The second half heroes have 'Dun' it again as an Ayr raid sees Skem Slaughter-ed

Tuesday the 6th September 2016

FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay

Skelmersdale United 1 Dunston UTS 2

Another replay and another late winner from the indefatigable Dunston boys. Last night was Dunston’s sixth FA Cup tie and they are not finished yet. It is unlikely that the team that wins the most famous trophy in the whole of  football in May will play more FA Cup ties this season. This is how the evening unfolded.

Picture displayed thanks to kind permission of John Driscoll

 Pre Match Communications: Full marks again. Once more special thanks to Steve Wraith, the Dunston Commercial Manager, for all the updates from the UTS Stadium and to the Skelmersdale United Programme Editor Kev Panther for all things Skem. A great sadness around this blog is that every time a tie is completed I say good bye to one team. It has been great seeing Skem home and away and a pleasure to visit their stadium. I wish them every success for the remainder of the season. 10/10

Pre Match Pint: When I established my reporting arrangements for the blog the idea was to go to the nearest pub to the ground. I am a slow learner but I have now twigged the best place to get a pre-match pint at non-league grounds in England is actually in the ground itself. Hence I headed for my pint inside the Stadium. No hand pulled beers but the Guinness was good and I had the pleasure of chatting to the Dad of one of the Skem players. Geoff Wright is the father of Skelmersdale United player Dale Wright and he describes his son as a ‘tough tackling midfielder’. Over the last two games I have noticed there is a lot more to his game than the appetite to win 50-50s. It was a pleasure to enjoy a drink with Geoff before the game last night  8/10

Open for business: the bar at Stormy Corner

Geoff Wright - father of Skem midfielder Dale enjoying a pre match pint

Programme: If you want to get full marks for the programme category the way to do it is to include extracts from the blog. Kev Panther did just that and I feel truly honoured. The programme is priced at £2 and is great value. The 24 page glossy publication is cram packed with loads of interesting reading and relatively few adverts. Good coverage of the visitors from Gateshead and a herculean effort by young Kev to get such a good read out and for sale in such a short timesacle. 10/10

The programme: A triumph for Kev Panther

The Road to Wembley from Scotland blog featured in the match programme

 Ground: The Messenger Express Stadium is known locally as Stormy Corner. Skem have played here since 2006 and it still has the feel of a new ground. The main stand affords a great view of the action and the concrete terracing that surrounds the pitch enables spectators to have a walk around and change their viewing position. The ground will improve further when the planned new stand is built. 7/10

The main stand: Dunston Chairman looks on ashen faced as Skem lay siege in the first half

The main stand as seen from the opposite side of the pitch

Atmosphere: Once again I have to report that I have still not heard any singing yet on the ‘Road’ but the atmosphere at this match was very pleasant and given what was at stake very convivial. It was great to see rival fans discussing the match at the end of the night and the Skem fans wishing Dunston all the best in the next round. 7/10

Your blogger has his notebook out (thanks to John Driscoll for this pic)

Scottishness: As reported at the weekend the link between Dunston and Bonny Scotland is a bit tenuous. Skem have Scots heritage dating back to the 60s and 70s but no identifiable link currently. So things were looking a bit bleak on the Caledonian front. Kev Panther did tell me that Skelmersdale did have a Scots fan called Derek but he was not there last night. I was all set for a 2/10 in this category when Steve Wraith came up with the goods. The Dunston number 4 Richard Slaughter was working in Ayr yesterday just hours before kick off and drove to West Lancashire to don the famous blue jersey – that last night was actually red. Hence it would appear that I was not the only person to drive from Scotland for the match last night. 4/10

Entertainment: Another great game. Two sides committed to passing, attacking football going at it hammer and tongs for 90 minutes at Stormy Corner. Playing their sixth FA Cup tie in 31 days the Dunston resources were stretched and they were only able to name 3 subsititutes. One was the Assistant Manager who would only take the field in an emergency and one was a sub goalie. Hence effectively only one sub available. He was forced to come on after about 15 minutes and hence the Dunston boys were up against it. They also went a goal behind in the first half when the Skem midfielder Tony Rendall skilfully half-volleyed a corner into the net from close range. In truth the home team dominated the first period and were slightly unfortunate only to lead by one goal at the interval, although the robust Malky Morien did hit the bar for the visitors.

