Report

After equalling the record set 77 years ago, the Stan narrowly bowed out of the FA Cup at the 2nd qualifying round to Trafford. Although newly relegated to tier 5, Trafford had started the season well & were never going to be walkovers. After coming from behind, it looked liked the Stan were going to earn a replay in Manchester but a late Trafford goal from a penalty ended their Wembley dream for this season. There were 2 changes from Tuesday’s narrow home defeat to Dunston with Shepherd & new loan signing Dan Savage replacing Gell & Chrisp. It was Leighton Hoppers 201st appearance & the other new loan signing, Dan Kemp, was cup tied.

On a windy afternoon, the kick off was delayed for 30 minutes due to the late arrival of the Trafford coach due to heavy traffic. Although the Stan had had most of the ball so far, the 1st real action happened in the 6th minute when a mistake by a Trafford defender allowed Savage to get the ball, but his diagonal shot went just wide. Soon after, a wind assisted diagonal Trafford ball into the box went well wide. In the 12th minute, a Stan attack was cleared & the ball was sent back in to the Trafford box towards Savage, but Beard the Trafford keeper got to it 1st. There was then an easy catch for Beard but only after the wind had initially blown the ball out of his hands. In 15 minutes, a Stan attack was cleared allowing a Trafford player to break but Milburn cleared the ball. A joined-up Stan attack after 20 minutes saw Gascoigne send a ball into the Trafford box but Giraud sliced his shot wide. Trafford then sent a ball from a free kick into the Stan box, but it went wide. In 22 minutes, an injured Milburn had to be replaced by Boothroyd. In 23 minutes, a Trafford player broke but sliced his shot wide when 1 on 1 with Lister. Trafford then attacked again but the shot went wide. Trafford then pressurised again & Lister had to make a great save. In 28 minutes, Giraud broke with the ball towards the Trafford box & was brought down just outside it. The Gascoigne free kick hit the wall & soon after Trafford shot wide at the other end. There was some more Trafford pressure in the 33rd minute when they shot over the Stan bar. The wind was making it difficult for both teams to play but in 36 minutes a Savage shot into a busy Trafford box was blocked. 2 minutes later & a free kick from Gascoigne was easily caught by Beard. The Stan attacked again before a Trafford diagonal shot went just wide. In the 41st minute, a Savage shot was blocked & the follow up effort by Kanda went over the Trafford bar. In the 45th minute a high wind assisted Trafford ball into the Stan 6-yard box was just put out for a corner. The ball from the resulting corner was blocked then cleared. In the 3rd of 3 added minutes, & a Trafford player cut into the Stan box on the left & his diagonal ball went across the goal & into the bottom right-hand corner of the Stan net for 0-1. It was a bad time to go behind although Trafford had had the better chances.

The Stan started the 2nd half chasing the game & after a quiet start it was Lister who had to get down & save in the 50th minute. A minute later & a Stan attack was blocked followed by Beard having to catch. In 54 minutes, a Giraud cross in from the left was headed by Walker, but the ball was caught by Beard. It was all Stan pressure as another Stan attack was blocked. In 61 minutes, Hopper shot wide. The Stan pressure finally paid off in the 69th minute when they equalised. A ball was sent into the Trafford box to Storey, who had only been on the pitch for 2 minutes, & although his shot was blocked his rebound effort went into the net. A minute later & Shepherd had to block for a corner from which the ball was cleared. It was then back to Stan pressure & a long ball from Walker reached Errington, but Beard got out to clear. In the 76th minute, a Trafford player appeared to dive in the box, but the referee awarded a penalty. Although Lister dived the correct way, the ball went under him & into the net for 1-2. After some mass handbags in the 78th minute, a Stan attack was cleared. Boothroyd then supplied sub Errington who crossed the ball into the box for the advancing Walker, but his spliced shot went over the bar. The Stan were now desperate to get an equaliser & in 83 minutes a Lister free kick from halfway was headed on but Beard caught the ball. Soon after, Beard had to catch the ball again. In 86 minutes, a Trafford free kick into the Stan box was headed away by both Kanda & sub Morris before a follow up shot was caught by Lister. In 89 minutes, Trafford threatened again when a high ball across the Stan goal saw Lister get back to save when it looked like the ball was going into the net. To the bewilderment of most spectators, Storey was then sent off & a free kick given to Trafford just outside the Stan box. The red card was apparently for dissent. The ball from the free kick went over the Stan bar & the rest of the 6 added minutes saw mainly continued pressure from the Stan. In 92 minutes, the Stan won a corner which Giraud took & sent the ball into the 6-yard box. Beard caught but couldn’t hold the ball but Boothroyd put his follow up effort over the bar. In 95 minutes, Beard got to a Lister long ball just before Boothroyd did. A minute later Kanda failed to clear allowing a Trafford player to win the ball. With only Lister to beat, he shot just wide. The Stan had 1 more attack before the final whistle was blown.So the Stan failed to reach the 3rd qualifying round for the 1st time & are back in league action when they visit West Auckland on Tuesday night.

Stan Team: Lister; Fil; Hornsby (Y) (Morris 83); Kanda; Milburn (Boothroyd 22); Shepherd; Walker; Gascoigne (Storey (R) 67); Hopper (Errington 67); Giroud; Savage. Sub unused: Chrisp. Attendance: 473. Man of the Match: Joe Shepherd.  

Kevin Mochrie

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