County’s cup adventure continued in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday night, as a dominant display from Damien Allen’s young side saw us book our place in the second round with a 3-1 win at South Shields.
Goals from Oliver McFadyen, Scott Holding and Leandro Tanswell made it a comfortable night in the North-East for this exciting group of players, who have now eliminated three sides from the competition in impressive fashion.
Allen made two changes to the side that so comfortably beat Hyde United at Edgeley Park in the last round, as Oliver McFadyen and Keith Banda came in, replacing Keane Barugh and John Osifo.
County were dealt a heavy blow early on in the game when Toby Green, the star of that win against Hyde three weeks ago, was forced off through injury after being wiped out by a reckless challenge from a South Shields defender, who was perhaps fortunate to only receive a booking for the tackle.
The Hatters quickly put that behind them however, and just three minutes later had the ball in the back of the net – Tanswell driving forward into space before sliding it left to McFadyen, who checked inside onto his right foot and smashed it into the top corner.
That early goal looked to have settled County down, and only a last-ditch challenge from a South Shields man denied Jamie Walsh from making it two after just twenty minutes, as the home side looked in danger of being overrun.
It could, and perhaps should, have been two on 38 minutes as Keane Barugh’s ball deflected kindly into the path of Tanswell, who did well to round the goalkeeper but was forced to delay the shot with defenders for company, allowing the ‘keeper to recover and somehow make the save.
Walsh had a further two opportunities before the break to extend the lead, acrobatically hooking an effort over the bar before sending an angled drive inches wide of the far post.
Half-time: South Shields 0-1 County (McFadyen, 13’)
If Damien Allen and his side were frustrated at not having more goals to show for their first-half display, they didn’t have to wait long in the second-half to put that right as they doubled the lead just 40 seconds after the restart.
Josh Edwards, continuing his fine run of displays in this year’s competition, swung in a free-kick from the right-hand side for captain Scott Holding, who got above his man at the back post to power a header back across goal and into the far corner to spark wild celebrations amongst the players.
It capped a superb display at the back from Holding alongside fellow centre-back Jay Baisley, and with Cody Johnson in front of them, as they kept the home side at bay throughout the 90 minutes as they toiled for a way back into the game.
That solid platform allowed County to spring forward again and add a third with seven minutes to go, Barugh’s cross from the right-hand side finished from close range by Tanswell, his first goal in this cup run, adding to his assist earlier in the game.
The only downside to a slick and professional performance from County came in the dying seconds as South Shields grabbed a consolation with the goal of the match – a long-range free-kick from Olly Cresdee dipped over the wall and into the top corner to give The Mariners something to shout about.
It mattered little in the end though for those County players, who can now turn their attentions to the draw for the Second Round, knowing that they are now just one win away from a potential big tie round three.
Full-time: South Shields 1-3 County (Cresdee, 90’ – McFadyen, 13’; Holding, 46’; Tanswell, 83’)
Attendance: 293
