the clubs Easter Monday trip to Dover despite being injured. After the game manager Mark Wright refused to be drawn on the speculation, which surrounded the talented midfielder.
The game itself was the usual end of season encounter. Hednesford, although mathematically, they could stay up, they would have needed to win all their remaining fixtures. A tall order, for a side that had won only five league games all season.
The opening periods of the game saw Southport enjoy the lion’s share of the possession but were unable to turn this into a comfortable lead. When the first goal did come it was gift wrapped by the Hednesford midfielder, Scott Goodwin who attempted a back pass to his keeper, but failed to notice Southport’s Ian Arnold who had remained up the field from an earlier attack. Arnold with only the keeper to beat despatched his shot past the goalkeeper with ease, after only eight minutes of the game gone.
This should have been the springboard for Southport to win handsomely but despite constant pressure Southport could not score, against better opposition they may have rued these missed opportunities.
With their first real attack of note Hednesford could have equalised after 19 minutes. Southport keeper Steve Dickenson came for a cross, which he dropped at the feet of Mick Norbury, who could only overhead kick his shot over the bar.
Four minutes later, Ian Arnold nearly made it number 14 for the season when he beat the offside trap but he could only chip the ball into the hands of the on-rushing keeper.
With half-time fast approaching Southport were nearly left to rue not converting their possession into goals, when Hednesford stepped forward for the first time in the game with any conviction. Following a speculative Paul Bagshaw effort on 38 minutes, which went wide of the post. Four minutes later Mick Norbury headed over the bar, after a great cross from Tom Griffiths.
The change of ends did not bring about a change of fortune for Hednesford. The second forty-five minutes of the game was very much the same as the first half with Southport putting the Hednesford goal under constant pressure.
On 58 minutes, Simon Parke, tested the Hednesford keepers’ reflexes with a snap shot from the right side of the box, which the keeper was more than equal to. A minute later substitute Stuart Whitaker, showed good control as he crossed a ball over to the back post but Chris Lane could not steady himself and he fired high and wide of the crossbar.
Southport were getting closer and closer with every passing minute. None more so than Simon Parke who rattled the Hednesford cross bar with a header following a right wing cross from Whittaker. Neil Grayston’s follow up shot ended up in the home terracing behind the goal.
Chances kept on coming without much luck. The home supporters at this point were beginning to feel restless at the prospect at the possibility of dropping more points at home if they didn’t convert there chances. These frustration were not alleviated on 76 minutes when following a long goal kick by Dickenson, which cleared the Hednesford back line, put through Simon Parke who could seemingly do nothing else but score. Parke put his shot wide of the post.
Three minutes later Parke made amends for his earlier miss when out of nothing he converted an Ian Arnold cross, to put the game out of the grasp of Hednesford. Unfortunately for Parke this was to be his last meaningful contribution as he was replaced a minute later by young reserve striker Ben O’bong, a cult hero in the making on the evidence of the chants of the home faithful prior to his introduction.
The result was never in doubt after Parke’s goal but it wouldn’t be a Southport game without a late palpitation inducing moment for the Southport fans. This came with two minutes to go when, following Scott Bonsall’s cross, Leon Brown headed over the crossbar, but from my vantage point in the stands the Southport goalkeeper looked like he had got a touch on to the ball. The referee awarded a goal kick, which in all fairness was not disputed by the Hednesford players.
A clearly disappointed Hednesford Town manager Gary Lambert was not available after the game but Mark Wright was clearly delighted with three points which now sets them up nicely for the game a fortnight today with Dagenham & Redbridge which could decide who finishes third in the Nationwide Conference.
Mark Wright insisted that, “ I know it was not the best game of football of the season – Hednesford came to shut up shop and it was up to us to open the game up.”
Sadly for Hednesford this result, as well as results elsewhere condemned them to the an uncertain future, due to their geographical position and the uncertainty as to who else will go down. It is not sure in which division they will be playing in next season.
* This report previously appeared on the now defunct website Pyramid Football
Sunday, April 22, 2001
Saturday, April 7, 2001
Chester City 0 Canvey Island 2 (Agg) 0-4
FA Trophy Semi Final – Second Leg, Saturday 7th April 2001
Two goals were enough to ease Canvey Island through to their first FA Trophy final against a disappointing Chester City at the Deva stadium today. City certainly knew what to expect from Canvey, after last weeks first encounter, as well as from the reputation they have earned from their previous cup encounters this season.
