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Tividale 0, Northern Star 2 - Super Star march on in FA Vase fairytale
Peterborough Northern Star celebrate after reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Vase. Photo: Tim Gates
FA VASE, Fifth round: (after extra-time – 0-0 at 90mins) NORTHERN Star overcame the stuff of nightmares to continue their very own footballing fairytale.
The odds, the officials and the elements all appeared to be against the city on the biggest day in their history, but none could prevent Chris Plummer’s men from prevailing in stirring style in the West Midlands.
Prolific striker Karl Gibbs and midfield maestro Jonny Stead delivered the extra-time goals to ensure the sweetest of successes for a team who had played with 10 men from the 19th minute onwards following the harsh dismissal of captain Jimmy Dean for a pair of challenges that certainly didn’t appear to be worthy of such a punishment.
They were just two of many controversial calls from referee Guy Stretton but thankfully his bewildering inconsistency, which bordered on the incompetent, was nothing more than a source of irritation at the end of a famous day.
Manager Plummer said: “The lads’ ability has never been in doubt and they showed on Saturday how strong their spirit is as well.
“To come through that game in those conditions and under those circumstances is fantastic.
“We are a young team and it was full of heroes. To be one of only eight teams from all over the country still standing is a wonderful achievement.”
Star had arrived at The Beeches to find a pitch resembling a lake. Some frantic work on the surface ensured it was just about playable with Northants FA officials Derek Vernum and Nik Titman joining in the forking and sanding operation.
Star refused to resort to long-ball tactics despite the atrocious underfoot conditions and their numerical disadvantage. In fact they were rarely troubled by a disappointing set of opponents even after Dean’s early exit.
The Star rearguard of Matt Cook, Nathan Horne, Wayne Morris and in particular the mercurial Mark Cox were terrific throughout, Liam Hook ran the midfield like a man possessed and goalkeeper Luke McShane provided a formidable last line of defence.
A player who once helped Posh win an FA Cup tie at MK Dons showed his pedigree for the big occasion with three super saves and faultless handling whenever called upon.
The only criticism that could possibly be levelled at Star is that they didn’t finish the job in normal time. They certainly had the chances with the best of them falling to Gibbs.
He saw an early effort cleared off the line and then steered a header from a corner straight at a grateful home goalkeeper.
The second of those chances arrived moments after strike-partner Addie Staffieri had been denied by a full-length save. Gibbs later saw another chance to settle the issue go begging when unable to organise his feet in time to convert a fierce cross-shot from Stead.
But he refused to be denied seven minutes into the opening period of extra-time when diving full-length to head home a peach of a Stead cross and provide a fitting finish to the best move of the match.
It was nothing less than Star deserved and forced tame Tividale to go on the attack, but their one-dimensional approach ensured few alarms.
McShane was required to make his best save of the afternoon early in the second period of extra-time, but from then on Star played comfortably on the break with the pace of substitute Avelino Vieira being a vital weapon.
A succession of chances fell to Stead and he was denied by a fine save and an upright before applying the final gloss deep into stoppage time from the penalty spot after he himself had been upended.
And once the celebrations died down, skipper Dean was quick to heap praise on his team-mates.
He said: “I was devastated as I thought I’d messed things up for the team, but the boys were brilliant.
“I owe each and every one of them big-time. I’m so proud to be their captain.”
Star are enjoying the finest Vase run of any team in this area for 14 years. Spalding were the last locals to reach the quarter-finals back in 1998 when going down to eventual winners Tiverton Town.
Star, who have now pocketed almost £9,000 in prize money, are one of two United Counties League sides still going strong this season with St Ives also through to the last eight.
Star: McShane, Cook, Horne, Morris, Cox, Nyang (Medwynter), Dean, Hook, Stead, Gibbs (Glover), Staffieri (Vieira). Unused: Raynor.
FA VASE
Fifth round results:
Tividale 0, Northern Star 2; Shortwood 3, Ashington 0; Billingham Synthonia 0, Bournemouth 0; Dunston UTS 3, Bethnal Green Utd 0; Whitley Bay 1, West Auckland Tn 2; St Ives 4, Gresley 0; Herne Bay 1, Larkhall Ath 0; Staveley MW 2, Oadby 0.
Quarter-final draw:
Shortwood Utd v Herne Bay;
Staveley MW v St Ives;
Northern Star v Dunston UTS;
Billingham Synthonia v West Auckland Tn.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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