Tuesday 11th September 2007
FA Vase 1st Qualifying round replay

Images from this match are in the image gallery .

Christchurch FC v Cove FC

With Tom Hughes unwell, but with Steve Linpow and Dan Crutchley now available, manager Graham Kemp announced his starting line up:

1Alan Walker Harris
2Adam Costello
3Michael Green
4Steve Linpow
5Charlie Pierson
6Lloyd Jenvey (capt)
7Dave Midgley
8Dan Crutchley
9Robbie Woolner
10Marc Burrows
11Paul Manning

12Kevin Collins
14 Simon Atkins
15 Paul Rideout
16 Lewis Till
17 Colin Dand

Following their poor first half at Cove on Saturday the Christchurch supporters could be forgiven for thinking that Christchurch would come out with all guns blazing in this replay. However with less than a minute on the clock Steve Linpow allowed the ball to run through to a Cove forward who fortunately blazed his shot well wide of the target. Play went straight up the other end and Dave Midgley played Marc Burrows in but his shot was well saved by the Cove keeper. That set the tone for this match and play continued to go from end to end throughout the 90 entertaining minutes. On 8 minutes Cove attacked down the right and the resulting cross was headed narrowly wide of the far post. Cove, just as in the first game were looking dangerous at their set plays and 15 minutes in another high ball from a free kick saw another header just miss the goal. Cove were showing some neat build up play in midfield and their speed and quickness of the mark was catching the Christchurch midfield out. An unnecessary foul by Paul Manning saw the free kick again lifted high into the Christchurch penalty area only this time the ball was not cleared properly and as Alan Walker Harris saved at the feet of a Cove forward the ball ricocheted to their centre forward who thumped it into the net to give Cove a deserved lead. A minute later and Cove almost increased their lead when a through ball pulled the Christchurch defence apart and as the stiker tried to flick the ball over the keeper Alan Walker Harris reached high to pluck the ball out of the air. Almost half an hour gone and Christchurch struck back. Dave Midgley crossed for Marc Burrows to net at the far post. Five minutes later and Migdley again crossed for Burrows to outpace the Cove defence but this time his shot was well saved. The rest of the half saw chances created at both ends as both teams looked capable of winning this cup tie.

Half time: Christchurch 1 Cove 1

At the start of the second half Cove attacked down the right and one of their tricky fast forwards beat two defenders before skipper Lloyd Jenvey covered to put the ball out for a corner. The corner saw another shot from Cove which flew wide of the goal. Play switched to the other end when Dan Crutchley played a superb ball through to Marc Burrows whose pace saw him one on one with the advancing keeper. Burrows kept his head and coolly used his right foot to lift the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net to give Christchurch the lead for the first time in this tie. Cove counter attacked and Christchurch’s young 17 year old defender Adam Costello misjudged a cross but Walker Harris was behind him to make a fine save. Lloyd Jenvey hit a post with a header from Midgley’s cross before a Cove attack down the left wing saw some great inter passing before the eventual cross was volleyed into the net for the equaliser. An hour gone and still all to play for. On 68 minutes following a Christchurch corner a shot was charged down and a debatable penalty awarded to the home side. No question as to who was going to take the penalty as Marc Burrows grabbed the ball and despatched it with ease to complete his hat trick. Still the game continued end to end when on 81 minutes Robbie Woolner was fouled and from the free kick the Cove keeper fumbled the ball and Woolner claiming the goal as both he and a defender appeared to bundle it over the goal line. Surely Cove couldn’t come back from that? As Christchurch tried to run the clock down Cove attacked. Several attempts were unsuccessful until the 88th minute when Cove attacked down the right and when the ball was pulled back it was smashed home to make a nail biting finale. Still more chances for Cove with Christchurch playing the ball into the corners until 96 minutes. A Cove free kick led to their final shot which was again off target allowing the referee to blow his final whistle.

Credit must go to both sides for entertaining us over the two games. Neither team would give in but fortunately it is Christchurch who go through to play Amesbury away in the 2nd qualifying round on Saturday 22nd September 2007.

Final score: Christchurch 4 Cove 3


The Bridgeman