FA Vase Second Round
United were just one minute away from a FA Vase replay at Newmarket Town’s Cricketfield Road ground
on Saturday when a curling shot from the Jockey’s John Olive found its way through a packed area to
send the Jockey’s in to Monday’s draw and United out of the Vase.
Decimated by injuries and suspensions United gave call ups to Reserve squad players, David Parkes and
Paul Lawrence while other absentees were Academy players Zac Burke and Liam McDevitt who has just signed
professional forms and a two year contract with Stevenage Boro FC.
Sam Brown came in at an unfamiliar left back position for Nick Stillwell (hamstring) and put in a man
of the match performance and with fellow defenders Michael Scarisbrick, Simon Catmur and Luke Jones in
great form United dominated much of the opening half. However, goal scoring chances were few and far
between and there was little to keep the 77 strong crowd warm on a bitterly cold afternoon.
The second half promised more and within three minutes of the re-start United’s Robbie O’Dell and Luke
Lincoln had chances to give United the lead but Jockey’s keeper Matthew Paynter made two excellent reflex
saves to deny the United front men.
At the other end the host’s Owen Paynter and James Walker were finding the United back line formidable
opponents and with United’s Jay Tingey dominating his six yard area it seemed that both front pairings were
going to have to come up with something short of magic to break the deadlock.
Normal time could not separate the two and so it was in to extra time and more hot soup.
United started the hungrier for the £1000 prize money and United’s Lincoln and their travelling supporters
were left astounded when penalty appeals were turned down for a clear trip as the United man broke free from
his marker. And two minutes later O’Dell hit the side netting after a tremendous long ball from Andre Maltay
found O’Dell in the six yard area and a long range strike from substitute Dave Parker spun over the Jockey’s
crossbar.
The second period of extra time saw United again come close to taking the tie. Lincoln sent in a powerful
volley that Paynter managed to palm away but only to the boot of O’Dell but the leading goalscorer sent the
rebound high and over. A goal line clearance also denied Jason Darvall and substitute Michael Leon couldn’t
get a toe to a loose ball in the Jockey’s six yard box.
With only a minute remaining though United were left stunned when a long ball from deep saw Jones attempt
to clear but he could only manage to drop the ball in to Olive’s path and the midfield man drove the ball
past Tingey to send the Jockey’s through and leave United completely dejected.
This Saturday United travel to Aylesbury Vale and on Tuesday make the short trip to Stotfold’s Roker
Park for a Beds Senior Cup tie.
United: Tingey, Scarisbrick, Brown, Catmur, Jones, Barnett (Parker), Maltay, Darvall (Leon), O’Dell, Lincoln, Goodship (Lawrence.)
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