Kidsgrove Athletic 2 Chasetown 3…I’m not normally a League Cup person, preferring league games to cup ties whatever the competition. But if the dramas served up in my two flirtations with the Doodson Sport Cup this season are any guide I’ve probably changed my opinion of the type of competition in which many sides rest key players. Last month in the First Round, Romulus and Stafford Rangers served up a dramatic 2-2 draw, which Rangers won on penalties. Tonight, in the Second Round, Kidsgrove and Chasetown served up a thrilling contest full of commitment, goals and controversy. Penalties became a distinct possibility as Kidsgrove fought back from 3-0 down to come within a foot of forcing another penalty shoot-out.
While Stafford Rangers headed to Loughborough Dynamo tonight (and lost 4-2), I headed for the Seddon Stadium, a ground that became familiar in 2008. Following the sad death of the legendary Peter Hallett, my stint as a roving non-league reporter for The Sentinel saw me cover Kidsgrove’s games against Gresley Rovers, Glapwell and Willenhall Town.
Arriving tonight in the nick of time because of having to visit two pubs en-route in search of a forthcoming meal venue, programmes were still available at the turnstile and a teamsheet pinned up in the tea bar. Line-ups were also announced over the PA as were every goal and substitution.
There is no doubting that the Seddon Stadium on Hollinwood Road is an impressive step four venue. The sloping playing surface is flanked on all four sides with seated stands, some with blue seats and most with orange ones [which I speculate originated either Vale Park or Bloomfield Road]. I challenge anyone to name another ground at this level with seats on all four sides of the pitch.
As an added twist, tonight’s tie was an exact repeat of Saturday when Kidsgrove came from behind to defeat, wait for it, Chasetown 2-1 in a league game played at the Seddon Stadium. After Paul Sullivan put Chasetown in front on 43 minutes, Thomas Wakefield quickly equalised before half-time and Nathan Chinn-Shaw scored Kidsgrove’s winner on 72 minutes. Following that win, Kidsgrove (13 points from 19 games) remained in 20th position in the Evo-Stik League Division One South table while Chasetown (19 points from 19 games) slipped to 17th.
Chasetown (in red) got the game underway attacking down the slope and, in a face-paced start, should have been awarded a 6th-minute penalty and a man advantage. Ashley Whitehead, the last defender, appeared to haul down Danny Smith, yet Mr Mycock amazed everyone by waiving play on. In the next attack, a shot from Nick Wellecomme hit a defender on the arm inside the area but again the referee wasn’t interested.
“That’s two now,” someone shouted towards the referee, presumably referring to two decent shouts for a penalty, though I was with the match official on the second incident.
Chasetown kept up the pressure on the Kidsgrove defence and only a double save from goalkeeper Danny Read to first deny Wellecomme and then Joe Halsall.
Eventually, the deadlock was broken just after the midpoint of the first half. Ramone Stephens ran at pace down the left and crossed low into the area where Simon Brown ran in to thump a low first-time shot past Read from around 6 yards out.
The evening for a Chasetown fan stood near me got even better when I told him the time of the goal. Good news for him as he had ticket ‘24’ so no need to check what my goalden goal ticket, actually ‘78’.
The announcement soon after of the winning raffle ticket numbers wasn’t good news either. 201–205 not even close to my 271–275.
Just after the half-hour mark, the bravery of Chasetown goalkeeper Ryan Price prevented an equaliser from Nathan Chinn-Shaw, who I remember starring for Meir KA a few years ago.
The save turned out to be a vital one as Chasetown doubled their lead just before half-time. Read picked up a booking for bringing down Danny Smith inside the area and smashed home the resulting penalty. Smith, incidentally, scored the goal against Port Vale which put Chasetown into the FA Cup Third Round six years ago.
Half-time failed to put a break on the visitors and they scored again in the 49th minute to seemingly put the outcome beyond doubt. Read did well to save an initial shot from Danny Smith but former Brocton and Stafford Rangers striker Wellecomme converted the rebound, via the hands of the goalkeeper.
Danny Smith and Wellecomme soon combined again though, this time, the latter fired wide. As Chasetown continued to pressurise the Kidsgrove defence, Wellecomme put the ball in the back off the net and Read dropped a free-kick, only for the referee to spot an infringement.
The tie wasn’t over as Kidgrove pulled a goal back with 20 minutes plus stoppage time remaining. Chris Smith played a free-kick forward into the area from 40 yards out and Karl Espley glanced a header past Price.
“We are going to win 4-3,” sang the small group of fans behind the goal.
They were right to be optimistic and 1-3 became 2-3 in the 79th minute. Substitute Ryan Grocott sent a 25-yard drive through a crowded area and past unsighted Price.
Kidsgrove had one last chance in stoppage to force what had earlier looked an unlikely penalty shoot-out. Brandon Mighten fizzed a low diagonal shot from the right across the face of goal and barely a foot wide of the far post.
So Chasetown avenged Saturday’s league defeat at the Seddon Stadium and now await the Third Round draw. One name that will be missing is that of Stafford Rangers who lost 4-2 at Loughborough Dynamo tonight.
Tuesday 3rd December 2013
Kidsgrove Athletic 2 Chasetown 3
Doodson Sport Cup Second Round
At: Seddon Stadium, Hollinwoth Road
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £2 (36 pages)
Weather: cold, damp
Kidsgrove Athletic (blue/blue/blue): 1. Danny Read, 2. Ashley Whitehead, 3. Andrew Taylor (capt), 4. Chris Smith, 5. Wayne Johnson, 6. Karl Espley, 7. Nathan Chinn-Shaw, 8. Michael Carr, 9. Matt Haddrell, 10. Aiden Matranga, 11. Ryan Smith. Subs: 12. Kevin Street (not used), 14. Thomas Wakefield (for Espley, 79), 15. Ryan Grocott (for Chinn-Shaw, 67), 16. Brandon Mighten (for Ryan Smith, 67), 17. Paul Taylor (not used). Manager: Anthony Buckle.
Chasetown (red/red/red): 1. Ryan Price, 2. Jack Farmer, 3. Louis Keenan, 4. Chris Slater (capt), 5. Tesfa Robinson, 6. Joe Halsall, 7. Simon Brown, 8. Daniel Bragoli, 9. Nick Wellecomme, 10. Danny Smith, 11. Ramone Stephens. Subs: 12. Tyrone Williams (not used), 14. Grant Beckett (not used), 15. Craig Bannister (for Danny Smith, 87), 16. Lee Butler (for Stephens, 74), 17. Paul Sullivan (not used). Manager: Craig Harris.
Referee: Steven Mycock.
Assistants: Paul Connett and Jonathan Blower.
Attendance: 66
Duration: first-half: 45:00; second-half: 48:09
Goals:
0-1 Simon Brown (24)
0-2 Simon Brown (43 pen)
0-3 Nick Wellecomme (49)
1-3 Karl Espley (70)
2-3 Ryan Grocott (79)
Cards:
Kidsgrove: Michael Carr (YC, 38), Danny Read (YC, 42), Andrew Taylor (YC, 90)
Chasetown: Tesfa Robinson (YC, 61), Jack Farmer (YC, 65)
Travels of the Traveller 