Sat 18th Aug 2007
e.on FA Cup Extra Premliminary Round
Sponsored by Mick Eldridge
TAFC First team 2-1 Ruislip Manor
TAFC goals: Trevor Gibbs, Greg Shaw
Despite missing a number of key players we progressed to the next round of the FA Cup through first half goals from Trevor Gibbs and Greg Shaw, A goal right on time from Ruislip nearly gave us a late scare but we held on for a 2-1 win.
Full report
The magic of the FA Cup came to the Grass Roots Stadium on Saturday when in front of our biggest crowd of the season of 102 we progressed through to the next round with a hard fought win over a tough Ruislip Manor side. It was not a pretty game and we were far from our best, but we showed a different side to our game that may hopefully put us in good stead for the long season ahead. We were without the spine of the side with David Foskett, skipper and defensive lynchpin, and Ian Wilkinson, midfield playmaker, unavailable and Vinnie Iannone, leading scorer, injured. Kerry Gordon, proudly kept the captains armband for the second match in succession, and there was a welcome start for Trevor Gibbs after a year out through injury in the unfamiliar role of centre forward. With Ali Thornley also not available Phil Otum made his first start of the season on the right of midfield.
With a number of changes made to key positions and with a tricky wind and slippery conditions it was perhaps not surprising we started slowly. The crisp fluid movements that we have put together in the 3 previous games were missing as passes went astray and moves broke down. Ruislip had lost their 2 opening games, which included a 4-0 thrashing at Aylesbury Vale, but they are strong and hard working and made life difficult by keeping a high defensive line and compressing the midfield making space hard to find.
It was hardly classic stuff, made worse by a rather whistle happy Referee, but it was very competitive and we had to be defensively sound against a muscular Ruislip side with 2 dangerous forwards. The visitors were having the better of the play and Chris Salmon had to be quick to deny Thompson. We were looking solid without creating much going forward, but Steve Hutchins managed to get the better of a defender and lob the ball past the keeper but wide of the net. It was Steve Hutchins again in the 21st minute who made the break through when he capitalised on a bad back pass to round the keeper, realise the angle was tight and cleverly and unselfishly pull the ball back to Trevor Gibbs to tap the ball into the empty net. It was a very welcome sight to see Trevor score his first goal in the First Team since January 2006 after suffering with a bad injury.
Two minutes later Aaron McLeish, looking somewhat offside, burst through the middle as our defence opened up like the Red Sea but before he could capitalise on the opportunity Kerry Gordon made a magnificent tackle to rob Ruislips big forward of the chance of grabbing the equaliser. It was a typical whole hearted tackle from Flash who formed a very effective partnership with Paul Aldridge in the centre of our defence, ably supported by Chris Salmon and Ty North at full back. Our set pieces had been slipshod and again we seemed to have made a mess of a short corner in the 27th minute. But Steve Hutchins, who was far from fully fit, rescued the situation and then when under considerable pressure from the defender bamboozled the visitors defence, who were expecting a far post cross, by slipping a superb pass inside the area to an unmarked Greg Shaw who coolly slotted the ball past the keeper. It was the 19 year olds first of what will hopefully be many goals for the club and gave us a priceless 2-0 lead.
Ruislip must have been a bit bemused to have had so much of the ball and yet be 2-0 down after only a quarter of the match had been played, but from our point of view it was great to see us be ruthless in front of goal and again put us in pole position so early in the game. But Ruislip were not going lie down and Thompson shot across the goal from the left and then Craig Ringsell rushed off his line to block an effort from McLeish. Robbie Duncan had a half chance when a high ball fell to him in space on the edge of the area, but it wouldnt drop quickly enough and under pressure he sliced it well wide. The Referee was unfortunately torchering the pea in his whistle which didnt add to the flow of the game then he decided his notebook needed filling up as he booked 3 players towards the end of the first half then another 5 after the break in a game which had some meaty challenges but was by no means dirty. After going 2 goals ahead any expectation that we would take the sting out of the game didnt materialise as Ruislip ended the half strongly with a dangerous cross running right across our goal area with thankfully no one there to capitalise on it. Ty North tried to get in on the action with a free kick that must have been 40 yards from goal, but he was not far away as his trusty left foot sizzled a shot into the side netting. At the break we held a precious 2 goal advantage, but we knew we were far from home and dry.
The pattern of play continued in the same vein after the restart with Ruislip attacking and us defending well but finding it difficult to generate any of our normal rhythm. A sloppy free kick from us presented McLeish with a shooting chance, but the angle was tight and his effort went across goal. Only 2 minutes had been played into the 2nd half and a minute later Ruislip had their best chance to get back in the game. For once our defence faltered as a Ruislip player got behind us to pull the ball back to the oncoming Hunt, but from a great position the visitors captain fired over the bar. The game went into scrappy mode again with lots of stoppages for fouls and yellow cards and the game hardly flowed. Chris Salmon did head in a super free kick from Dave Whicker but the Referee was still pushing the defensive wall back so it was disallowed. A few minutes earlier Greg Shaw nearly doubled his tally from a fine cross from the right by Phil Otum but the defender did well to deflect the ball over the bar.
Ruislip were pushing forward more and more but we stood solid and when any half chances fell their way one of our defenders would get a block in or clear the danger. Unable to break us down Ruislip resorted to long shots hoping Craig Ringsell would be troubled by the slippery conditions, but fortunately he held onto the ball. Danny Gray and Matt Wort came on to add some fresh legs and the former took advantage of a big gap in the visitors defence to find Greg Shaw unmarked, but the youngsters ambitious chip from a long way out was easily fielded by the Ruislip keeper.
After nearly 90 minutes the game seemed to heading for a 2-0 win for us when Aaron McLeish glanced home a cross into the far corner to give his team a ray of hope. This caused a bit of late unwanted nervousness amongst our supporters especially when Ruislip were awarded a free outside our area. Fortunately Craig Ringsell managed to deal with it and there was a sigh of relief when for once we were pleased to hear the Referees whistle.
Not a vintage performance but bearing in mind Ruislip were a tough challenge and we were without some key players. But there were some pleasing aspects such as being able to win when you are not at your best, taking the few chances that come our way and defending well and restricting the opposition to very few scoring opportunities. They will be aspects of our game that we will inevitably need to call upon in the many games ahead. In the Preliminary Round we are at home to fellow Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side Hertford Town who beat Cogenhoe United 1-0, the game taking place on Saturday 1 September 2007. As for the men of the match, I would nominate our defensive quartet of Chris, Flash, Aldo and Ty and keeper Craig as well as Hutchy who despite feeling less than 100% created both goals.
One final note, Graham Poll was in the crowd with a journalist and photographer from the Daily Express. There are no guarantees, but we may appear in Monday's edition.
Athletic: Craig Ringsell, Chris Salmon, Ty North, Paul Aldridge, Kerry Gordon (Flash), Steve Hutchins, Phil Otum (Danny Gray 63), Dave Whicker, Trevor Gibbs, Greg Shaw, Rob Duncan (Matt Wort 68). Subs not used: Gary White, Terry Phillips, Vinnie Iannone. Goals: Trevor Gibbs (21) Greg Shaw (27).
Ruislip Manor: D Usher, S Arhin, D Campbell (G Mapes 45), J Bailey, T Allison, S Simmons, K Hunt (Capt), J Christian, M Thompson (C Henrey 66), A McLeish, C White (J Omisore 81). Sub not used: M Walker. Goal: Aaron McLeish (90)
Crowd: 102