The Stan were back on the road to Wembley playing their 25th FA Cup tie & hoping to win through to the 1st Qualifying Round for the 1st time since 1954. After defeating Pickering, they now hosted ex-National League side North Ferriby whose fans made up a significant section of the bumper crowd which remained positive despite there being torrential rain for most of the match. There were 2 changes from Wednesday with Lamb, making his 1st start, & Taylor replacing Ward & Hornsby. New signing from Ashington, Jordan Lashley, was on the bench.
North Ferriby started strongly & had 2 early chances putting the ball over the bar then Flynn had to push the ball away. The 5th minute saw the torrential begin & was also the beginning of a sustained attack by the visitors which lasted a couple of minutes.
The Stan remained on the backfoot until in the 9th minute when from a Stephenson corner, Taylor headed against the bar. 2 minutes later & Flynn made a full length save getting his finger tips to the ball & knocking it off the post. After this great save there was no action for a few minutes as a visiting player received treatment. Flynn then had to save again. North Ferriby continued to have more of the ball but the Stan were now starting to try to get into the game although the visiting defence were stopping any potential attacks.
In 27 minutes, Flynn had to punch clear & the ball was sent back in & hit off the post although Flynn was well positioned to stop it. The Stan finally had a couple of attacks & they took the lead in the 30th minute from a corner which was initially cleared. Evans sent the ball back to Anderson & it bounced off him & a defender allowing Shepherd to blast it into the net.
This spurred the Stan on & almost immediately it should have been 2-0 when Hopper raced into the box & his shot hit the post but Lamb couldn’t make contact to get a rebound shot into the open net. The Stan pressure continued although in 36 minutes Flynn had to get down to save. A Stephenson free kick was eventually headed wide by Burn.
There was a shock equaliser in 39 minutes when the visitors’ Dickens tried a speculative 30 yard shot which beat Flynn. The Stan kept the pressure on & in the 5th minute of added time, the ball was sent into the box missing everyone except Watson at the back post who put the ball into the net. The keeper scooped it out & the referee initially allowed play to continue until he noticed the linesman flagging for a goal. So an exciting but very wet 1st half saw the Stan deservedly finish it in the lead.
The Stan started the 2nd half on the attack & the visiting keeper had to get down to save in 52 minutes but soon after Flynn had to put the ball over his bar for a corner.
After a quieter period, Anderson forced a corner in 57 minutes & from it shot through a crowd of players hitting the post. Both teams were trying to attack but less frequently although in 64 minutes the advancing Lamb crossed to Burn but he shot wide when he had a good opportunity to score. 3 minutes later & Lamb won the ball 40 yards out & advanced on the keeper comfortably putting the ball in the net. As the team celebrated, the linesman spoke to the referee & the decision was changed to off-side. Both teams continued to try to attack & Flynn had to get down to save in 73 minutes.
The whole Stan team were working hard & it paid off in 78 minutes. Hopper crossed to Lamb who got passed 1 defender & shot past another & the keeper from a tight angle to make it 3-1. Flynn comfortably made a couple of catches as the visitors sought a goal. In 85 minutes, Hopper won the ball & advanced down the left but the ball was blocked in the box.
A Ferriby free kick was headed clear then in 89 minutes Flynn had to make a great save from another attack. Flynn & Watson had to clear in 93 minutes but it was the Stan who sewed things up in 94 minutes when a ball to the unmarked Cowburn saw him confidently lob the keeper for 4-1.
So the Wembley dream continues. It was a proper exciting FA Cup tie with a great atmosphere despite the rain. The whole Stan team put in a great performance although special mention has to be given to keeper Tom Flynn who early on kept the Stan in the game before the goals started arriving. Dean Nicholson & his squad applauded the fans at the end recognising their important & soaking contribution. This great performance should give the Stan confidence when they travel to Crook on Wednesday night in search of their 1st league win of the season.
Heaton Stannington: Flynn, Evans, Stephenson, Watson, Shepherd, Taylor, Burn, Slaughter (C), Anderson (Bamborough 61), Hopper (Cowburn 87), Lamb (Lashley 82).
Unused Subs: Purvis, Ward, Hornsby, Johnston.
Goals: Shepherd 30, Watson 45 +5, Lamb 78, Cowburn 90 + 4.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Tom Flynn.
Yellow Cards: Anderson, Lamb, Bamborough.
Red Cards: None.
Referee: C. Ford.
Assistants: C. Chatton, D. McCauley.
Attendance: 508.
Kevin Mochrie.