March Town not at their best but sneak through in FA Vase against Huntingdon Town
March Town 2, Huntingdon Town 1
FA Vase First Round Qualifying
The Hares seem to be saving their worst performances this season for FA competitions.
Despite climbing to the top of the United Counties League Premier Division South with four wins out of four, March were dumped out of the FA Cup by Sheringham and are rather lucky to still be in this competition.
Second half goals by Danny Emmington and sub Rob Conyard merely papered over the cracks as Ash Taylor's side (see his comments here) struggled against opposition a step lower in the non-league football pyramid.
Indeed, were in not for two controversial disallowed goals, it could well be The Hunters travelling to play away at Norwich United on September 24.
March were missing talismanic striker Jack Friend and hard-working midfielder Jack Saunders, who are both on holiday, while Scott Callaghan was suspended. However, there was also good news, with central defender Emmington and striker Ryan Lennon returning after injury.
Former Wisbech midfielder Sam Murphy came off the bench to make his competitive debut for the Hares after being injured in pre-season, and keeper Charlie Congreve was also on the bench after injury.
March started the game sluggishly and didn't threaten until the 19th minute, when midfielder Efraim Romanos saw a shot deflected over the bar. Seconds later, the impressive Luis Cowie saw an effort saved after a weaving run.
At the other end, former Wisbech St Mary striker Matty Harris-Hercules saw an effort deflected over before Emmington strode forward for March and saw a fierce effort from 35 yards saved low by home keeper Connor Barker.
The Hares were missing the intelligent runs of Friend, but minutes before the break his replacement Lennon twice went close. First his fierce drive was palmed away for a corner and then he volleyed the resultant set piece goalwards, only to be denied again by Barker.
Just before the break, Jack Minchella fired home for the visitors from the edge of the box, but the flag had gone up just before his strike.
The home team started the second half on the front foot and took the lead four minutes in when Emmington whipped in a 20-yard right footed cross from the left which evaded everyone in the box and snuck in at the near post.
But March didn't follow up on that goal and, after 66 minutes, Harris-Hercules showed some great footwork on the edge of the box before firing home the equaliser. Two minutes later and home keeper Jonah Gill had to be at his best to keep out another effort.
Murphy had come on on after an hour and nearly scored in the 73rd minute, switching the ball to his left foot, only to see a rasping 25 yard effort tipped over the bar by Barker.
But March did take the lead 11 minutes later when sub Rob Conyard came alive in the box to flick home a cross from the left.
That should have been it, but in the 86th minute Huntingdon looked to have taken the match to penalties when a drive from the right of the box by sub Charlie Minchella beat Gill at his far post - but referee Brian O'Sullivan ruled it didn't cross the line. He and the assistant were probably the only two people in the ground with that opinion.
March (4-4-2, r-l): Gill; Garner, Emmington, Brumby, Burrows; Green, Romanos (Murphy 60 mins), Gibson (McQuaid 63), Cowie; Lennon (Conyard 71), Gillies. Subs (not used): Bryant,Congreve.
Huntingdon: Barker, Adams, McSkelly, Gordon, Chilvers, Arnold, Darnell, Stringer, Harris-Hercules, J Minchella, Venters. Subs: Rhaman, Henson, C Minchella, Goldson-Williams, O'Reilly.
Star man: Danny Emmington - played through the pain barrier after missing three weeks with a knee injury, played some sumptuous cross-field passes and scored the opening goal.
Attendance: 163.
