Connor Coyne’s two second-half goals clinched a place for the
Hoops in the fourth round of the FA Vase for only the third time in the club’s
history.
But, while applauding his striker’s man-of-the-match contribution, manager
Derek Hares was keen to emphasise that the victory had been very much a team
effort, saying: “I was proud of all the players today, they all worked hard and
showed a lot of spirit on what was a great day for the club.”
In front of a near-300 crowd, the
highest at the Charles Ground for 14 years, Deal produced one of their best
defensive displays of the season to frustrate a Southall side who, like the
Hoops, are former Vase finalists and who had also reached the quarter-finals of
the competition just two years ago.
After carrying out a pre-match spying mission
on the London club Hares had predicted that Saturday’s tie would be a “50-50
game”, and that was how it turned out for the opening 70 minutes with little to
choose between two well-matched sides.
Deal’s best chances of the goalless first
half fell to Coyne and Ben Cardwell and, although they were unable to take
advantage, the duo were to later make full amends while at the other end the
Southall strikers were also off-target in their few clear-cut openings before
the break.
The contest continued in a similar vein in
the second half until, with 71 minutes gone, Cardwell produced the piece of
quality needed to break the deadlock. The striker’s powerful runs have been a
feature of the Hoops’ attacking play this season and once again he dribbled his
way deep into the visitors’ area before pulling the ball back for Coyne to
side-foot home from six yards.
That gave Deal just the lift they needed,
especially at the back where the determined defending of Lee Scott and Liam
Hark frequently frustrated the Southall strikers, and then with nine minutes
remaining the Hoops virtually wrapped up their place in the last 32 with a
second goal.
This time Charlie Walsh was the instigator,
using his pace in pursuit of a long ball and, although Southall ‘keeper
Laurence Berkley just got there first, he “scuffed” his clearance straight to
the feet of Coyne and the striker took full advantage with a 25-yard chip into
the unguarded net.
While Coyne and Co celebrated you could
almost sense that Southall now knew the game was up, and a delighted Hares
added afterwards: “I felt the first goal was always going to be vital, and that
whoever got it would probably go on and win the game. That proved to be the
case, and now we can all look forward to Monday’s draw (which is going to be
broadcast at lunchtime on talkSPORT radio).”
Deal: Tonkin, Hark, Penny (O’Brien 77),
Scott, Foster, Munday, Chapman, Murray, Coyne (Howard 92), Walsh, Cardwell (Maughan
83).
Attendance: 296
Caption: Connor Coyne receives his MOM award from Steve Marshall, who was a member of the Deal side who won the FA Vase in 2000
One Response
Great day all round. 🙂
Good result,with a cracking crowd and atmosphere.
Result made even better when you consider the likes of Smith,Wilson,Reeves, Biggy and others were missing from the line up.
More of the same please next week against AFC Croydon in the league 🙂