The FA National League System Cup
First Round
24 September 2005
The Northern Alliance were victorious in Saturday’s FA National League System Cup 1st Round tie while the Sussex County League’s first involvement came to an abrupt end at East Grinstead Town FC.
The Northern Alliance had derby success when they beat the Wearside League in the battle of the North East’s two Step 7 Leagues at the Nissan Sports Club in Washington on Saturday.
The Alliance side had the early chance, when a 20 yard free kick from Ian Grainger was pushed away by keeper Andrew Hunter for a corner.
The Wearside League were dealt a blow when Johnathan Newton had to leave the field with an injury, Craig Johnson replaced him.
Both teams were evenly matched during the first half with the Alliance side having the better chances and it was Gavin Wood who saw his 20 yard effort travelling just wide for the Alliance, and he was unlucky shortly after when another effort was parried away by Hunter in the Wearside League goal.
The Wearside League had their chances, too. Mark Johnson went on a surging run past the Alliance defence only to see his low drive flash across the face of the goal and through a crowd of players but couldn’t be converted.
The Alliance League broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when Ian Grainger latched on to a cross from the left wing and finishing from close range give the away side a half time lead.
In the second half the Wearside League battled hard but couldn’t convert any of their created chances and with the home side pushing on for an equaliser the Alliance side hit them on a counter attack and when Andrew Brown crossed from the right Grainger was on hand to slide the ball home.
The Wearside League never gave up and Derek Newton almost scored a deserved consolation, but the Alliance held on for victory.
Last week, The Sussex County League’s first involvement with The FA National League System Cup came to an abrupt end at East Grinstead Town and it will be the Kent County League that advances to the Second Round.
The first 30 minutes of the contest suggested that the Division 3 side could put an end to a long losing run against the Kent County League. Two good chances for Wadhurst's Jethro Warren and another by Karl Dunk of Peacehaven seemed to indicate that a home win could be on the cards.
However, from Kent's first real chance in the 32nd minute they opened the scoring. A good ball into the box that the Sussex keeper should probably have come for was passed neatly across the area and a sweetly curled shot by Sheldon Brown gave Andy McCarthy no chance.
Sussex continued to create good chances with some neat moves, particularly down the right where Rustington's Sean Duffy was causing huge problems for the Kent defence with his speed and movement. It was Duffy who had another good chance to score when his turn and cross to the far post was scrambled away.
With literally the last kick of the half, Kent gained a huge psychological advantage with a second goal. A run through the Sussex defence led to a cross that found Matt Knuckey unmarked less than 10 yards out, and he had the easy task of putting the ball in the net.
Sussex came out with determination in the second half but were rocked by a third Kent goal when another solo run through the static Sussex defence found Harbingi Grant unmarked.
A consolation penalty was won when Ross Swain of Forest was fouled (although everybody bar the referee saw that the incident took place a good yard outside the box). Karl Dunk scored the penalty. This was not however the catalyst for a comeback, and in fact Kent themselves won a dubious penalty with eight minutes to go that was converted by Knuckey.