FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round

25 October 2008

SuperCalvin’sflyingheadersetsupHistonreplay

by Ken Milgate

Durham City 2 Johnston 59, Calvin Smith 90

Histon FC 2      Simpson 36, 84

City left it until the last minute of normal playing time to gain their just reward for some excellent football when Calvin Smith flung himself at a John Toft right-wing cross to equalize with a flying header and book another long midweek trip south and the chance to meet League opponents in the First Round Proper.

City had a strong wind behind them for the first half but it was Gavin Cogdon’s close control on 5minutes that saw him weave a path to the edge of the visitors’ box before hitting a shot which was deflected for a corner.

The visitors took longer to register their first goal attempt when Jack Midson hardly threatened Craig Turns with a cushioned header from a Gareth Gwillim right-wing cross twelve minutes later.

Steven Richardson was narrowly off target with a fierce drive from distance before Danny Naisbitt needed two grabs to keep out the Tommy English free-kick after the keeper had handled outside his box in combat with Calvin Smith.

On the half-hour both sides had a chance: English’s shot was only parried by the busy Naisbitt and he was only a tad quicker to the rebound than Richardson; Midson then chased a through ball only to shoot wide of the mark.

English and Richardson shot wide and forced a fingertip save for a corner respectively as City continued to take the game to their opponents; however, it was Histon who took the lead, much against the run of play, when Josh Simpson slotted home a low drive when a posse of home defenders and away forwards seemed to form a line.

On 39minutes Richardson was forced from the field of play nursing an injured shoulder to be substituted by Adam Johnston.

City were faced with the strong wind themselves in the second half, but again it was Cogdon who on the ground forced a low save from Naisbitt as he cut in from the left.

With the hour mark fast approaching, City drew level when Johnston fired home a peach of a free-kick over the defensive wall into the corner of the net.

A minute later skipper Stephen Harrison cleared a Damian Reeves goal bound effort off the line, the same striker giving Turns a comfortable save a further minute later.

With a quarter of an hour remaining Johnston went close to putting City in front when his shot on goal lacked sufficient curl to deceive Naisbitt.

On 82minutes John Toft came on for Cogdon, but the wind proved City’s downfall two minutes later when Simpson bagged  his second with a low drive when he was the first to react to a wind-returned clearance.

The goal was a cruel setback to City who had played much the better football in the second half and yet found themselves six minutes away from FA Cup exit ….. before the dramatic eleventh-hour equalizer.

The wind most certainly affected play on both sides, but City need not fear the replay; in fact, it is testimony to their bristling confidence that they never looked like accepting defeat despite the superiority of their opponents in terms of league status.

Who dares, wins: City have courage and self-belief enough to be in with a shout of victory against the Stutes on Tuesday next.

Durham City – Turns, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Dixon, Laws, Calvin Smith, Bell (Richard Smith 88), Richardson (Johnston 39), Cogdon (Toft 82), English

Subs not used – Fisher, Duke, Morris, Jake Richardson

Yellow Cards – English, Laws

Man of the match – Stephen Harrison (for inspirational leadership both in defence and attack)

Histon FC – Naisbitt, Mitchel-King, Langstone, Reeves (Andrews 80), Barker (Wright 65), Midson, Knight-Percival, Oyebanjo, Simpson, Gwillim (Okay 73), Ada