By Matt Lond & J Bateman
January 26 2003

All the FA Cup reports from all our teams in Division One , including the two Nationwide Division One games.

Nationwide League Division One

Grimsby  1-2    Bradford  Boulding 15    Gray 57 Jorgensen 90

Bradford left it late to win this massive game between the two teams, which gives them more breathing space between them and the bottom four clubs, one of the are Grimsby. In an action packed game at Blundell Park that saw both teams end the game with ten men, Grimsby took the lead after a Terry Cooke through ball put Michael Boulding clear to score his second goal of his second spell at Blundell Park. This woke up Bradford who passed the ball around well and created chances and should have scored before half time but for Danny Coyne, who had a good game. The Bantams dominated the second half and this told as Andy Gray levelled after 57 minutes, then a superb 30 yard strike from Claus Jorgensen in injury time won the game. Simon Francis was sent off for a second bookable offence just after the winner.

Att: 5,582

Preston  1-1  Nottm For Cartwright 30    Johnson 16

Both teams extended their recent runs of a few games without a win as Forest got a point at Deepdale in an entertaining draw. Both teams had the chances and will rue not taking them as they go in search of getting a win under their belts for different reasons. Forest started the game as the brighter side and it wasn't a surprise when David Johnson added to his tally of 21 goals with a right-foot finish after 16 minutes. It didn't take Preston long to level the scoreline when Lee Cartwright headed past Darren Ward from a Simon Lynch ball. Both teams had the chances to score a second, but it wasn't to be as Preston's new South African striker George Koumantakaris hit the woodwork. Forest hit the woodwork twice in the second half in one minute as both teams pressed to win the game but it ended one-all. Forest remain fourth and well in the play-off hunt, while Preston are just a few places away from the relegation spaces.

Att: 13,508

 

FA Cup 4th Round

Brentford 0-3   Burnley       Blake 52,   Cook86,    Little 89

Burnley withstood a second-half onslaught from luckless Brentford before snatching two late goals to secure their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Griffin Park. The scoreline wasn't a fair reflection on how Brentford played after Burnley took a 1-0 lead with a goal from Robbie Blake, which started a siege on Marlon Beresford's goal but he responded with many good saves. A mistake by Brentford's Sonko allowed Paul Cook to score a second goal for The Clarets to kill the game off and another goal was scored a few minutes later by Glen Little. Despite this scoreline, it ad looked as if Brentford were the worthy winners and now The Clarets can look forward to the draw on Monday.

Att: 9,563

Gillingham  1-1     Leeds  Sidibe 82       Smith  49

Leeds avoided a possible cup upset at the Prestfield Stadium despite leading for the majority of the second half. Gillingham dug in and made it hard for the Premiership outfit for the first half, which was scoreless. Alan Smith scored in the first few minutes of the second half with a superb free kick from 25 yards out, which gave Jason Brown no chance and they should have gone on to win the game as they dominated the game afterwards but couldn't extend the scoring. Mark Viduka was then sent off for an apparent elbow on Gills player-manager Andy Hessenthaler which turned the complexion of the game as it only took a minute for the home side to make use of the number advantage as Marmady Sidibe scored from close range, meaning that both teams will have to play out a replay at Elland Road.

Att: 11,093

Norwich  1-0  Dagenham  Abbey 90

The first division hosts left it very late at Carrow Road to break the hearts of the conference club to go into Round 5. Zema Abbey scored in the last minute to send the part timers out of the FA Cup after a open game of which both teams had the chances to score, of which Norwich had the most if them. Rivers, Nielsen, McVeigh and Russel had the chances to erase the fear of a major upset but Dagenham stood firm and it stayed goalless until the very last minute when Abbey lunged to convert an Adam Drury cross to win the game. This stunned the Daggers manager Garry Hill.

One To Watch Iwan Roberts - Norwich

Att: 21,164

Rochdale 2-0 Coventry Connor 33, Griffiths 47

Coventry were the second First Division One club to be knocked out of the FA Cup by Paul Simpsons Division Three team at Spotland as they emulated their best giant-killing act since 1971. Goals from Paul Connor and Gareth Griffiths sent Rochdale through to the 5th round draw as they was well worth their win but they had to endure some scares as Coventry pushed forward at first and also with twenty minutes to go but they stood firm with some saves from keeper Edwards. Rochdale's goals were well taken and they took the lead as Connor was released by Griffiths to cooly slot home the first goal and Griffiths then scored his own goal as he thumped home a header from a well flighted corner.

