Ferryhill Athletic embarked upon this season’s cup journey with a trip to Teesside to face Billingham Synthonia Reserves on Saturday in the premlinary round of the Clem Smith Bowl, reports Chris Orton.
A solild squad was available to face the young Synners team and it wasn’t long until the away side were creating chances.
Alex Quinn shot across goal early on, before Deacon Simpson opened the scoring after three minutes following good work from Zak Lauder.
Quinn was lively on left wing and created a number of opportunities, with Kieron Richardson shooting over soon after the first goal.
Athletic were thoroughly in charge in the early stages, but Billingham looked keen and worked hard.
Billingham continued to look impressive for a spell, their young team working hard to foil Athletic at numerous opportunities.
The away side seemed to lose their flow and were second best for a spell, which led to Billingham equalising with a good shot that Athletic were unable to keep out.
Athletic were second best for much of this period, but the second goal came when Richardson found himself in a one-on-one with George Wilson in the home goal, and cooly slotted home following the ref missing a handball by a Billingham player.
Richardson doubled his tally for the game shortly before half time to leave the away side 3-1 up at the break.
The second half was an entirely different affair, with Athletic stepping up a gear and dominating proceedings throughout.
The impressive Lauder scored number four with an easy tap-in, but had to go off for a spell as he was injured following a nasty challenge on him.
Michael Hogg and Michael Hull were introduced from the bench and this gave the away side a new lease of life.
Hogg found himself clear on goal after racing past the Billingham defence and hit the upright with a belter of a shot.
Lots of chances were being created and missed, with Cameron Wallace impressing after coming on.
Richardson got another hat-trick for the season when he tapped in an easy chance, before getting his fourth shortly after.
Joe Langton and Niall Seymour were commanding centre backs and repelled any Billingham advance, ensuring that Finlay Colwell in the Athletic goal had little to do, whilst Ellis Hare and Adam Thirlaway impressed as full-backs.
The ever-dependable Jay Roddam controlled everything in the centre of the field, whilst Matthew Agar again put in a solid shift.
The scoring was rounded off in extra time when Hogg got the seventh. Kieron Richardson collected another Man of the Match Award.
Ferryhill progress to the first round proper of the Clem Smith Bowl, but before that comes another away cup tie this Saturday in the Durham Minor Cup against Gateshead FC Performance Under 18s. Kick-off time is 1.30pm.
Chris Orton
Writing regular Ferryhill Athletic match reports.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
