Jarrow FC 1-3 Billingham Synthonia (21-04-2021)

 FA Durham Challenge Cup 3rd Round 

 

21-04-2021

 

Jarrow FC 1-3 Billingham Synthonia

 

25’ North | 1’, 6’ Howes, 16’ Ferguson

 

For the second time in 8 days a side from Billingham took to the field at Perth Green in Jarrow for a Durham cup match. This time however the visitors were victorious dumping the home side out of the competition and ultimately ending the Marchers season.

It couldn’t have started any worse for Jarrow with a first minute corner being swung over and after a few players rose for the ball the referee blew his whistle for a handball and penalty that looked extremely harsh in real time and more so after watching the replay. The resulting pen was dispatched however and made the score line 1-0 to the Synners.

Jarrow didn’t allow their heads to drop and went in search of an immediate response but a mixture of good defending and poor execution of the final ball contrived to keep them at bay. The second goal if not contentious was slightly fortuitous as Jarrow were dallying on the ball in midfield gave a sloppy backwards pass straight to the opposing midfielder who slotted in Kurtis Howes who coolly finished in the bottom corner for his second of the night. 2-0.

Again, though the home side didn’t let it affect them and the following 10 minutes they enjoyed more possession and created a few chances of their own with Glen Hargrave causing problems for Billingham firstly firing over the bar then on 12 minutes being adjudged to have fouled the last defender as he bore down on goal.

Then in the 16th minute came the moment that could really put daylight between the sides. If the penalty had looked harsh the free kick awarded this time was even more so. The Billingham player appeared to stand on the ball himself but the referee had no hesitation in blowing for a foul by a Jarrow player. The free kick from all of 25 yards was then expertly pinged in the top right hand corner by Joe Ferguson leaving Hubery in goal with no chance.

Jarrow had good cause for complaint over the first & third goals but in the 21st minute they only had themselves to blame as a mistimed sliding challenge resulted in the second penalty of the game for the visitors and gave them the chance to make it 4-0. Jarrow keepers have quite an affection for pens and Steven Hubery wasn’t about to let that record end there saving well low down to his right and therefore giving Jarrow a lift and finally some belief.

A minute later Dan Smith saw a volley blocked on its way towards goal and then a Dan Smith through ball found striker Channon North who was tripped by the keeper and a third penalty awarded! Despite being last man under the double jeopardy rule the Synners man was rightly not sent off but how he escaped a caution remains a mystery. North took the pen despite missing one last week and again failed from the spot but managed to follow it up and blast the ball high into the roof of the net. 3-1.

Another penalty was waved away shortly after as appeals for handball in the Billingham box and a great chance seconds later was also flashed wide by Hargrave making his first start since coming on as a sub against Warrington in the cup back in December.

A change in formation was deployed by the home side with Cal Smith moving inside and Hargrave moving wider into a 443 style which would go on to work well in the 2nd half.

It was the away sides turn next for some possession and after some neat build up a weak finish was easily saved by Hubery in goal as they continued to play an attractive brand of football, incisive passing and dangerous on the break when they got the chance. 3-1 halftime.

The second half proved to be just as action packed as the first but without the obvious exception of a goal. That was millimetres away from being false however after Glen Hargrave chased a long ball and his first time shot trickled agonisingly wide of the post. Moments later in the 50th minute Davy Smith had a cross parried that found its way to Gary Shaw whose half volley was well saved by the keeper.

On 58 minutes a scramble in the Synners box was eventually cleared after a dangerous back pass had almost caught the keeper out. What proceeded was heavy possession for the visitors as Jarrow struggled to get a foothold in the game after early second half chances. Billingham controlled the game without threatening as they had in the first half and yet still seemed to win a corner with every attack with some great defending from Nick Little and Darryll Donnelly thwarting there every move.

Kris Allen was introduced into the midfield and Jarrow began to press with a number of through balls wrongly ruled out for offside that added to the growing frustrations of the home side. Finally, a through ball was allowed to continue however and but for a great save from the keeper North would’ve reduced the deficient.

Cal Smith then had a shot over the bar and Adam Lennox returning from injury replaced the hard working Hargrave up top. Lennox’s endeavour was evident from the first few seconds he was on the pitch as Jarrow tried in vain to get back into the game.

Synners kept pressing for chances of their own but found clear cut opportunities hard to come by until a snap shot was well saved by sub keeper Jak Wells in the 83rd minute.

A sizeable chunk of injury time was then played out for a few injuries and it was Jarrow who had the last chance of very good game with Channon sliding the ball through to Adam who jinked past the keeper but could only hit the post from the angle.

An entertaining and even game apart from the first 20 minutes when the Synners were untouchable and they thoroughly deserve to progress while Jarrow will feel aggrieved at many decisions, they will know they had chances of their own that they missed.

MOTM, Nick Little who was once again solid in defence putting in challenges all over the park.

 

Att: 0 (Hackle Hill full again fantastic support from the blue and white army)