The FA Carlsberg Vase

Second Qualifying Round

HALL ROAD RANGERS 3 STAND ATHLETIC 2 (after extra time)

STAND Athletic crashed out of the FA Vase in a heartbreaking extra-time period, as they were made to pay for missing chance after chance.

Northern Counties East side Hall Road Rangers needed a huge dose of luck, plus the extra 30 minutes to finish off a Stand side that left their shooting boots at home.

Stand went into this tie with a depleted squad, with injuries to Steve Davis, Dave Channon, Alan Dixon and Neil Davies, adding to the already suspended players to make this game a huge uphill task even before kick-off.

Danny Norton was given his first start of the season in a reshuffled squad, but Stand still appeared to have the firepower and quality to deal with the hosts.

But a hatful of wasted chances would once again prove to be their downfall, as poor finishing left the Hull side to gleefully snatch a last minute sickener.

Normal time itself was largely uneventful, and the first half was particularly lacklustre. The Denham brothers were involved in the most notable incidents, with Chris being denied a clear penalty and Mark crashing a shot just wide.

Stand were probably the better side during the 90 minutes, as Hall Road only broke sporadically, countering the visitors attacks.

Stand's cause was boosted by the sending off of Hall Road's captain and central defender Neil Buckley on the hour.

The referee this time sympathised with Chris Denham after the home side's skipper had clumsily hauled him down, and red was produced.

Stand piled on even more pressure for the final half hour of normal time, but chance after chance went begging, and Rangers kept the visitors defence on their toes with some swift counter attacks.

Still Stand layed siege to their opposite goal, but extra-time still came around with no goals to show for either side's enterprise.

Ironically, Stand's efforts were rewarded in the first minute of extra-time, with the opener coming from substitute Jordan Ashton.

Ashton was alert to pounce on a rebound and he rammed the ball home after Chris Denham had smashed the crossbar with a great effort. How heartbreaking then, that Stand would concede an equaliser, so quickly after all that expended energy finally found them their opener.

A free-kick was awarded on the edge of the box, and up stepped Palmer to clip the ball over the wall, and keeper Tommy Allen for an unexpected leveller.

Still more drama was in store in a frantic finale, with Hall Road's Barnwell finding himself with only Allen to beat. There was to be only one outcome, with Barnwell hammering a beauty into the far corner with the keeper well beaten.

From then on it was like a training session, defence against attack, as Stand went on the rampage, desparately searching for an equaliser.

But they were to be dealt a double blow as Ashton headed in for the equaliser, only to see it ruled out for pushing. This incensed Ashton, and seconds later he found himself taking an early shower for too much verbal demonstration.

Yet still more drama was to follow, as Mark Denham smashed home an angled drive to give Stand a dramatic lifeline with just three minutes remaining.

This didn't deter Hall Road from dealing another devastating blow to the visitors, but this time it came too late for Stand to save the day.

With seconds on the clock, Mike Smith crashed in a shot from the right that flew over the stranded keeper and into the top of the net.

In the end, Stand only had some wasteful finishing to blame, plus their inability to defend at the vital moments cost them a place in the next round. STAND ATHLETIC: Allen 7, Telfer 6, M.Denham 7, Hannan 8, Vine-Jones 8, Stott 8, C.Denham 7, ANDERSON 9, Bartholomew 7, Carroll 6, Norton 8. Substitutes: Ashton 7 (for Carroll), Davis 6 (for Telfer). Not Used: Dixon.

The reserves had a decidedly better day than the first team, with their first win of the season coming in the form of a 2-1 success over Maine Road reserves at Ewood Bridge.

This Saturday sees Stand back on their travels, this time in a league match against Castleton Gabriels. The Tuesday after (Oct 2) brings the top two sides in the division together in a mouth-watering clash at Ewood Bridge, with Stand looking for three points at home to Formby (kick-off 7:45). Formby are unbeaten at present, and with Nelson, are part of the chasing pack, pushing hard to dislodge Stand from the league summit.

On 6th October, Stand take on Great Harwood (kick-off 1pm).

Chadderton 4 Stand Athletic 4

TWO late penalties from Chris Denham kept Stand on top of the North West Counties Division Two table after a thrilling game.

The home side went 4-1 up with a couple of disputed goals, but Nick Davis's boys battled away and the two spot kicks in the last six minutes saved the day.

Mark Denham and Steve Carroll scored Stand's other goals.