GRAFT OVER FINESSE
This wasn’t a classic cup tie for the football purists. Rather, it was a game of graft and effort over style and finesse.
Two weeks ago Whickham produced a backs-to-the-wall defensive display only to lose 1-0 to Consett. Last night it was role reversal, this time they dominated much of the game and it was Jarrow who had to defend for their lives.
Eventually Whickham got the decisive goal, thanks to a hotly-disputed penalty, but the visitors came within seconds of taking the tie into extra time.
Referee Michael Andrews gave a penalty in the 89th minute for a foul in the area as one of Jarrow’s defenders slid in to try and get the ball, making contact with a Whickham player. Veteran Andrew Bulford stepped up to hit the spot kick straight down the middle to send the hosts into the next round.
It took Whickham about 10 minutes to get into their stride, with Leepaul Scroggins running the show in midfield for most of the game. Despite the height of the Jarrow centre backs, Whickham’s front two of Steven Aiston and Dale Burrell won most of the aerial contests in the Jarrow box,
They looked especially threatening at corners – of which they won a hatful – but they failed to make the most of them.
Their best chances were in the 16th minute when Jarrow keeper Jak Wells tipped a Scott Martindale header over the bar and then in the 44th minute Jarrow left back Nicholas Little booted a Chad Collins shot off the line.
Whickham kept the pressure on in the second half and exerted plenty of effort without testing Wells on too many occasions.
Jarrow – playing their first FA Vase match – had their chances, and some good ones too, either side of half-time. In the 41st minute Dean Martin set Jonathan Higham away. His shot was the best of the game up to that point, with Whickham keeper Joe Clayton able to parry it away from danger.
Eight minutes after the break substitute James Wilson hit a free kick to the far post, but Sam Attewell couldn’t get a clean strike on the ball and hit it wide. Two minutes later Wilson set up another chance, this time freeing up Kris Allen only for the midfielder to screw his shot well wide.
Their defensive work wasn’t quite as assured as Whickham’s had been at Consett, but they did just enough to keep Whickham at bay. They couldn’t make the most of their chances at the other end.
For the last 15 or so minutes of the match, the game became more fractious with a series of fouls, pushes, kicks and shirt pulling that could have led to a few cards being shown and everyone seemed to be set for extra time. The controversial penalty decision put paid to that.
Whickham 1 Jarrow 0 – FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Mike Snowdon