Andy Crosby was delighted with his Port Vale side as they secured a second-round tie at Stevenage with a 2-0 victory over Burton in their FA Cup first-round replay.
Gavin Massey set Vale on their way, with a poacher’s finish continuing some good form from the winger.
Substitute Lewis Cass grabbed the second goal with eight minutes remaining, providing an impact from the bench that Crosby was looking for.
“I thought we were excellent tonight from start to finish,” Crosby said. “Both with and without the ball we controlled the game how we want to play and we also handled the physical power of Burton and the way they try and play.
“You have to compete and win second balls, get blocks in and I don’t think they had a shot on target tonight.
“I thought Gavin was excellent. He was really good at Wrexham last week with a really impactful 45 minutes and you look at the make-up of the squad tonight and we are only as good as our senior players and they were all excellent tonight.
“It was a great finish from Lewis. I knew the group would need the likes of Lewis and I told him we were going to need his quality from the bench.
“I was really pleased with the clean sheet too tonight and we achieved our aim of getting through to the second round.”
Burton boss Dino Maamria bemoaned his side’s luck in a tight game of fine margins, reflecting on his team’s disallowed goal at Vale Park that resulted in the replay.
He said: “It’s a marginal game. The first is marginal to being offside, I think.
“Cole Stockton missed being onside by an inch. We scored a legit goal in the first game but it was disallowed for offside.”
Maamria hailed Vale striker Uche Ikpeazu for the way he led the line and caused the Burton defence problems.
“I thought we started the game really well then they got on top a little bit,” Maamria added. “I thought the player that made the difference in the game was Ikpeazu.
“I thought we pressed really well from the front but once they got it up to him he was able to do what he wanted to do. He was unplayable tonight and the difference between the two teams.
“You need to score when you are on top and that first goal came at the wrong time for us. Overall, Port Vale deserved their win tonight. For us it was tough to take but I think the international break is coming at the right time for us to get our best player, Sam Hughes, back.”
Joe Ironside scored the winner in extra time to take Doncaster through to the second round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over fellow League Two side Accrington in the replay.
After the two sides drew 2-2 at the Eco-Power Stadium, Stanley got off to a dream start in the seventh minute when Korede Adedoyin’s low cross found Joe Pritchard at the near post and he flicked the ball home.
Stanley pressed, with Pritchard chipping the ball narrowly wide and visiting keeper Louis Jones producing a superb save to keep out a Jack Nolan free-kick.
Doncaster started the second half strongly and equalised after 67 minutes when Tom Nixon’s cross from the left was stroked home by Zain Westbrooke at the near post.
Stanley substitute Josh Woods charged free after 82 minutes but his low shot was saved while, after 86 minutes, Luke Molyneux’s shot cannoned off a post.
George Broadbent’s fierce strike was blocked on the line for Rovers in a frantic finale.
In extra time, Doncaster scored the winner after 101 minutes when Broadbent squared the ball for Ironside to slide in and find the roof of the net.
York manager Neal Ardley admitted his team rode their luck to “hang on” for a 2-1 FA Cup first round replay victory over Chester.
Captain Lenell John-Lewis bagged a brace to put the hosts in the ascendancy midway through the second period but David Stockdale was required to make two fine saves either side of a 71st-minute George Glendon reply.
York survived to book a televised Friday night home clash with 2013 cup winners Wigan on December 1 but Ardley said: “We started the game really well and could have been a couple up but, at half-time, their manager had a shout at them and we knew they would up their game because it was a cup tie and they hadn’t laid a glove on us.
“We then didn’t adapt to their intensity and they came out on the front foot while we came out on the back foot.
“It became a proper cup tie and one team’s mentality was ‘let’s go for it’ and the other was ‘can we hang on?’, but we found a way to win, even though we didn’t manage the game well enough.”
Chester boss Calum McIntyre had mixed feelings at the final whistle – pride in his team’s efforts on the night and throughout this season’s competition, but disappointment at not progressing further and
pocketing a £100,000 windfall in prize money and TV revenue.
He said: “There were big rewards on offer and I am gutted we’ve missed out on that but very proud of my football team in this game and the whole cup run we’ve been on.
“We had York on the ropes and there was a moment at the end that we shared with the supporters that was special, when the effort of the players was recognised.
