The Greens Progress In the FA Vase

Those inside the Longwater Stadium were treated to a real cup classic as the lowly Wrens gave the Greens a real scare in front of a 119-strong crowd. The Greens had looked set to take a 3-2 victory but were pegged back in the 96th minute by a Callum Brooks tap in at the far post – an effort that forced the game into an unlikely penalty shootout. The Greens were given a quickfire shock when Rainworth took a 2nd minute lead - Tom Bedford sent through one-on-one with Liam Flitton and the Rainworth attacker coolly dispatched beyond the Greens number one to put the visitors ahead. That lead lasted 10 minutes before Joe Braithwaite was on hand to power home Tristan Drummond’s corner with his head to bring the Greens level, and the turnaround was complete just over 10 minutes later when persistent work from Shaun Harrad saw him tee-up Ryan Lennon to tap home at close range. The visitors did not lay down though and the Greens were forced in at the break on level terms after the lively Tom Berry found Bedford to smash his second of the contest beyond Flitton and give the Wrens renewed hope. A slightly improved second half saw the Greens retake the lead through a fine header from Tom Ward who powered home another Drummond corner – but there was to be late drama when Callum Brooks popped up at the far post to tap in another equaliser for the visitors to send the contest into penalties. The headlines saw Liam Flitton both miss and save a penalty during a shootout eventually decided when Tommy Marshall dragged his effort wide of the post sending the Greens through to a 2nd Qualifying Round tie with Ollerton Town on September 23th.

A string of absences forced Player/Manager Tom Ward into as many as four changes from the side that recorded their first league defeat of the campaign at Belper United last weekend. Dominic Kew and Ryan Flitton were absent necessitating their change while Ryan Rushen and Jacob Fenton took well-earned rests on the bench. They were replaced by Shaun Harrad and Ryan Lennon who had lively cameos from the bench last week at Belper United, while Max Ward returned to the starting XI for the first time this campaign alongside new loan signing Reece Giles who started his first game for the Greens also. The visitors meanwhile arrived in NG34 on the absolute bare bones and were able to name just one substitute. They made four changes themselves with Nathan Benger, Harley Butcher-Simpson, Niall Edge and Freddy Tracey all dropping out and they were replaced by Joe Vaughan, Ryan Faulconbridge, Tom Bedford and Mason Gee.

It was the hosts who very nearly produced the dream start at the Longwater Stadium when Ryan Lennon worked himself space in the box, but he could only power just over the crossbar from close range. The Greens were then almost immediately made to rue that miss when Callum Brooks sent Tom Bedford through one-on-one with Liam Flitton and he calmly dispatched past the onrushing Liam Flitton to give the visitors a shock lead. The Greens took some time to recover from that early blow, but Ryan Lennon was unlucky again when Ryan Faulconbridge was alive to the danger to produce a fine block to turn away his powerful drive. The Greens best opportunity for an equaliser came through Rainworth defender Liam Arnold who was thankful to his keeper Joe Vaughan for beating away his goal-bound deflection.

The Greens found their leveller after just 12 minutes though when Joe Braithwaite – captaining the Greens in Charlie Ward’s absence – powered home a header from Tristan Drummond’s pinpoint corner. It was Joe Braithwaite who very nearly turned the game on its head when his half-volley was well beaten away by Vaughan, before the Wrens keeper was required to be lively again to tip Finlay Armond’s stray cross over the crossbar. The Greens didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough though when persistent work from Shaun Harrad saw him square for Ryan Lennon to tap beyond Vaughan and put the Greens in front for the first time in the contest. The Greens could have extended that lead a couple of minutes later when Finlay Armond’s strike from distance trickled inches wide of the post, but instead found themselves pegged back when Bedford was sent through again by Tom Berry to smash home the equaliser beyond Flitton and give Rainworth just reward for their battling first half performance.

The Greens started the second half with more energy and gusto and Shaun Harrad was unlucky with a cheeky flick at the near post that was well collected by Joe Vaughan. The Rainworth number once was back in action a couple of minutes later to produce a fine save to beat away Joe Braithwaite’s powerful header, before neither Braithwaite and or Tom Ward could touch home a fine cross from Drummond a few minutes later. Despite the Greens early half dominance, it was Rainworth who nearly pounced to retake the lead just short of the 70th minute when Mason Gee first saw an effort saved by Liam Flitton, before a follow-up attempt a few seconds later rose just over the crossbar. With that warning fired, the Greens looked to finally be on course to victory when Tom Ward rose highest to nod in another Tristan Drummond corner with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. The victory should have been sowed up as the game entered stoppage time as another Drummond corner caused problems – this time it was Braithwaite again who got the touch but sent his close range volley inches over the crossbar.
There was to be late drama though – with the visitors thinking their golden opportunity had passed after Tommy Marshall headed just wide of the post – another arrived which they would not pass up when, in the 96th minute, Callum Brooks was expertly picked out in the box and he tapped the leveller beyond Flitton to take the tie to penalties. Despite a penalty miss from Liam Flitton, he immediately redeemed himself by delivering a penalty save of his own before Tommy Marshall dragged his spot-kick wide to see the Greens through by the finest of margins.
Player/Manager Tom Ward felt his side did enough to merit their narrow victory but was left frustrated by uncharacteristic defending from the Greens;

“I think we moved the ball well at times and created opportunities. But I’m ultimately disappointed with our defending for a change. It isn’t like us. I think when we were pressing we didn’t go through with much bite and they were able to play through us which was disappointing, but ultimately I think our quality shone through and I’m delighted with the boys to come through the shootout.”

Ward was also impressed with the showing from a struggling Rainworth Miners Welfare side who up until Saturday had lost all six of their competitive games scoring just three goals;

“That’s the beauty of the cup isn’t it? It gives teams a break from the league and allows you to almost be a fresh team for a week. They’ve come here on a hiding to nothing really and probably expected to get turned over. Maybe we were a little bit complacent – we rested Ryan Rushen and Jacob Fenton and maybe that wasn’t the right call and I’ll reflect on that from the point of view of my own decisions. We’ll reflect on it and watch the footage and take it into Wednesday.”

And a tough encounter it will be on Wednesday for the Greens too who travel to face Sherwood Colliery in the United Counties League Premier Division North, and Ward was wary his side will need to display some improvement if they are to come away from Debdale Park with any points;

“Patterns attacking wise we weren’t bad but maybe discipline in certain areas and working on those little lapses in concentration. Maybe today we thought we were good enough that someone else would do it with a bit of quality here or there but instead I felt we were just short at times even though we were comfortable for large periods.”

The Greens face that trip to Sherwood Colliery on Wednesday evening (kick-off, 7.45PM), before hitting the road again next Saturday with a quickfire return to Coronation Park – this time to face Eastwood Community, kick-off on Saturday is at 3.00PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin
Image: Steve W Davies Photography