Report

After a bye in the extra preliminary round, the Stan started their journey towards the FA Cup final at Wembley with a trip to Kendal Town in Cumbria. The tie contained all the ups & downs & tension & drama expected of an FA Cup tie. After dominating the 1st half & leading at half time, the Stan should have had the win sown up but 2 quick Kendal goals looked like they had lost until Hopper saved the day with his 100th minute penalty. There were 2 changes from Tuesday night’s draw at Silsden, with Errington replacing Hopper & Hornsby replacing Chrisp who was injured in the warmup. Stan A player George Riley made his 1st team competitive debut from the bench.

It was a hot & sunny day at Northern League Division 1 Kendal Town as the 2 teams met for the 1st time. The Stan started on the attack & in the 3rd minute a ball from a Giraud free kick was headed wide by Fil. There was more Stan pressure until Kendal’s 1st attack in the 7th minute was cleared. Giraud then had a shot blocked as the Stan pressure continued. 2 minutes later & Gascoigne passed to Giraud whose shot from just outside the home box went over the bar. The early pressure paid off in the 10th minute when the Stan went 1-0 up. Pearson sent a high ball into the Kendal box to the advancing Gascoigne who chipped the keeper & a defender & the ball bounced into the net. 2 minutes later Errington was held as he entered the home box, but the ball went to Djalo whose shot was blocked by the home keeper Bailey. The Stan kept attacking & in 17 minutes an Errington shot was blocked by Bailey & although Djalo got a close range rebound shot in it was blocked by Bailey & put out for a corner. The ball from the corner was initially cleared but it was sent back in, but Giraud’s shot was saved by Bailey & the ball went out for another corner. A Giraud free kick was cleared for a corner. & from it, Giraud supplied Errington, but he couldn’t get his shot in under pressure. In 21 minutes, Lister easily caught twice. A minute later & Gascoigne advanced into the home box but his shot under pressure was collected by Bailey. Both teams were trying to attack now & in 27 minutes Kendal shot over the Stan bar. 2 minutes later & an Errington shot was blocked followed by a Gascoigne ball into the 6-yard box being cleared. In 31 minutes, Lister had to get down to stop a Kendal shot. In 35 minutes, a joined-up Stan attack ended with Pearson supplying Djalo but his shot went over the bar. Djalo then won the ball, but both his shot & rebound shot were blocked. A minute later, a Gascoigne shot from outside the box went just wide. In 38 minutes, Errington advanced & crossed into the box, but Gascoigne sliced his shot high & wide. The Stan kept attacking & in 43 minutes a curving Djalo shot went high over the bar. 

The Stan should have been ahead by 2 or 3 goals so there was still everything to play for in the 2nd half. It started with Djalo having a shot blocked & although Giraud sent the ball back in Peason couldn’t make contact. There was then some Kendal pressure ending with a corner which was partially cleared by Shepherd followed by Lister punching clear. A minute later & Lister easily caught. Soon after, Pearson advanced & passed to Errington whose shot was not held by Bailey, but a defender managed to clear for a corner. From it, Djalo headed just over. The Stan kept the pressure on but were making hard work of it. In 59 minutes, there was a huge blow for the Stan when centre half Shepherd went down injured & had to be replaced by Riley. After a quieter period, the Stan attacked again but they couldn’t break down the home defence. In 68 minutes, the Stan defence stopped Kendal getting a shot in, but the ball was crossed back in again to the Stan box allowing unmarked Wilkinson to put the ball into the Stan net. In 70 minutes, a Giraud free kick into the home box was headed clear. In 72 minutes, Lister came out to head clear but Wilkinson sent the ball back & although it was blocked he sent it to unmarked Milburn who slotted home past Lister for 2-1 to Kendal. The Stan Army were stunned by the turnaround in events as the Stan went from looking comfortable winners to now chasing a draw. It was all mainly Stan pressure until the end of the match, but they were unable to get many clear efforts in & Lister had to catch in the 77th minute. The Stan kept getting blocked in the home box as subs Morris & Boothroyd refreshed the Stan attack. In 85 minutes, Morris shot just wide. The Stan shots & balls forward kept getting blocked & in 89 minutes Gascoigne shot wide. The Stan pressure continued as 7 minutes of added time started. There were 2 rare Kendal counter attacks in 94 & 95 minutes from which Lister just managed to collect the ball in time & then Kanda won the ball to stop the 2nd. It was then back to the Stan with Boothroyd & Morris trying their hardest. In 97 minutes, Kendal attacked but they couldn’t get their shot in. In the 98th minute, Morris was brought down in the home box & the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. The nerves were getting to everyone including penalty taker Hopper who had his 100th minute penalty saved but he blasted his rebound effort into the net for 2-2.

So, after a stressful end to the match, the Stan remain on the road to Wembley after securing a replay in the final seconds. The replay will take place on Tuesday night at Willow Park with extra time & penalties if required.

Stan Team: Lister; Evans (Y); Hornsby (Boothroyd 76); Kanda; Fil; Shepherd (Riley 60); Djalo (Morris 81); Gascoigne; Pearson; Giraud (Storey 81); Errington (Hopper 66). Subs not used: Chrisp. Attendance: 261. Man of the Match: Kane Evans.    

Kevin Mochrie