Ryhope CW suffer heartbreaking end to record FA Vase run

The Northern Counties East League Premier Division title challengers arrived on Wearside looking to add a third Northern League scalp to their name after seeing off Newcastle Benfield and Guisborough Town on their way to the third round of the competition.

They were met with a determined display from Ryhope as they battled and scrapped their way to a goalless draw over a nervy 90 minutes at the Recreation Ground.

But despite taking a two-goal lead in the penalty shoot-out that followed, Ryhope failed to convert their final three spot-kicks and fell to a 4-3 defeat.

That signalled the end of their historic Vase run after they reached the third round of the competition for the first time in their history.

McCabe tried to take the positives from a strong display against a side that could well be playing in the Northern Premier League’s second tier next season – but could not hide his disappointment over the defeat.

He said: “There are lots of positives to take.

“We played well, this is the furthest we have been in the competition and maybe we can go a round later in the competition.

“But there is real disappointment around the club at going out on penalties.

“We started the penalties really well; we scored our first two and James (Winter) saved their first two.

“But we have missed our next three, which is unfortunate.

“To be fair to the lads that missed, they were willing to step up and take a penalty, so we can’t knock them for that.”

Elsewhere in Round Three on Saturday, Hebburn Town survived a major scare to keep alive their hopes of reaching a second consecutive Vase Final with a penalty shoot-out win against Vauxhall Motors.

Michael McKeown fired the Hornets ahead on the quarter-hour mark and that lead remained in place until 15 minutes from the end of a keenly contested tie.

But the visitors turned the game on its head as Hayden Cooper and Michael Burkey put the NWCFL club within touching distance of a famous win.

However, a dramatic late equaliser from Dan Groves took the tie to penalties and Kevin Bolam’s side held their nerve to claim a 5-3 win in the shoot-out.

Bolam said: “As much as I was disappointed with the performance, I can’t fault the resilience and the commitment of our players.

“That attitude runs right through the group and that showed in midweek in the Durham Challenge Cup win against Gateshead Rutherford too.

“We are finding a way to come through games and that was evident on Saturday more than ever.

“The lads know they haven’t played well; they have not found the intensity or energy that we expect of them.

“We did it the hard way, but I don’t want anything thinking I am down about anything today because the resilience was excellent.”

Shildon came out on top in the first all-Northern League tie of the day as a Dean Thexton brace and a Kurt Matthews goal helped them to an impressive 3-1 win at Stockton Town.