04/09/2021 

Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying round

Attendance: 361

 An injury time winner from Marine substitute Ryan Wignall booked his sides place in the hat for the second qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup, as Dunston exited the tournament in the first Qualifying round. 

 Despite a slow start from both sides, Dunston controlled the first half with Pattison and Turnbull calm and composed in the middle of the pitch. Marine looked a threat in spells and drew three smart saves from Dunston keeper Liam Connell, who got down to save shots from Hughes, Watkinson and captain Niall Cummins. 

Marine rued these missed chances as in the first half of injury time, a long ball was flicked on by Scott Heslop, allowing Jack Elliott to beat the offside trap, keep his cool and slot the ball past Bayleigh Passant into the far corner of the net. 1-0 Dunston.

Dunston started the second half with the energy they had finished the first with, Heslop almost catching the Marine keeper off his line from 40 yards out.

Passant was soon in the thick of the action again, charging out to the stray ball only to clothesline Jack Elliott just outside the box; a questionable yellow was pulled from the referees’ pocket. 

With Dunston still in firm control of the match, Marine equalised against the run of play with their first chance of the half. Kengni, the lively winger, had his shot deflected across the box, before the ball was pulled back to James Barrigan who made no mistake from close range to level the scores. Game on.

With the probability of a replay growing, Dunston received a sucker punch blow three minutes into added time. Kenji again causing the issues down the left, crossing the ball in,  only for a stray shot to land at the feet of Wignall who could not miss from four yards out.

Dunston threw everything at their opponents to get an equaliser, with Eddie Thomas going close with a header late on. In the end, a frustrating afternoon for Dunston who will feel they deserved at least a replay, if not more.

Dunston are back in action next week when they travel to Liversedge in the league.

Dunston UTS FC Man of the Match: Dan Capewell

Dan Capewell is kindly sponsored by:

Home shirt - Jimmy Souley

Away shirt - Billy Irwin Painter and Decorator

Training kit - Christina Shell.