“In the end, It has taken two brilliant saves from a former Premier League keeper in both the original tie and this game to get York through to the next round.”
Barnsley manager Neill Collins praised the attitude of his side as they beat Horsham 3-0 in the FA Cup.
Three goals in less than half an hour – two from John McAtee including a chip – sent the League One side through to meet Sutton in the next round.
It was a much more thorough performance from the Oakwell side in the replay after they were held by the Isthmian League outfit in the first game, which left Collins content.
He said: “They came out and threw everything at us, but we should have added to our goal tally late on, we responded really well.
“It was a very professional job in the first half, we rectified things, tonight was a really good learning experience.
“The chip over the keeper was a real touch of class, it was a great, great goal from an individual perspective.”
A cross from Adam Phillips after three minutes was only parried by keeper Lewis Carey, and Nicky Cadden followed up from close range to open the scoring.
Barnsley looked assured and doubled their lead seven minutes later. Aiden Marsh crossed in from the byline, and McAtee was left unmarked in the area to power his shot past Carey.
The contest was all-but over after 27 minutes. A long ball from Jordan Williams found McAtee on the edge of the box, and with great touch he lobbed the onrushing Carey for his second of the evening – and the third for Barnsley.
Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola felt the first 10 minutes was critical for his team.
He said: “I’m gutted really. I think the first 10 minutes just killed us to be honest. We just didn’t come out well and they came out very sharp.
“You’ve got a mountain to climb. I’m just disappointed because I thought we played quite well.
“But I thought the boys were excellent. They gave everything they could.”
Forest Green secured their place in the second round of the FA Cup with a 5-2 victory over National League North side Scarborough.
Goals from Teddy Jenks, Kyle McAllister, Jamie Robson, Harvey Bunker and Tyrese Omotoye completed the win for the League Two strugglers.
The hosts took the lead in the fifth minute after a cross from Fankaty Dabo found its way to Jenks and his deflected effort went past Ryan Whitley in the Scarborough goal.
Troy Deeney won a penalty in the 18th minute which was converted into the top-right corner by McAllister.
Rovers went 3-0 ahead in the 30th minute when Robson tapped into an empty net.
It was 4-0 after 34 minutes as Bunker found the back of the net from a corner routine.
Scarborough got a goal back in the 41st minute through an effort from Alex Wiles that was out of reach for home goalkeeper James Belshaw.
Omotoye added a fifth in the 76th minute with a left-footed shot into the bottom corner before Michael Coulson grabbed a late consolation for the visitors.
Grimsby fought through an end-to-end first half to beat sixth-tier Slough 7-2 in their FA Cup first-round replay at Blundell Park.
The Mariners opened the scoring in the seventh minute as Arthur Gnahoua’s deflected effort on the edge of the Slough area fell to Rekeil Pyke to finish neatly.
Slough went two down in the 16th minute, with Danny Rose diving in to finish off a corner that was flicked on at the near post.
The Rebels pulled a goal back in the 19th minute – Tyrese Dyce heading in at close range – and Grimsby’s lead was completely erased in the 33rd minute by David Ogbonna.
The hosts restored their advantage in the 45th minute as Pyke headed in from six yards and they then added a fourth goal in the 65th minute through Gnahoua.
Alex Hunt came off the bench for Grimsby to remove any doubt of victory for his side as he finished off a nice team move in the 79th minute.
Gnahoua set up the fifth and scored the sixth six minutes later from a similar position, shortly followed by a seventh from Jamie Andrews.
Goals in each half from Gavin Massey and substitute Lewis Cass saw Port Vale through to the second round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 replay win over Staffordshire rivals Burton.
Massey finally broke the deadlock in the 31st minute after Burton keeper Max Crocombe had made a double save from Uche Ikpeazu and Tom Sang. The winger reacted quickest to the loose ball to leave the Albion stopper with no chance and put Vale in charge of the game.
The visitors had to weather plenty of early pressure from the Brewers but crucially did not concede, allowing them to grow into the game and begin to dominate.
The goal was a reward for Vale’s attacking after Ikpeazu had missed a sitter on the rebound after Rhys Walters has forced another good save, and Ethan Chislett squandered a good chance on the stroke of half-time, firing wastefully wide.
