Weekend Reports
S'land 0 Watford 1
By Matt Lond & J Bateman
February 15 2003
All the weekends FA Cup and Nationwide League Division One match reports , concerning our Div 1 teams.
Nationwide League Division One
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Striker Bobby Zamora scored the only goal of the game as Brighton moved off the bottom of the Division One table at Valley Parade with their second win in seven days. The striker has now scored four in his last five games. The first chance of an entertaining opening half fell to Kerry Mayo, but his shot allowed Bradford goalkeeper Aidan Davison to make a fairly comfortable save. Ben Roberts, Davison's opposite number, had to show considerably sharper reflexes shortly after to deny Ashley Ward's close-range header.Zamora then scored the game's only goal on 28 minutes, with a header which only just crossed the line. He almost doubled their tally before the break, but his well struck half-volley just missed the target. In the second half, Bradford substitute Simon Francis hit the woodwork and Andy Gray and Peter Atherton both went close to level the game. Brighton continued to threaten on the break to wrap up the points for sure but Davison denied both Gary Hart and Zamora.
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A late Tony Crane goal earned relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday a valuable point after 10-man Derby had battled back from a deficit with a brace from Adam Bolder. Warren Barton's nightmare first half, which featured an own goal, from a Michael Reddy cross and a red card as he commited a professional foul, looked to give the visitors a rare away victory. In a pulsating second half Bolder struck twice to turn the game on its head before substitute Crane had the final say. Georgi Kinkladze did his best to steady the Rams by stamping some authority in midfield after the opening half hour period, of which Derby was already down to ten men. The introduction of fit again Fabrizio Ravanelli at half time helped spark a Derby fightback as the Italian striker helped the ball into the path of Bolder and his rising volley flew into the roof of the net. Bolder then gave the Rams the lead with twenty minutes to go as he slotted home a ball from Lee Morris, but to their credit Wednesday fought back in the dying minutes as sub Crane, volleyed home to give the many travelling Owls fans something to go home happy about. They are now four points away from being outside the relegation places for the first time in weeks.
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Att: 7,158 |
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Rod Wallace scored twice as Gillingham comfortably overcame Grimsby at the Priestfield Stadium. The striker, whose season has been hampered by injury, opened the scoring from close range after six minutes and netted a second with a cool finish eight minutes later which had killed the game off, as Grimsby did not really provide a threat to Jason Brown in the Gills goal. Wallace's opening goal came after Ipoua had dummied Paul Shaw's cross, leaving Wallace with a straightforward finish. He then scored a second after 14 minutes as he reacted quickest to a long ball by Chris Hope, of which he lifted the ball over keeper Danny Coyne. Grimsby, had their first chance of the afternoon but George Santos headed Terry Cooke's deep cross over the bar and Gills keeper Jason Brown then saved Chris Thompson's shot from the edge of the area as the Mariners tried to get a goal to help them comeback but it wasn't to be as defender Chris Hope scored a third on the brink of half time to end all hopes of the Mariners getting back into the game. The second half was a virtual non event as there wasn't much in the way of action until the dying seconds when substitute Danny Spiller shot over. Gillingham stay in the lower reaches of mid-table while Grimsby are still in the thick of the relegation battle being just three points ahead of next places Stoke, who now have a game in hand.
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Att: 6,524 |
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Darren Byfield scored the only goal of the game as Rotherham defeated Coventry at Millmoor to move into the last of the play-off places. Coventry on the other hand, are still looking for their first league win of 2003 and have now lost four consecutive games without scoring but they created a lot of chances and the Millers had goalkeeper Mike Pollitt to thank for making several excellent saves, notably from Gary Caldwell, Dean Holdsworth and player-manager Gary McAllister, who also saw a free kick go narrowly over. It was against the run of play when Rotherham took the lead after 33 minutes as City failed to deal with a delivery into the penalty area and Byfield capitalised on their defensive hesitancy to sweep the ball into the back of the net. Coventry goalkeeper Morten Hyldgaard then made a fine save to deny Martin McIntosh with a header as Rotherham looked to extend their advantage. Despite the recent run, Coventry are still thereabouts with regards to the play-off race.
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Att: 7,038 |
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Reading boosted their promotion hopes with victory at the New Den. Alan Pardew's side turned in an impressive display and a goal in each half from Nicky Forster and Darius Henderson secured all three points as they went fourth in the table. Adie Williams had the chance to give Reading an early lead but he sent his shot over the crossbar from just six yards and the game was a real end-to-end battle but the Lions carved out the better openings. Millwall had chances which would have given them the lead as Darren Ward pulled a shot just wide of Hahnemann's left post on the quarter-hour and minutes later Charley Hearn volleyed wide. Hahnemann also produced a brilliant save to tip Livermore's powerful header round the post from a Steven Reid free kick. It wasn't until the stroke of half-time when Forster put the Royals ahead when he got on the end of a Hughes ball and put the ball past Warner. After the break, both teams had chances but it was Reading who was having the better of them as they looked to double their lead. Warner saved from Hughes, Forster which kept the score at 1-0 until Henderson doubled the lead with a powerful drive from 25 yards, which earnt Reading the full three points to keep them up there.
