Matty D
2nd March 2005, 11:56
So near but yet so far. It was hard not to trudge away a little disappointed at the dominance we allowed Saints in the last quarter of the game, and rueing our inability to give them a mountain to climb when we’d been on top in the first half; but in a few days all we’ll remember will be the wonderful sight of a packed GP raising the roof as Tabby cut a Premiership side to ribbons time and time again.
From the off we put the ball in and around their box, and the midfield, particularly Hutchinson, got forward to feed off crosses and knock-downs. Hutch volleyed wide in the first few minutes, before profiting on confusion in the Saints defence to knock home a rebound after Smith had spilled Tabb’s cross in the 4th minute. The lead didn’t last long though, as a with Frampton dispossessed from behind on halfway, a quick ball up found Phillips in far too much space on the edge of the box, Nelson could only palm his bouncing drive away and Crouch pounced on the rebound.
Although Bernard glanced a free header wide most of the first half belonged to the Bees. First Smith was relieved to see a 20 yard drive from Burton deflected narrowly wide, then Hutch headed against the bar and Deon frustratingly failed beat the defender on the line from the rebound. We were really turning on the style, with Tabb and Rankin skipping through Saints tackles at will, although bar a few long-range efforts there wasn’t quite enough end product.
A free-kick from a promising position was laid off to Salako, who drew a full-length save from Smith, and Hutch failed to hit the target when put beyond the defence out wide by a beautiful dinked through ball from Sodje. At the other end Sam showed tremendous bravery with a diving header to take the ball off Phillips’ foot.
We started the second half brightly as well, Tabb winning a sprint onto a through ball, but not by a clear enough margin to do more than ripple the side-netting. Burton then wasted our best chance of taking the lead, drilling a low shot just past the far post with Smith helpless, following a pinpoint cross from Salako. Could the tie have turned on that chance? Certainly after that our punishing schedule caught up with several key players. The gaps started opening up in our midfield, and the box-to-box running vital in giving Burton options on the knock-down wasn’t available any more.
We survived what looked a good shout for a handball in our area before Talbot got the ball caught under him attempting a shot on the edge of the Saints box, and a quick break took our veteran left-back Salako out of the equation as well. The remaining defenders never really stood a chance of saving the day, and Phillips was able to sweep home at the far post. Allen’s response was swift – Hunt on for the exhausted Frampton, but not before he’d made one imperious challenge on the halfway line. Hunt took over on one flank, allowing Tabb a freer role in the centre.
In truth there were too many tired legs though. Nelson had to be resourceful in blocking a one-on-one with Phillips with his legs, and Turner denied the same player with a superb tackle. As the clock ran down O’Connor was introduced for Hutch, and although we created half-chances - Rankin narrowly missing with the best - too may fell on Tabb’s right foot, or got stuck under feet before they could be despatched.
Defenders were committed forward in search of an equaliser, and one jinking run down the right wing from Sodje had the crowd on its feet. Sam also glanced a header wide after a miscued Saints clearance. As a last throw of the dice Peters replaced Dobson with a minute left, but when the game’s fourth goal did come it was an injury time third for Saints – another quick break resulting in a dangerous ball across the six yard box, and this time it was Crouch’s turn to profit at the far post.
An unfair gloss on the scoreline, but although Saints fielded less than a first-choice XI they could clearly call on fit, rested, squad players, and our patched up midfield couldn’t compete with them for 90 minutes. And so a glorious cup run comes to an end. Hopefully Allen can rouse his battered side for the punishing league schedule ahead, where in all likelihood some of the ‘fringe’ players like Hunt, Pratley and Peters will be called upon. On the positive side, with O’Connor and Frampton returning to fitness, any recovery of Hargreaves would enable us to field something much closer to our best XI from earlier in the season.