Cole Stockton was denied an equaliser by the flag of the assistant early in the second half as Albion sought parity but Vale finally made sure of victory when Cass converted Sang’s low cross with eight minutes remaining to set up a meeting with fellow League One side Stevenage.
League Two Crewe came from behind to beat Derby 3-1 in their FA Cup first round replay at Pride Park.
Tom Barkhuizen gave Derby the lead but Crewe hit back through an Aaron Rowe double and a Mickey Demetriou header to deservedly go through.
Derby, who had scored twice late on to force a replay in the original tie, took the lead in the fourth minute when Lewis Billington lost out to Louie Sibley and he set up Barkhuizen to score from 12 yards.
But Crewe responded three minutes later through Rowe who fired a powerful 20-yard drive into the bottom right corner.
Rowe struck again in the 21st minute with a shot which took a big deflection to beat Joe Wildsmith, who had saved from Courtney Baker-Richardson seven minutes later.
Crewe goalkeeper Harvey Davies saved a James Collins header and tipped a Max Bird drive against the crossbar but the visitors were the better side and they scored again in the 65th minute.
Derby’s defence fell asleep at a corner and Demetriou headed past Wildsmith to book a second round home tie against Bristol Rovers.
York reached the FA Cup second round for the first time since 2010 as captain Lenell John-Lewis bagged a brace to see off Chester 2-1.
Visiting skipper George Glendon reduced the deficit for the National League North side, but it is the Minstermen who now go on to entertain 2013 Cup winners Wigan in a televised Friday night clash on December 1.
York started with purpose as Dipo Akinyemi fired past the near post just six seconds into the contest before John-Lewis opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
Poor away defending saw John-Lewis afforded the space to collect Scott Burgess’ right-wing corner at the near post before turning and firing past an exposed Will Stanway from two yards.
Chester only managed one effort during the opening 45 minutes, with David Stockdale keeping out a diagonal Adam Thomas drive.
After the break, ex-York midfielder Elliott Whitehouse stabbed wide of a gaping goal following a goalmouth scramble.
But the Minstermen doubled their advantage midway through the second period when Stanway misjudged a bouncing ball, leaving John-Lewis with an empty net to grab his second goal of the night.
The visitors rallied, though, with Declan Weeks forcing a fine save from Stockdale before Glendon went on to grab his team’s consolation, beating the ex-Fulham keeper with a composed 10-yard finish after 71
minutes.
Stenhousemuir climbed up to second in Scottish League Two after a 2-0 win over leaders Peterhead.
The hosts went ahead after 23 minutes when Kinlay Bilham’s cross was tapped home by Michael Anderson.
Five minutes later Adam Brown took aim from outside the area and superbly curled the ball into the top corner.
Anderson could have added a third late on but his shot was just too high.
Three goals in the opening 30 minutes saw Barnsley win 3-0 against Isthmian League Horsham.
A double from John McAtee made it a comfortable evening for the Oakwell outfit in their FA Cup replay in Sussex.
The League One side got off to the best possible start after just three minutes. A cross from Adam Phillips was only parried by keeper Lewis Carey, and Nicky Cadden followed up from close range.
Barnsley looked assured and doubled their lead seven minutes later. Aiden Marsh crossed in from the byline, and McAtee was left unmarked in the area to power his shot past Carey.
Although Horsham attempted to get a foothold in the tie, the contest was all-but over after 27 minutes.
A long ball from Jordan Williams found McAtee on the edge of the box, and with great touch he lobbed the onrushing Carey for his second of the evening – and the third for Barnsley.
A weak effort from the onrushing Lucas Rodrigues was the first notable chance for the home side.
Phillips forced Carey to tip over the bar as Barnsley successfully navigated a potentially tricky contest.
At 34 years old Donovan “The real prince” Ruddock Jr, has achieved his main goal of launching a professional boxing career.
But the son of iconic two-time Jamaican-Canadian heavyweight champion Donovan "Razor" Ruddock is determined to soar even higher and out of the shadow of his famous father.
Unlike his father, who turned pro at age 19, Ruddock Jr is off to a late start, but he remains undeterred by criticisms that may come about his age, and is instead focused on the prospects of what can be achieved, provided he gets the proper backing.
