Determined Lang Jacks march on in the FA Cup

Whickham continued their impressive start to the season with a 2-1 home victory against Frickley Athletic in the FA Cup. 

Dale Burrell put the home team ahead with a header inside the first half an hour in front of a bumper crowd at the First Mortgage Glebe.

The visitors levelled midway through the second half before substitute Scott Robson scored the winner with five minutes left on the clock. 

The hosts finished the match with 10 men when Burrell was dismissed 20 minutes from time for a dangerous tackle.

Whickham started the match the livelier of the two teams, Joey Smith creating the first opportunity on nine minutes.

The winger had a dig from 20 yards out, forcing Frickley goalkeeper Charlie Preston into a save to keep the scores level. 

In a cagey opening to the match, it was the home team that took the lead on 28 minutes.

Ross Peareth’s shot deflected and rolled out for a corner which was floated in by Kaleb Young.

Young’s delightful delivery was met emphatically by the head of Burrell at the near post to give Whickham the lead. 

Tony Fawcett’s team took a slender but deserved one-goal lead into half time. 

The second half started the same way the first half ended, with Whickham in the ascendancy. 

Nathan Greenwood’s quick feet caused Frickley’s backline problems all afternoon.

This time Greenwood took his man on inside the box, but his effort was caught by Preston.

Only a few minutes later and Greenwood was at it again, the winger’s strike from inside the area was handled by a Frickley player giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty. 

Preston guessed the right way to save Greenwood’s spot kick. The winger’s placed shot to the goalkeeper’s left-hand side lacked power and was pushed around the post for a corner. 

The missed penalty rejuvenated the away team, after a string of passes Richard Collier’s low drive inside the Whickham box levelled the scores.

As both teams pushed for a winning goal, Whickham were reduced to 10 men. 

Goalscorer Dale Burrell was giving his marching orders after the referee had deemed Burrell’s tackle as out of control and dangerous. 

Fawcett’s Whickham team looked comfortable even with 10 men. The manager introduced strikers Scott Robson and Mitchell Ramsay with 15 minutes left on the clock. 

The two combined for the winning goal, Robson outmuscled the Frickley defender after latching onto a ball played over the top. 

The striker unselfishly squared the ball to Ramsay for a simple tap-in. However, the forward was clipped from behind with the goal gaping. 

The referee awarded the home team a second penalty of the afternoon.

Preston this time saved Robson’s spot kick but only managed to palm the ball back to the striker from five yards out. 

Robson made no mistake and emphatically hammered the ball into the roof of Preston’s net to send the home fans wild. 

The visitors pushed for an equaliser but struggled to create any clear-cut chances in the final few minutes. 

The Lang Jacks held on to book their place in the next round of the FA Cup. 

Whickham team: Harker, Howard, Yoxall, Burrell, Agnew, Priest (Dunn 74’), Peareth © (Ramsay 74’), Young, Smith (Scott Robson 74’), Greenwood, Richardson.

Subs not used: Below, Galbraith, Hall, Jasper.

Goals: Burrell 28’, Scott Robson 85’

Red Card: Burrell 72’

Man of the Match: Shay Richardson