The overnight rain which had rolled in across the Welsh hills put this game in some doubt, unfortunately for Chester the game was given the go ahead. It has been a disappointing month for Chester both on and off the field, and the uncertainty over the ownership of the club is without doubt beginning to take its toll. The frustrations of the supporters are aimed at one man the American owner Terry Smith, who resigned as a director in midweek leaving his father as the sole director of the club.
The elements certainly played their part in the game and with Chester losing the toss; they faced the prospect of kicking into the wind in the second half. Canvey had the better of the opening exchanges and after eight minutes Gregson tried his luck from distance but Chester’s England semi-professional international goalkeeper Wayne Brown was more than equal too. Two minutes later, Canvey’s Steve Tilston worked a quickly taken free kick over the bar.
Chester turned defence into attack on the quarter hour mark, when after good work between Neil Fisher and Matt Woods, Fisher whipped in a right wing cross but defender Martin Lancaster could only head over the bar. Three minutes later, the breakthrough goal that Chester was striving for almost came. Scot Ruscoe used his pace to break free down the left, he delivered a pass to Steve Whitehall who was denied by a last ditch tackle by Ben Cheenery, four yards from the goal line.
With a two-goal deficit to claw back from the first leg Chester pushed men forward in search of the elusive goal that would make in-roads into the game. This was to prove their undoing, with men committed to attack, the impressive Mark Stimson took possession of the ball just inside his own half and ran at the stretched Chester back line. A one-two between Wayne Vaughan and Mark Stimson played in Steve Parmenter, who fired an unstoppable shot past Brown, with 29 minutes of the game gone.
The odds were now seemingly insurmountable now for Chester and it could have been much worse a minute later, if Wayne Brown in the Chester goal had not been equal to Tilston’s speculative thirty-yard effort.
At half time, the home faithful voiced their frustrations at the players, who left the field to a chorus of boos. At least it was a respite for the embattled Chester chairman, Terry Smith. In a bid to change things around Chester City boss, Graham Barrow introduced the lively Jimmy Haarhof and switched to a flat back four.
Two minutes into the second half Chester City were almost back in the game. A long kick by Wayne Brown caught the wind and carried over the Canvey defence. Steve Ward pushed the ball past his own keeper who had advanced to collect the ball. In the scramble that ensued Chester’s Steve Whitehall found the ball stuck under his feet and was unable to work a shot on target. Canvey’s goalkeeper Ashley Harrison was a relieved man once the ball was in his possession.
Chester huffed and puffed but they could not break down the resolute Canvey back line. On 54 minutes Chris Blackburn fired over following good work by Haarhof. Two minutes later Blackburn turned provider for Steve Whitehall whose volley was saved by keeper Ashley Harrison.
With the chance of glory seemingly gone the final nail in the coffin came on the hour mark. Out of nothing, Mark Stimson capped a marvellous performance with along range effort, which took a deflection past the stranded Chester keeper and into the net. With a four goal cushion the Chester faithful had seen enough and departed in droves. Those that stayed vented further scorn on Chairman Terry Smith.
After the game a bitterly a bitterly disappointed Chester boss Graham Barrow reflected on what might have been. “ I felt we lost it down there to be honest – but the disappointing thing for me is because we have just lost a semi final. March has been a bad time for us ” There was nothing but praise from the Chester boss for Canvey for the professionalism shown through both ties.
Canvey boss Jeff King praised the spirit shown by his players and looked forward to the clubs first major final. “ Before the game I wished the tie had finished last week – but credit to lads they were magnificent today”
The remarkable rise of Canvey Island continues at a pace. After a remarkable season in both the FA Trophy and FA Cup that has seen many a loftier side cast aside, they can now reflect on a final at Villa Park. It is probably with a tinge of regret that they will not be able to run out at Wembley. But wherever the final is held one thing is certain Canvey wont be there just to make the numbers up, they have every chance of putting their name on the trophy. The very least they deserve after this seasons exploits.