“I am trying to walk my own path, I am trying to do my own thing and create my own identity. Many times people hear the name they label me as my dad, but I want to create my own history and not live in his shadow," Ruddock Jr declared.
“My career just started because I didn’t really get support like that, so it was kind of rough to get going because everybody was busy doing their own thing and then the family finally came together to make it happen. So it is just about moving forward from here to find my own success,” he told SportsMax.TV.
Though admitting that he doesn’t pack the power of his father, who is ranked on The Ring magazine's "100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time" list, Ruddock Jr believes he possesses more style and flair which he paraded during his debut professional bout against Jazeer Heron at the ‘Rumble in the Sun’ boxing showcase at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday night.
With that bout ending in a draw, Ruddock Jr knows he has much more work to do if he intends to get anywhere close to, or even surpass his father’s record of 47 professional fights, including 40 wins, six losses and one draw, achieved in a dazzling 20-year career.
Even “Razor” Ruddock’s amateur run was lined with historic wins over Lennox Lewis, and show-stopping victories over Ken Lakustra, James "Bonecrusher" Smith, Greg Page and Mike Dokes.
For Ruddock Jr, his amateur record was 12 fights, including seven wins and five losses, and he also won the Golden Glove Novice title in Florida.
“I honestly don’t believe I have the same power as him (my dad) but I believe I have a better boxing style. If I get some full training camps to put in some serious work, I feel like I can put on amazing shows, I feel like I can put on some of the best fights because I am kind of an aggressive fighter and I really do push for action,” Ruddock Jr shared.
“I feel like I just need to calm down a little bit and just let things come to me. It is every boxer’s dream to win a title, but we all have to start small. There are a lot of things that I want to do, but it takes time and a lot of hard work," he acknowledged.
Reflecting on his first professional bout, the South Carolina-based boxer rued the fact that his first time in Jamaica and, by extension first fight, was ruled a stalemate, as he believes he was more efficient in his execution.
“It feels good to have my first professional fight in Jamaica but I feel it was just a biased decision because of my last name and my relationship with my father, I believe is why they didn’t want to give it (the win) to me. I kind of did come in a little boasy but that’s just my character and showmanship I believe is what sells tickets,” Ruddock Jr reasoned.
“I felt like I beat him to the jab, I landed more effective right hand punches, so just the mere fact that I was the ring general and I got some body shots in which he didn’t, meant I won the fight. But hopefully I can come back another time for a rematch,” he noted.
Finally, Ruddock Jr, who now fights in the welterweight category, pointed out that his ambition is to drop down to the lightweight division and work his way up.
“I would rather fight the lightweight because I feel like I can win a belt there and then move up and when another belt at the welterweight. That would look good on my resume being a champion in two weight division and that’s my dream,” the approachable boxer stated.
“But it is going to take a lot of hard work, I’ve taken the lessons from this experience and so I’ll just go back home, get my stuff together and see where we go from here,” Ruddock Jr ended.
Ezri Konsa had to scrap plans for a winter getaway after his late call-up but the Aston Villa defender always believed it was a case of when rather than if his England chance would come.
The talented 26-year-old has long been tipped for a senior call-up, only to once again miss out on a maiden call-up when the squad for the final Euro 2024 qualifiers was announced last Thursday.
But an injury to Lewis Dunk opened up a last-minute spot in Gareth Southgate’s set-up, leading to a surprise phone call after Villa’s 3-1 victory against Fulham at the weekend.
“I was literally driving home after my game on Sunday,” Konsa said. “Me and the missus were talking about having a little break, going away.
“Two minutes later I ended up getting the call. It was a weird feeling. It didn’t really sink in until I got home.
“The missus was crying a bit, she was more excited than me! I’d rather be here anyway (than on holiday), so it’s fine.”
It has certainly been a whirlwind few days for a player whose belief has never wavered despite much-mooted England opportunities failing to materialise break after break.
“It is a proud moment for me and my family,” said Konsa, who was part of England’s 2017 Under-20 World Cup win.
“It is a dream come true, ever since I was a little kid I wanted to play for England so I’m just grateful for the opportunity.
“I knew I had a lot to work on in my game, only recently in the last two seasons we have excelled at Villa and that part of it has helped me become the player I am today.
