Although the recent dialogue around the Emirates FA Cup has been connected to the scrapping of cup replays, it is a conversation that neither Newcastle Blue Star nor North Ferriby are not yet part of and after Saturday’s draw at Scotswood, both will be glad they are not.
Because for all the furore regarding the lack of opportunity to do it all over again, that is precisely the opportunity that the two sides will have when they meet on Tuesday – this time, there has to be a winner.
Whether that winner comes in regulation or extra time or needs penalties to finally break the deadlock, both clubs already know their reward that awaits them in the following round at the end of the month.
The reward is a home tie against Sheffield-based outfit Hallam but before any talk of the next round, both teams need to risk it all for the second time in just over 72 hours and if its anything like the first encounter, those in attendance will be in for a treat.
If only because Saturday just gone had all the hallmarks of a proper cup tie. If you were to ask AI to write the script for a tie of this kind, the only thing missing was an even later Blue Star winner after drawing level in second half stoppage time.
In what was a game largely dictated by 12 yard efforts, it was visitors North Ferriby who got their noses in front early in the second half and with the clock ticking down, Marc Nash’s men were handed an opportunity to restore parity from the same distance.
Unfortunately for Luke Carr, his effort was expertly palmed away by the visiting goalkeeper and with a number of saves also being made by the same man in the sticks, it looked as if the visitors would be going back towards Hull with a cup win to celebrate.
However, a late sending off for North Ferriby only gave Marc Nash and his players further reason to roll the dice and with a third penalty of the day being awarded just moments later, this time it was down to Sean Reid to hold his nerve.
Thankfully his effort snuck home and in doing so, it meant the two teams were inseparable after 90 plus minutes of entertaining cup action. Entertaining not just because of what happened from the spot but because of how the two teams matched each other.
If you were a neutral and were unaware of places within the league pyramid, you would have no reason to suggest these two sides were operating a level apart. Such is the beauty of the FA Cup, that sometimes it has no respect for your place in the football hierarchy.
Of course, Blue Star will arrive at The Dransfield Stadium on Tuesday with plenty of respect for their opponents, especially after going toe to toe with them but they also know they nearly had them first time around.
Something which sets up this clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to North Ferriby for the upcoming hospitality and for those attending from an away perspective, safe travels both there and back.
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