ATT: 2,647
* This report previously appeared on the now defunct website Pyramid Football
Two goals were enough to ease Canvey Island through to their first FA Trophy final against a disappointing Chester City at the Deva stadium today. City certainly knew what to expect from Canvey, after last weeks first encounter, as well as from the reputation they have earned from their previous cup encounters this season.
The overnight rain which had rolled in across the Welsh hills put this game in some doubt, unfortunately for Chester the game was given the go ahead. It has been a disappointing month for Chester both on and off the field, and the uncertainty over the ownership of the club is without doubt beginning to take its toll. The frustrations of the supporters are aimed at one man the American owner Terry Smith, who resigned as a director in midweek leaving his father as the sole director of the club.
The elements certainly played their part in the game and with Chester losing the toss; they faced the prospect of kicking into the wind in the second half. Canvey had the better of the opening exchanges and after eight minutes Gregson tried his luck from distance but Chester’s England semi-professional international goalkeeper Wayne Brown was more than equal too. Two minutes later, Canvey’s Steve Tilston worked a quickly taken free kick over the bar.
Chester turned defence into attack on the quarter hour mark, when after good work between Neil Fisher and Matt Woods, Fisher whipped in a right wing cross but defender Martin Lancaster could only head over the bar. Three minutes later, the breakthrough goal that Chester was striving for almost came. Scot Ruscoe used his pace to break free down the left, he delivered a pass to Steve Whitehall who was denied by a last ditch tackle by Ben Cheenery, four yards from the goal line.
With a two-goal deficit to claw back from the first leg Chester pushed men forward in search of the elusive goal that would make in-roads into the game. This was to prove their undoing, with men committed to attack, the impressive Mark Stimson took possession of the ball just inside his own half and ran at the stretched Chester back line. A one-two between Wayne Vaughan and Mark Stimson played in Steve Parmenter, who fired an unstoppable shot past Brown, with 29 minutes of the game gone.
The odds were now seemingly insurmountable now for Chester and it could have been much worse a minute later, if Wayne Brown in the Chester goal had not been equal to Tilston’s speculative thirty-yard effort.
At half time, the home faithful voiced their frustrations at the players, who left the field to a chorus of boos. At least it was a respite for the embattled Chester chairman, Terry Smith. In a bid to change things around Chester City boss, Graham Barrow introduced the lively Jimmy Haarhof and switched to a flat back four.
Two minutes into the second half Chester City were almost back in the game. A long kick by Wayne Brown caught the wind and carried over the Canvey defence. Steve Ward pushed the ball past his own keeper who had advanced to collect the ball. In the scramble that ensued Chester’s Steve Whitehall found the ball stuck under his feet and was unable to work a shot on target. Canvey’s goalkeeper Ashley Harrison was a relieved man once the ball was in his possession.
Chester huffed and puffed but they could not break down the resolute Canvey back line. On 54 minutes Chris Blackburn fired over following good work by Haarhof. Two minutes later Blackburn turned provider for Steve Whitehall whose volley was saved by keeper Ashley Harrison.
With the chance of glory seemingly gone the final nail in the coffin came on the hour mark. Out of nothing, Mark Stimson capped a marvellous performance with along range effort, which took a deflection past the stranded Chester keeper and into the net. With a four goal cushion the Chester faithful had seen enough and departed in droves. Those that stayed vented further scorn on Chairman Terry Smith.
After the game a bitterly a bitterly disappointed Chester boss Graham Barrow reflected on what might have been. “ I felt we lost it down there to be honest – but the disappointing thing for me is because we have just lost a semi final. March has been a bad time for us ” There was nothing but praise from the Chester boss for Canvey for the professionalism shown through both ties.
Canvey boss Jeff King praised the spirit shown by his players and looked forward to the clubs first major final. “ Before the game I wished the tie had finished last week – but credit to lads they were magnificent today”
The remarkable rise of Canvey Island continues at a pace. After a remarkable season in both the FA Trophy and FA Cup that has seen many a loftier side cast aside, they can now reflect on a final at Villa Park. It is probably with a tinge of regret that they will not be able to run out at Wembley. But wherever the final is held one thing is certain Canvey wont be there just to make the numbers up, they have every chance of putting their name on the trophy. The very least they deserve after this seasons exploits.
ATT: 2,647
* This report previously appeared on the now defunct website Pyramid Football
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