Att: 9,156

Sheff Utd 4-3 Ipswich Brown 19,64  Jagielka 31 Peschisolido 89   Gaardose 66 Miller (pen) 68 Darren Bent 70

In a pulsating clash of the two in-form Division One clubs at Bramhall Lane, it was Sheffield United who very nearly surrendered a big lead to settle for the replay until they scored again in the last few minutes to go through. United led by three goals with 25 minutes to go as Michael Brown continued his impressive scoring record with a brace on his 26th birthday, to add to that Jagielka scored as United were crusing, or so they thought as Ipswich woke up and stunned the home crowd with three goals in four minutes to amazingly level the tie with twenty minutes to go. The Tractor Boys scorers in the frenzied spell were Gaardsoe, a Miller penalty and also Darren Bent but their hard work was to count for nothing as sub Paul Peschisolido scored in the 89th minute.

Att: 12,757

Soton   1-1    Millwall Davies 90    Claridge 17

Kevin Davies scored a late equiliser to prevent his old team a guaranteed place in the fifth round at St Marys. He was on loan at The Den earlier this season but couldn't hold down a regular place and he scored to get his side a replay. Millwall had to battle against some pressure from the Premiership side as Brett Ormerod, Anders Svensson, James Beattie and Rory Delap all had shots charged down by determined Millwall defending as Southampton tried to open the scoring, but they couldn't and Steve Claridge could as he poked home from a Paul Robinson nod down from a free kick. Southampton did continue to press for a goal but they could not break down The Lions defence and when they could, Tony Warner was there to deny them. This gritty Millwall side nearly held on for a shock win, but were to be denied as Kevin Davies followed up to level after the Millwall keeper parried out Jo Tessem's shot

Att: 23,809

Walsall 1-0    Wimbledon Zdrilic 75

Walsall won the game with a late strike from David Zdrillic as he booked their place in the Fifth Round in a game that very much failed to come to life at the Bescot Stadium. Zdrillic's goal was deserved though they finished the stronger team and they had the chances, as did Wimbledon earlier in the game from Shipperley, who came the closest for the away side. Old Walsall loanee Gareth Ainsworth tried to inject some life into the game and he proved to be a handful for Walsall, and he is still a target for the home side. Austrailian Zdrillic won the game for The Saddlers as he fired home Jorge Leitao's cross to win the game against the 1988 FA Cup winners.

Att: 6,693

Watford 1-0    W Brom Helguson  80

Heidar Helguson's 10th goal of the season was enough to send Watford through to the fifth round of the FA Cup. The First Division side were deserved winners against Premiership strugglers West Brom, who are now without a win in 11 away games. The Baggies relied on their keeper Russell Hoult as he made some fine saves which included a save from a Neil Cox penalty but he could not do anything about the Icelandic's finish following good work from Jermaine Pennant. Watford should have scored more as they hit the bar from Allan Neilsen and had a chance hacked off the line by Darren Moore. West Brom looked short on confidence and this showed despite a good showing in the opening stages, but from now on can just focus on trying to stop themselves from going straight back down into the Nationwide.

Att: 16,975

Wolves 4-1    Leicester Ndah 5, 45 Miller 51, 71     Dickov 29 (pen)

George Ndah and Kenny Miller hit two goals apiece as Wolves booked their place in the fifth round after overcoming Midlands rivals Leicester at Molineux.Ndah scored his brace in the first half and Miller scored his double after the break to secure a good win over the promotion chasing foxes. Ndah's first half goals were on either side of a equiliser from Paul Dickov, who scored from the penalty spot after he was pulled down by Denis Irwin on the half-hour mark. This is the first time that Wolves have made the last 16 for five years, but this came at a consequece as Ndah suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury that had been treated on all week going upto the cup clash.

Att: 28,164

Full Match Reports can be found at --

Burnley The Longsider

Grimsby The Mariner

Ipswich Singing The Blues

Sheff Utd bladesfc.co.uk

Walsall The Saddlers FC

Wolves wolvesfc.co.uk