Northampton Sileby Rangers v Sun Sports  15 August 2015   FA Cup Extra Preliminary Rd

Cup voodoo returns to haunt Sun

Sun lost to Northampton Sileby Rangers 2-1 at Fernie Fields in their first ever appearance in the FA Cup.

Since the draw was made this was the game that everyone at Sun Sports had been looking forward to, the first time that Sun Sports had ever appeared in the famous FA Cup since their formation back in 1920 as Sun Engraving FC.

A coach was put on for players, staff and fans to travel together to Northampton for this historic occasion and arrived at Fernie Fields early to take in the very impressive ground and pitch.

The match kicked off and started at a fast and furious pace but before long things started to go wrong for Sun.

The ball was pumped into the box and as Brian Farrell picked the ball up a slight nudge from Jack Johnson caused Farrell to fall and the referee pointed to the spot after only three minutes.

Brian Farrell took the spot kick himself and blasted the ball into the back of the net to give Sileby Rangers the advantage.

After that the game was virtually all Sun as they pressured Sileby and attacked with both Dom David and Karl Penny having chances but weren't able to take them.

Nathan Pooley crossed a ball into the box but Sileby keeper Liam Waddy beat David to the ball.

The two paired up again a few minutes later as a long ball from Pooley found David who managed to twist and turn past his marker but Waddy came out to block the ball which was turned away for a corner.

After a couple of close call crosses from Sileby it was Sun's turn to go on the offensive again.

This time it was Marcel Jones with a long ball to Dom David who tried to lob the keeper but again Waddy came out quick again to block it. Had the ball gone in though it would have been disallowed for offside.

Sun kept the ball on the floor for the next attack until a cross came from the right from Jack Johnson which was headed back by Nathan Pooley just outside the box to Lee Butler who hit the ball over the bar.

David had another chance when he beat Keiran Nugent after a bit of a tussle and put his left foot through the ball which Waddy fumbled but managed to hold on to.

Sileby Rangers thought they had another penalty claim after Luke Fairlamb chipped Troy Johnston through and Sun's Krishan Edwards clattered into him but the referee saw nothing wrong.

Stuart MacMichael then beat one Sun defender and shot hard towards goal which was successfully blocked by Ross Hampton, the ball fell back to MacMichael to hit a slightly weaker shot blocked by the foot of Hampton giving him a fantastic double save.

From a corner Sun had a great chance to equalise. Scott Bonner found himself in the six yard area and had his shot headed off the line, the ball then came to Dom David whos shot hit the raised arm of defender Nugent right in front of the referee but despite the shouts for a penalty the referee waved the claim away.

In the second half Sun put more pressure on Sileby to get something out of the game with Bonner and Penny both coming close early in the second half.

Dom David then picked the ball up from inside his own half and ran through the Sileby players, he crosssed the ball finding Jack johnson whos first time shot would have crept in if it wasn't for Liam Waddy getting his palm to the ball.

More chances were given to Sun Sports as David, Penny and Johnson all failed to hit the target.

Dom David again had another chance as he noticed Waddy off his line and tried to lob him, unfortunately Waddy back peddled enough to tip the ball over the bar.

From the resulting corner there was a bit of a goalmouth scramble when the ball came back out to Brima Johnson who hit the ball for all it was worth, it hit a defender on the way towards goal but ended up the wrong side of the upright.

By now time was running out and Sileby Rangers were picking off Sun by making counter attacks, MacMichael had a chance to put the game out of reach when he had only Hampton to beat but the ball went wide of the post.

Stuart MacMichael then had another chance and in the 87th minute he lobbed the Sun keeper and this time he was more accurate as the ball bounced into the back of the net to make the score 2-0.

But Sun Sports "Never say die" attitude never prevailed as Karl Penny saw a chance to shoot which the keeper could only parry over the bar.

Sun still pushed forward and from an inswinging corner Reon Thomas was found unmarked as he dived to head the ball into the Silby net on 90 minutes.

Only time added on remained but Sun remained resolute and continued to push for an equaliser which they would have thoughly deserved.

Karl Penny was up against it all afternoon with the huge 6ft 9" Lewis Burgess marking him but he battled away like a terrier against a great dane and had one more chance but again keeper Waddy helped to break Sun's heart and hopes of a home tie against Leighton Town in the next round.

As manager Paul Hobbs said after the game, it was like Stanway Rovers all over again (The FA Vase tie which Sun lost 1-0 last season) as Sun had most of the possession, and plenty of opportunities to have won the game whereas Sileby only had a couple of decent chances which were taken.

If the early penalty wasn't given would the tie had been different?
And if the handball for Sun was given?

But if if's and ands were pots and pans!

Ah well....there's still the Vase!!