Tow Law Town (Away): FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round: Saturday 20th Aug 2011

Result: Tow Law Town 1 Marske United 2     Scorers: Chris McGill, Karl Charlton

Having won their opening day fixture at Ironworks Road, Marske travelled to Tow Law for the second time in the space of a week, this time in the opening round of the world’s oldest cup competition.

United made three changes from the team that gained a creditable 1-1 draw against league champions Spennymoor Town.  Anthony Ormerod and Karl Charlton returned in place of the unavailable Rob Jones and John Burton, whilst Benn Thompson was given his first start of the season up front in preference to Danny Brunskill who was rested amongst the substitutes.

The match started in a similar vein to the previous weeks encounter as Marske had the best of the opening exchanges, enjoying plenty of possession.  Chris McGill just failed to make it onto the end of a Charlton cross after just 30 seconds after the winger was sent free down the right flank by John Seaton.

Charlton was again sent through clear into the box on 12 minutes but slid a shot wide of the far post with his weaker right foot from 15 yards.

Tow Law were dealt a big blow on 14 minutes when Thomas Watkinson came out worse in an aerial challenge with Ormerod, landing awkwardly on his arm.  He was helped from the field having suffered a dislocated shoulder and suspected broken collar bone, and was swiftly replaced by Lee Hamilton before being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

United’s pressure told on 24 minutes when they took the lead from a well worked free kick taken by Adam Wheatley.  Thompson directed a strong header towards the far post where McGill arrived to nod home from close range.

Despite playing on the opposite side of the pitch that he’s used to, Charlton was enjoying plenty of the ball and went close again to doubling Marske’s lead on 37 minutes after being sent clean through by Steve Cochrane with just goalkeeper Stephen Robinson to beat.  He coolly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper, only to see his effort cannon back off the post.

Marske were also forced into an early substitution of their own shortly before half time as Thompson hobbled off to be replaced by last Saturday’s match winner Craig Skelton.

Half-time:  Tow Law Town 0 v 1 Marske United

Lee Donachie replaced Ormerod for the start of the second half, as the visitors made a slight reshuffle with Seaton pushing up into midfield and Donachie taking up the right full back position.

The Lawyers made a good start to the second period, Jonathan Hewitson going desperately close to equalising within the first couple of minutes.  He looped a shot up and over Jon McDonald from 35 yards out, only to see his effort hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce to safety.

Tow Law kept up the initial pressure but were hit on the break on 51 minutes as Skelton held the ball up before sending the overlapping Dom Gamble away on the left.  Having made it to the byline he pulled the ball back to Charlton who made no mistake with a low effort from the edge of the penalty area.

But Tow Law battled to stay in the game and pulled a goal back on 70 minutes when a dubious free kick was awarded just outside the left hand corner of the box and was curled straight into the goal by a delighted Andrew Thompson.

Still irate from the original free kick decision, Marske boss Paul Burton was sent from the dugout by the match referee following his protests.

Having worked their way back into the game, Tow Law pressed for a second goal but left themselves extremely vulnerable at the rear with Marske going close to catching them on the counter attack on several occasions.

McGill sent Charlton racing through towards goal only to be denied by a splendid saving tackle from Luke Thompson, and Skelton followed up with a shot straight at Robinson.

Then a minute later Seaton did well to win a free kick on the edge of the box and after Charlton’s effort was blocked by the wall, Skelton forced the home keeper into another good save.

Both teams were now intent on attacking and McDonald had to produce two good pieces of handling before McGill had a chance to put the game to bed at the other end on 77 minutes after beating the offside trap to latch onto a Charlton pass.  With just Robinson to get past he decided to try and go around the home goalie but took the ball too wide and eventually ran it out of play.

Derek Bradley replaced Charlton on 83 minutes and burst through with his first few touches before being blocked, and four minutes from the end Marske forward Craig Skelton ran off celebrating somewhat prematurely when he lobbed the ball over Robinson towards an empty goal, only to see his effort bounce in the six yard box and hit the crossbar.

Full-time:  Tow Law Town 1 v 2 Marske United

Marske should really have had the game sewn up by half-time, and fortunately defended well enough to weather the home side’s brief fight back early in the second half to set up an away tie against Whitley Bay who came from a goal down to beat Bishop Auckland 2-1 at Hillheads.

Teams:

Tow Law Town:  Robinson, Hewitson, Hall (Harrison), Watkinson (Hamilton), L.Thompson, Robson, Waters (Henderson), A.Thompson, Scott, Nixon, Davison.  Not Used:  Dial, Anderson.

Marske United:  McDonald, Seaton, Gamble, Ormerod (Donachie), Roberts, Wheatley, Gell, Cochrane, Thompson (Skelton), McGill, Charlton (Bradley).  Not Used:  Brunskill, Robson.

Attendance:  106

Referee:  Dean Hulme (Cramlington)