I don’t know what manager Bill Irwin puts in the half time tea for the Dunston youngsters but I have a suspicion that amphetamine sulphate may be involved. I have now seen Dunston four times and their second half overall scoreline is 7-1. They were at it again last night. The Gateshead team have some great young footballers in their side and attacking midfielders messrs Lucock, Heslop, Thear and Leedham play with a pace and a freedom that enables them to move the ball swiftly and slice open opposition defences. They can all score goals too. They are ably supported by Malky Morien - a fearsome warhorse lone frontman who holds the ball up for them. Last night their play defied their pyramid step 5 status as they set about their step 3 opponents with great gusto in a second half that they dominated. In the 63^rd minute Lucock equalised when he used his speed to spring the offside trap. With only the keeper to beat, he coolly rounded the custodian of the onion bag and slotted the ball into an empty net. Scott Heslop was frustrated in the 76^th minute when he found himself in the clear after another great passing move but his shot was brilliantly saved. In the 81^st minute the stocky Morien was denied twice. However, with only four minutes to go the underdogs got their reward when Heslop latched on to a deep cross at the back post to skilfully loop a header over the goalkeeper. Few could argue that the best team won. The lower pic below is courtesy of Skelmersdale United photographer John Driscoll.

First half action as Dunston defend a corner kick

Heads you win. A midfield stramash in the second half

Final score Skelmersdale United 1 Dunston UTS 2. Gateshead on the 17^th September will see Dunston entertain Chorley and I will be there. An excellent 7 minute highlights package from last night's match is available from Simon Driscoll’s twitter feed @StattoSi (nice one Simon) 9/10

Match Day Catering: A good selection of football favourites available from the stall in the ground. I went for the meat and potato pie with mushy peas. Good stuff and served with gravy too. 8/10

Value for Money: Slightly more expensive than at Dunston to get in with the admission price set at £9. However, I and the other couple of hundred spectators, were royally entertained. 8/10

The je ne sais quoi factor:

Two memorable moments from last night. Firstly a big thank you to the Committee at Skelmersdale for showing me such fantastic hospitality. I was invited in to their wee board room at half time for a coffee and a snack and a good old blether about Skem through the ages. Thanks guys.

Half time in the boardroom. Has the Dunston man (middle) had too many of their famous pies?

The other moment was a bizarre conversation with the Dunston Manager half way through the second half. With the game in the balance Bill Irwin was supervising an esoteric warm up routine by his emergency sub Bowey that involved his Assistant Manager lying prostrate on the floor beside the dugout and pulling his knees up to his chin to adopt the foetal position. He noticed my t shirt and laughing said: “I have been reading your blog – it’s good” (thanks for that Bill much appreciated) and then continued: “Stop taking the piss oota wor pies will ye – that’s my diet”. As the Road to Wembley continues it is hard to imagine that I might be behind the dugout at (say) The Emirates Stadium in the quarter final as Arsenal take on Everton and Arsene Wenger turning round to take issue with my reporting of their catering arrangements. 9/10

Overall Road to Wembley from Scotland Rating 80/100 (highest so far)

So, it’s back to Gateshead for the FA Cup 2^nd Qualifying Round tie between Dunston UTS and Chorley on the 17th September. Chorley ply their trade in the National League North Division so this promises to be a huge test for the Dunston lads. On the evidence of last night, they will certainly be ready for the challenge.

Miles on the clock for this match 410

Total Miles on the Road to Wembley from Scotland so far 1374