Lynn-Avon United v. East Coast Bays, 4/7/04

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Bays Prevail Over Defiant Lynn-Avon

by Jeremy Ruane

Lowly-ranked Northern League First Division side Lynn-Avon United made mid-table Premier League team East Coast Bays work all the way and then some before the higher-ranked combination prevailed 2-1 after extra-time in a classic David and Goliath clash at Ken Maunder Park in the Bluebird Chatham Cup.

There were times in this match when it was difficult to distinguish which side played in the higher division, such was Lynn-Avon’s defiance and commitment. Having never gone beyond the last sixteen in the cup before, they had nothing to lose on this, their day in the Chatham Cup spotlight, something which was reflected in their performance.

Bays themselves had only reached the quarter-finals once before, twenty years ago, and the form-book suggested they would achieve that feat again fairly comfortably. But formbook guidelines tend to disappear when cup confrontations come around, and on July 4, American Independence Day, that was one tradition which was maintained.

The home team gave it everything they had, and could have opened the scoring after just six minutes. Brian Pepper’s cross from the right found Graham West homing in on the far post. His shot was blocked, with the lanky figure of captain Greg Clark blasting the rebound wide.

Bays responded with a string of attacks which sent out a "learn your place"- type message to their opponents. But the brothers Hodgson, goalkeeper Russell and midfielder James, epitomised Lynn-Avon’s unyielding attitude during this spell.

The shot-stopper turned a Steven Laus free-kick over the bar, then got right in behind a solidly struck Peter Hanson twenty-five yarder, either side of his brother’s heading clear an Allister Sturm cross intended for the head of Adam Crump.

After this spell, Bays weren’t afforded a moment’s peace by their First Division rivals, who enjoyed plenty of support from many in the four hundred-strong crowd, who were keen to see the last team standing who could provide a fairy-tale story to the 2004 Bluebird Chatham Cup competition keep alive the romantic side of cup football which sets it apart from all other types of competition.

In the 25th minute, referee Michael Brock thwarted United’s best opportunity to date in that regard, by ignoring their penalty claims. Sebastian Perez evaded a challenge on the right before crossing to James Hodgson on the far post. Bays’ ‘keeper, Aidan Gwilt, parried his effort, but West pounced on the rebound and laid it back towards the goal-hungry Hodgson, who was promptly bundled over from behind as Bays’ defenders arrived from all angles.

"Penalty!!" screamed many in the crowd, along with Lynn-Avon’s bench, but referee Brock had other ideas, waving play on. Bays scrambled clear, hoofing the ball downfield to send one of the genuine war-horses of Northern League football, Steven Laus, thundering after it at a great rate of knots. He latched onto the sphere and let fly, only to see his shot deflected to safety by the covering challenge.

Back came Lynn-Avon five minutes later, and this time, they made it count in a huge way. Having forced a corner, Perez delivered it into the goalmouth. James Hodgson had been left inexplicably unmarked by Bays’ rearguard, and from inside the six-yard box, he gleefully headed home, much to the delight of United’s faithful.

It set up the tie - now Bays had to show their Premier League qualities, for this encounter had suddenly become anything but a stroll in the park for them. Within five minutes, they had done so. A measured ball through a square defence by Sturm picked out the charging figure of Ricky Broderson, who coolly swept the ball past the advancing Russell Hodgson - 1-1.

Bays could - perhaps should - have had a second goal, four minutes before the interval of this hard-fought affair. Laus provided a lovely through ball for Crump to latch onto, the midfielder leaving James Hodgson and Cameron Illing standing as he darted between them on the right. After rounding another challenge, he toe-poked the ball past Russell Hodgson, but past the far post as well.

Incredibly, it was the last clear-cut chance on goal at either end of the park for over half-an-hour. Because despite enjoying a healthy share of possession in the second spell, whichever way the visitors turned, there was a red shirt there to thwart their progress every step of the way.

It is a great credit to the performances of the ten men in front of him that Russell Hodgson barely touched the ball in anger until the last quarter-hour of the half. It was a defiant backs-to-the-wall performance from United which epitomised the spirit of the underdog, and proved extremely frustrating for Bays, who, slowly but surely, ran out of ideas.

When this stage was reached, Lynn-Avon, who had been surviving on scraps of possession, looked to pounce in the classic manner. In the 74th minute, James Hodgson’s cross from the left arced beyond substitute James Clark for Illing, who laid the ball inside to the hard-working Brett Ellis.

His shot was blocked, the ball heading skywards in the ensuing scramble. With the far smaller figure of West putting pressure on him, Gwilt fumbled a seemingly routine catch, and Bays managed to scramble the ball to safety, albeit momentarily.

For United had their tails up, and sensed that this was their moment to strike. The rock-like George Suri had other ideas, however, the Solomon Islands international getting his head to a Dean Allen free-kick intended for Greg Clark. The resulting corner, from Hodgson, was cleared, but only as far as Illing, whose twenty-five yarder sizzled over the crossbar.

Bays response was to charge up the other end of the park and try and break Lynn-Avon’s resolve with a late winner. But Russell Hodgson proved equal to the efforts of Broderson and Michael Bell in the remaining minutes, and when Crump volleyed wide two minutes from the end, extra-time was inevitable.

Two minutes into it, a Nick Hyde free-kick was laid back by Broderson for Crump, who sent another shot past the post, a feat Broderson himself repeated nine minutes later after beating one player on receipt of a Sturm pass.

United twice went close either side of this opportunity. Russell Hodgson launched a free-kick downfield which put Gwilt under pressure, this time from the similarly tall Greg Clark. The ‘keeper was unable to haul this one in either, but the dropping sphere was lobbed over the bar by James Hodgson, who put his hands to his head in despair.

Come the 103rd minute, it was James Clark’s turn to do this, after an Allen free-kick had been cleared right back to the taker. He instantly let fly from twenty-five yards, the ball ricocheting around like the proverbial pinball before landing at the feet of replacement striker Clark. After evading a challenge, he mistimed his volley, the ball flying wildly high and wide of the target.

Gwilt sent the resulting goal-kick downfield, and forced a corner. Rod Grove’s delivery picked out Crump, whose shot hit the underside of the crossbar and crossed the line before Illing could complete his attempt to clear it. Referee’s assistant Hayden Sentch instantly signalled the goal, and Bays were into the quarter-finals thanks to a 104th minute "Golden Goal".

As Crump was engulfed by his team-mates, Lynn-Avon’s players stood shell-shocked, having given their all and then some to hold out their higher-ranked opponents for so long.

It was a harsh way for them to bow out, in light of their contribution to a classic encounter between giant and minnow, but for the first time in twenty years, it is Bays’ name which will be drawn from the cup when the quarter-final draw is made on Monday evening, having prevailed over gallant opponents who were defiant to the very last.

Lynn-Avon: R. Hodgson; Allen, G. Clark (booked, 8), Townsley, Hiebendaal; Pepper (Cumber, 80), Illing, Ellis, J. Hodgson; Perez (J. Clark, 65), West

Bays: Gwilt; Suri (booked, 98), Hyde, Edginton; Crump, Sturm, Laus (Baker, 75), Grove, Bell; Broderson, Hanson (Stanton, 68)

Referee: Michael Brock

Chatham Cup