KIRKHAM'S dream of a place in the last four of the FA Vase was just six minutes away from realization in normal time when visitors Coventry Sphinx equalized to take the game into extra-time in a tie played out in front of a
record crowd of 1,093 at Kellamergh Park on Saturday
Kirkham boss Mick Fuller admitted after: "Disappointed that we didn't win it.
"We certainly had the chances to do so, but Coventry never lay down, and while we knew that they would concede goals, the plan from our side was to stop them scoring.
"Unfortunately it didn't quite happen that way but I have ideas for next week.
advertisement
"I'll keep them to myself - but lets just say that l have the players on the bench to make a difference next week and hopefully that will be the case.
"They are a good side, but I thought in normal time having led twice that we would see it out, but in saying that, going 3-2 down in extra-time we bounced back and that's brilliant."
But against the run-of-play Kirkham went ahead after 15 minutes when young Mike Clark latched onto a through pass from Phil Blackwell to put the home side in front.
But Coventry hit back just before the break when big burly Jack Cudworth stole in low to head in the equalizer just three minutes before half time
from a well taken free-kick by Tom Bates.
While there was no argument that the visitors had the balance of play in the first-half, Kirkham's half-time team-talk kick started them into life after the break and twice in the space of 60 seconds both skipper Phil Thompson (a header) and Mark Wane went close before Ged Smith was brought down in the box after 51 minutes.
Striker Sean Paterson cooly slotted in his 20th goal of the season from the spot to send the record crowd of more than 1,000 in raptures - except that is the three coachloads of Coventry fans who had swelled the record gate at
Kellamergh Park.
But then Coventry substitute Chris Harris got on the end of a tantalizing inswinger from Rob Stevenson on the left hand side six minutes from time to send the tie into extra-time and sink the Kirkham hearts.
Moments later Kirkham introduced sub Michael Horsfall who bemused the visitors defence with his runs, and then hit a post, but it was the visitors who struck first just a minute before the break in extra-time when another of their substitutes, tricky Tom Maguire fired in Sphinx' third, a shot across Kirkham keeper Pete Summerfield to put Coventry in front for the
first time in the tie.
But with time ticking down and Kirkham's Wembley dreams seemingly in tatters, Matt Walwyn fired in a shot that Sphinx keeper Ashley Hooker found
too hot to handle, and there was striker Wane to chip in the rebound for his 21st strike of the season.
While both camps will feel that they should have won it, there is little doubt that on the day neither of these two fine sides deserved to exit the competition and the whole ball game will have to be replayed at Sphinx Drive in a week's time.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Submit your event for free. Click 
Print
Email this
Comment