Nelson 7 – little chance with any of the goals
Turner 8 – classy display
Sodje 8 – some great moments of ‘Nigerian Ninja’ magic
Dobson 7 – coped pretty well
Salako 6 – ageing legs struggled to last the distance
Talbot 8 – very influential in the first half, less so in the second
Hutchinson 8 – supported the strikers superbly in the first half, tired badly in the second
Frampton 6 – bit of a square peg in midfield, faded badly
Tabb 9 – scared a Premiership side witless with his running
Rankin 7 – made lots of ground with his surging runs
Burton 8 – loads of class, but missed a couple of presentable chances
Hunt 7 – usual dynamic effect as sub
O’Connor 7 – useful work in midfield cameo
Peters – only on for injury time
From the off we put the ball in and around their box, and the midfield, particularly Hutchinson, got forward to feed off crosses and knock-downs. Hutch volleyed wide in the first few minutes, before profiting on confusion in the Saints defence to knock home a rebound after Smith had spilled Tabb’s cross in the 4th minute. The lead didn’t last long though, as a with Frampton dispossessed from behind on halfway, a quick ball up found Phillips in far too much space on the edge of the box, Nelson could only palm his bouncing drive away and Crouch pounced on the rebound.
Although Bernard glanced a free header wide most of the first half belonged to the Bees. First Smith was relieved to see a 20 yard drive from Burton deflected narrowly wide, then Hutch headed against the bar and Deon frustratingly failed beat the defender on the line from the rebound. We were really turning on the style, with Tabb and Rankin skipping through Saints tackles at will, although bar a few long-range efforts there wasn’t quite enough end product.
A free-kick from a promising position was laid off to Salako, who drew a full-length save from Smith, and Hutch failed to hit the target when put beyond the defence out wide by a beautiful dinked through ball from Sodje. At the other end Sam showed tremendous bravery with a diving header to take the ball off Phillips’ foot.
We started the second half brightly as well, Tabb winning a sprint onto a through ball, but not by a clear enough margin to do more than ripple the side-netting. Burton then wasted our best chance of taking the lead, drilling a low shot just past the far post with Smith helpless, following a pinpoint cross from Salako. Could the tie have turned on that chance? Certainly after that our punishing schedule caught up with several key players. The gaps started opening up in our midfield, and the box-to-box running vital in giving Burton options on the knock-down wasn’t available any more.
We survived what looked a good shout for a handball in our area before Talbot got the ball caught under him attempting a shot on the edge of the Saints box, and a quick break took our veteran left-back Salako out of the equation as well. The remaining defenders never really stood a chance of saving the day, and Phillips was able to sweep home at the far post. Allen’s response was swift – Hunt on for the exhausted Frampton, but not before he’d made one imperious challenge on the halfway line. Hunt took over on one flank, allowing Tabb a freer role in the centre.
In truth there were too many tired legs though. Nelson had to be resourceful in blocking a one-on-one with Phillips with his legs, and Turner denied the same player with a superb tackle. As the clock ran down O’Connor was introduced for Hutch, and although we created half-chances - Rankin narrowly missing with the best - too may fell on Tabb’s right foot, or got stuck under feet before they could be despatched.
Defenders were committed forward in search of an equaliser, and one jinking run down the right wing from Sodje had the crowd on its feet. Sam also glanced a header wide after a miscued Saints clearance. As a last throw of the dice Peters replaced Dobson with a minute left, but when the game’s fourth goal did come it was an injury time third for Saints – another quick break resulting in a dangerous ball across the six yard box, and this time it was Crouch’s turn to profit at the far post.
An unfair gloss on the scoreline, but although Saints fielded less than a first-choice XI they could clearly call on fit, rested, squad players, and our patched up midfield couldn’t compete with them for 90 minutes. And so a glorious cup run comes to an end. Hopefully Allen can rouse his battered side for the punishing league schedule ahead, where in all likelihood some of the ‘fringe’ players like Hunt, Pratley and Peters will be called upon. On the positive side, with O’Connor and Frampton returning to fitness, any recovery of Hargreaves would enable us to field something much closer to our best XI from earlier in the season.
Nelson 7 – little chance with any of the goals
Turner 8 – classy display
Sodje 8 – some great moments of ‘Nigerian Ninja’ magic
Dobson 7 – coped pretty well
Salako 6 – ageing legs struggled to last the distance
Talbot 8 – very influential in the first half, less so in the second
Hutchinson 8 – supported the strikers superbly in the first half, tired badly in the second
Frampton 6 – bit of a square peg in midfield, faded badly
Tabb 9 – scared a Premiership side witless with his running
Rankin 7 – made lots of ground with his surging runs
Burton 8 – loads of class, but missed a couple of presentable chances
Hunt 7 – usual dynamic effect as sub
O’Connor 7 – useful work in midfield cameo
Peters – only on for injury time