Saturday's FA Cup 5th Round Fixtures
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Att: 17,510 |
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Sheffield United's very good season got even better thanks to a good win over Division One rivals Walsall at Bramall Lane. Goals from on-loan striker Tommy Mooney and Peter Ndlovu were enough to book the Blades a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in a game they comfortable winners against a Walsall side that had manager Colin Lee sent from the dugout during the second half. Walsall had the better of the opening exchanges, with their foreign signings Junior and Jorge Leitao seeing much of the ball. The home team imposed their will on proceedings as Ndlovu and Steve Kabba began to show glimpses of their skill and pace which were a threat to the Walsall defence of which they got chances as Ndlovu created a chance midway through the half, only to fire straight at Walker and Kabba headed wide. The opener arrived on 39 minutes, when Michael Brown unleashed a low shot only for Jimmy Walker to parry the ball to Mooney, who applied the finish. After the break, Walsall looked to get back into the tie and level things but lacked a cutting edge up front and this proved costly as the Blades doubled their lead when Brown crossed for Ndlovu to head home. This win continues the great success that United have had in cup games this season and Neil Warnock will want that to continue in the Quarter finals.
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Att: 31,103 |
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Southampton deservedly booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after defeating Norwich at the St Mary's Stadium. Saints striker Brett Ormerod hit the post after just four minutes, but goalmouth excitement was few and far between until the Saints took control with two goals in three minutes midway through the second half. Anders Svensson opener came just minutes after Norwich's Paul McVeigh struck the crossbar with a curling shot. A few minutes later, Jo Tessem smashed home the second and decisive goal shortly afterwards before Norwich's misery was completed when Malky Mackay was sent-off for two bookable offences. The Saints have enjoyed an excellent season under Gordan Strachan and must now fancy their chances of reaching the final. During the game both teams created some chances, with Norwich's Paul McVeigh having some good chances to maybe help the Canaries get a shock win but he was denied by the crossbar and some good keeping by Antti Niemi. He hit the bar which then provoked the Saints into creating something, of which they did. They broke forward and Beattie knocked down Marsden's cross for Anders Svensson to bundle home from short range, and shortly afterwards Tessem, only just on as a substitute, smashed home his team's second after Green parried Marsden's shot. Norwich's defeat was summed up when Mackay was sent from the field after collecting two yellow cards.
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Att: 26,916 |
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Watford piled on the agony for Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson as they dumped the Premiership strugglers out of the FA Cup at The Stadium of Light. Tommy Smith's controversial twice-taken penalty gave the First Division underdogs a battling fifth round victory and their first quarter-final in 15 years. Sunderland were furious when referee Mike Dean ordered Smith's second half spot-kick to be taken again after goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen saved his first effort but the keeper was deemed to have been off his line. Smith then scored at the second attempt to leave Sunderland facing a desperate battle against relegation from the top flight. Sunderland made five changes in the wake of the 4-1 defeat at Spurs last weekend - made little impact in an uninspired first half. Kevin Phillips should have put Sunderland ahead against his old club after nine minutes when he sent clear on goal, but he screwed his finish wide. He also had a long-range shot which was all Sunderland had in the first half. Black Cats boss Wilkinson responded to Watford's dominance early in the second half with a double substitution on the hour, bringing on David Bellion and Talal El Karkouri. It was Watford who took the lead in controversial style after 65 minutes after they was given a penalty after Helguson was sandwiched by Jody Craddock and Jason McAteer. The first kick was saved by Sorensen's legs, but Dean infuriated thought the goalkeeper was off his line. The Watford striker's second spot-kick was as poor as his first, but sneaked in via Sorensen's hands. This thrust Sunderland into life and Craddock's header was cleared off the line as they put the Hornets into a lot of pressure. They was helped in the end by goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain was then Watford's hero as he turned substitute Michael Proctor's header over the top in acrobatically. He had another header but that went over. Watford could then celebrate putting another Premiership team out this season after beating West Brom 1-0 last round.
Full Match Previews can be found at --
Gillingham UpTheGills.tk
Grimsby The Mariner
Ipswich Singing The Blues
Sheff Utd bladesfc.co.uk
Walsall The Saddlers FC
Wolves wolvesfc.co.uk