“I knew my time would come. It was just a matter of when. I was patient and, as I said, me and my family are really happy.
“I always believe in myself and always back myself and I am really enjoying my football now.”
From Charlton to Brentford and on to Villa, the defender has stepped up when he has needed to and is ready to do the same with England.
Konsa could make his debut in the final Euro 2024 qualifiers at home to Malta or away in North Macedonia, giving him the chance to stake his claim for next year’s finals.
“Yeah of course that is every player’s target to want to go to a major tournament and play for your country,” he said.
“That is definitely on my list and definitely something that I am planning on doing.”
Winning a cap is his first focus as Konsa looks to follow a star-studded group of graduates from Senrab – the well-known east London youth team, where coach Tony Caroll revealed he was nicknamed ‘Little Rio’.
Konsa says Rio Ferdinand was one of the players he idolised, as was John Terry – a fellow ex-Senrab player that he loved growing up and learned a lot from during his time as Villa coach.
“I worked with him for two years and he really helped my game,” Konsa said of “legend” Terry.
“I used to ask him a lot of questions on how he was able to maintain playing at such a high level and he gave me a lot of advice.
“I took that on and it has definitely helped me get to where I am today.
“Yes, he was in touch and he sent me a nice message.
“He just said ‘congratulations’ and that I needed to enjoy it and be myself.”
Referees’ chief Howard Webb believes the VAR came to the correct decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal for Newcastle which enraged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard labelled the decision a “disgrace” following his side’s 1-0 defeat last Saturday.
On-field referee Stuart Attwell awarded the goal but it took a four-minute, triple VAR check to determine whether the ball had gone out of play before Joe Willock’s cross, whether Joelinton had fouled Arsenal defender Gabriel, and whether Gordon had been offside.
The recording of the conversation between Attwell, VAR Andy Madley and assistant VAR Stuart Burt was aired on Sky Sports’ Match Officials Mic’d Up.
Madley said he had no conclusive evidence that the ball was out, and he added: “I don’t see a specific foul on Gabriel. I see two hands on his back, but I don’t see anything of a push that warrants him flying forward like that.
“It’s not the goalscorer and it’s not deliberate from him.”
Madley and Burt then checked whether Gordon was offside but they were unable to ascertain whether he was ahead of the ball after it came off Joelinton, so the goal was given.
Webb admitted it “might” have been a foul, but the subjective nature of the decision meant the VAR was correct not to overturn it.
The PGMOL boss said: “An unusual situation with three aspects for the VAR to check whether or not the on-field decision of goal should be overturned.
“We see the ball getting very close to the goal line. Don’t forget we have an assistant referee who is right in line. The ball hasn’t got a lot of pace as it goes to the goal line, so he’s looking right down the line better than any of our cameras.
“And we know the ball is curved, so it can be overhanging the line and we need evidence it’s out, and we don’t have that.
“The ball then comes over and Joelinton challenges Gabriel, and it could be a foul, might be a foul. (But) the VAR decides that the evidence from the footage isn’t clear enough to intervene with a recommendation for a review for a clear error.
“With the talk we’ve seen after, that the opinion is split across a lot of analysis, would suggest that was a correct non-intervention because of the subjectivity.
“And then one of those unusual situations where the ball goes between two players, and trying to identify exactly when the ball leaves Joelinton, is really difficult to establish because of the players being so close together.
“So again, no conclusive evidence that Gordon was offside when the ball was last touched. The VAR went through that diligently and identified no clear evidence to intervene to overturn the goal. The process was actually correct.”
Arteta said he felt embarrassed about the decision in his post-match tirade.
“You have to talk about how the hell did this goal stand up? Incredible. I feel embarrassed,” the 41-year-old Spaniard said.
“I have to now come in here and try to defend the club and please ask for help because it’s an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed. An absolute disgrace.
“For many reasons, it’s not a goal. More than one reason, it’s not a goal. And there’s too much at stake here. We put so much effort (in).
“It’s so difficult to compete at this level and it’s an absolute disgrace. Again, I feel embarrassed.
“I’ve been more than 20 years in this country and this is nowhere near the level to describe this as the best league in the world, I’m sorry.”
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