12th November 2008 Northern League Cup 2nd Round - West Allotment Celtic 1 South Shields 0

West Allotment Celtic: 1) K.Dryden. 2) K.Hughes. 3) M.Walmsley. 4) A.Johnson. 5) L.Atkin. 6) S.Locker (c). 7) M.Minto. 8) L.York. 9) G.Taylor. 10) K.Douglas. 11) D.Patterson.

Subs. 12) T.Vickers. 14) B.Richardson. 15) P.Gibbs. 16) B.Dawson. 17) D.Colvin.

South Shields: 1) A.Clark. 2) J.Oates. 3) D.O'Brien. 4) M.Rodenby 5) K.Jarvis. 6) L.O'Donovan (c). 7) G.Reay. 8) C.Ellison. 9) W.Crew. 10) J.Wightman. 11) A.Davis.

Subs. 12) S.Parkin. 13) G.Irving. 14) T.Coe. 15) S.Fitzpatrick. 16) C.Hackworth.

Just 6 weeks earlier Shields paid a visit to West Allotment in a league match, and on that occasion fell victim to a late goal after playing pretty well throughout. This time it's a league cup match and Shields' last chance of going for silverware this season.

As in the first game, Shields started strongly and made all of the early running. As early as the 4th minute Willie Crew fired over the top following a good run down the left by Ash Davis, though on 7 minutes Duncan O'Brien needed to be alert to follow up Andy Clark's save with a last ditch tackle. In the 14th minute Shields came forward again with crew down the left getting a cross in for Jonny Wightman, whose shot was over the bar.

It had been an encouraging start from Shields with only the occasional threat coming from the home side. In the 18th minute the West Allotment keeper fumbled the ball which was cleared for a corner. This was taken by Craig Ellison but led to nothing. There was a scare for Shields in the 24th minute when O'Brien slipped and this allowed Taylor a chance of a shot but he fired over from 20 yards. A couple of minutes later Ellison received a yellow card for a tackle from behind.
York had a shot deflected for a corner for the home side in the 28th minute and from the flag kick on the left, Atkin had a free header but this flew narrowly wide of the post. Within seconds York tried his luck from 30 yards but his effort sailed over the bar. In the 37th minute Wightman made his way down the left side and got a cross in to Lee O'Donovan but the captain's shot was narrowly over the bar with the keeper well beaten. As half time approached James Oates gave away a free kick in a dangerous position out on the left. This was taken by Johnson and the ball reached Taylor in the box but he fired just wide of the post. Overall still a good first half from Shields. :o)

The second half opened up quietly with no real chances being created, though Shields had a free kick in the 54th minute after Ash Davis had been brought down. This was taken by Karl Jarvis but was cleared easily by the home defence. In the 58th minute the home side made a substitution with Vickers replacing Taylor. On 62 minutes Duncan O'Brien was brought down and a free kick was awarded. Before the kick was taken West Allotment made another change, bringing on Dawson in place of York. The free kick was eventually taken by Jarvis with a ball to O'Donovan but his high cross was gathered by Dryden in the West Allotment goal.

West Allotment then started to apply pressure on Shields and in the 65th minute Minto shot high over the bar from 20 yards, then within seconds O'Donovan gave a free kick away but this was well headed clear by Davis. The home side broke out of defence quickly in the 68th minute and a long crossfield ball to the left saw michael Rodenby totally outpaced in the chase for the ball. the cross was put over and found Patterson unmarked at the back post and he fired into the net to give West Allotment the lead, though it was barely merited. :o(

Shields immediately came back and on 72 minutes Ellison put in a cross from the right but Wightman's glanceing header was just wide of the far post. 5 minutes later Shields made a substitution, bringing on Tony Coe in place of Willie Crew. Seconds later the Mariners were back on the attack as Davis broke down the left and crossed over to Jarvis on the right and his ball inside was blasted over the top by O'Donovan. The home side then made another change when they took off Johnson and replaced him with Richardson in the 78th minute.

With 9 minutes remaining Lee O'Donovan was injured and following lengthy treatment, had to leave the field. His place was taken by Simon Fitzpatrick. Craig Ellison was fouled and the free kick was taken by Rodenby on the left but this was easily gathered by the keeper. In the 85th minute Locker collected himself a yellow card after firstly bringing down Wightman and then deciding to kick the ball away as the home side resorted to running the clock down.

As time slipped away it was Shields who were still doing all the pressing to try to get back on level terms and force extra time, but the home defence held firm. As the final whistle went it was disappointing that another game had gone where Shields certainly deserved something from it but came away empty handed. :o(