selsey011005

Thursday 01st September 2005

Two off for Lordswood in "controversial" Vase tie

Saturday 1st October 2005	FA Vase Second Qualifying Round	Darrell Harman reports
Selsey	2	Mole 48 Rishman 116
Lordswood	2	Cunningham 2 Sharp 109

Lordswood got off to a magic start after only two minutes by taking the lead in their FA Vase second qualifying round tie at Selsey, writes Darrell Harman.

Steve Sharp won the ball 40 yards from goal and raced forward beating two defenders and slid the ball side on the left to Andy Doerr, who took one touch and then crossed low to the far post for Mike Cunningham to score his easiest goal of his career from only two yards.

But Selsey came back and for the rest of the half dominating and created a few chances.

Rob Brown ran from the halfway line into the penalty area but his shot sailed over the bar.

Then Tom Ridley turned quickly in the area and his shot was easily saved by Lordswood goalkeeper Gavin Hopper and with five minutes to go a cross found Andy Brown, but his header beat the former Chatham Town stopper but struck the crossbar.

The Sussex side carried on where they left off and scored after 48 minutes. A cross to the far post found Clinton Mole, whose header hit the back of the net.

Selsey were now in control and they almost took the lead after 51 minutes when Adam Davis' free kick found Mole, whose header went just wide.

But controversy came on the hour mark when Lordswood's Neil Crust was sent off for a second booking.

Lee Jones was injured on the pitch with breathing difficulties and the referee - who had to be said was poor throughout the game - asked for Jones to be moved off the pitch, which incensed Crust and he berated the referee. The injured the player was taken to hospital.

However, Lordswood became more resilient and Andy Forster's 63rd minute throw to Doerr was returned to Forster, whose shot hit the crossbar.

Selsey then came back when Andy Brown's shot from inside the area was saved by Hopper's legs.

Disaster struck the Kent side when Will Richards - who came on at half-time for the injured Tony Read - had a mad five seconds, when after being smacked a couple of times in quick succession, kicked out at the defender and was duly sent off.

More drams followed when Andy Burrett was adjudged to have fouled Tom Ridley inside the penalty area but Dave Graham fired the resulting penalty - nine minutes from time - a yard wide of the left post.

Selsey - with a two man advantage - should have won the game but they failed to create many more chances.

In a rare attack after 109 minutes Lordswood actually regained the lead when Doerr latched onto a pass and his shot came back off the post and was cleared to Steve Sharp on the edge of the box to score.

But with time running out, Selsey applied the pressure and with four minutes left equalised when Hopper did well to save a header - pushing it onto the post - but Barry Rishman smashed home the rebound.

The replay takes place at North Dane Way on Tuesday night (7:45pm).

Lordswood: Hopper, Burrett, Russell, Crust, Cunningham, Forster, Hayfield (Broad 58), Sharp, Doerr, Jones (Phillips 62), Read (Richards 45). Subs: Almond, Hopkins