Up to now I’ve relied on Twitter accounts updated by the clubs I’ve been following as my only way of getting a sense of how games have unfolded. However as we move through the rounds local media interest increases and, with a bit of North Yorkshire sporting history as the prize, BBC Radio York had a commentator in position at the Blackwell Meadows ground Darlington share with a rugby club. The chance of a story may have been there, but in reality this sounded far from the magic and romance of the cup. With Darlington being one of those ‘Elite’ non-league clubs the ground was empty, the rain lashing down, and BBC resources seemed to stretch to one voice to describe the action meaning a bloke called Barry – just the name I’d expect someone doing this job to have – had to commentate alone. Five Live with their pundits falling over one another to be heard felt a long way away.
Tadcaster have only reached this stage of the FA Cup once before, losing to Boston United in 2012. Barry optimistically told listeners how Darlington had played just three matches this season without victory, compared to Tadcaster’s eight. Could a bit of rustiness from the home side be the best hope? To win away at Darlington always looked a tough ask and when they went ahead on thirteen minutes creating history would require an effort fitting of the achievement.
Then one of those football cliches as Taddy had their best spell of the match and with half an hour gone saw a shot go narrowly over the bar, a few inches lower and could the story have been different? Within five minutes they were Two-nil down, then three, and by half time the dream was being washed away with the rain. A forth and fifth came quickly after the restart but the Tadcaster team which included a number of teenagers never gave up and got the reward their cup run deserved with a goal on 73 minutes. That Darlington added number six made little difference to anyone. To my ears the Tadcaster team held their own and will be disappointed the score was this comfortable.
Albion’s cup run over, those of us who had chosen this match were taken to Radio York’s other commentary in time to hear York City needing an equaliser for the chance to win the tie on penalties. A reminder that even at this stage in the competition there are big clubs and small. Whilst Tadcaster should reflect positively on their defeat it was clear expectations were higher for the side I remember beating Manchester United in the League Cup in the mid-90s. Groans of frustration from commentator and summariser, at least these two had each other to share the disappointment, poor old Barry had to go it alone in Darlington. Some characteristic Yorkshire analysis summed City up: “we just weren’t very good were we”.
As York entered injury time looking less threatening by the second I got a sense of how this competition still means something. It’s not the money but the possibility. “You just like to be able to see who you get next,” the disappointed reflections from Radio York. All sorts of ideas have been tried to make sports events more exciting, but few occasions can better a load of balls in a bowl, one of which has your number on it. And for me that number will be against Darlington’s name, as once again I bounce onto a new team.
Another sign that we’re progressing through the rounds. To this point the draw has been announced on the FA website. Thursday lunchtime it’s live on Talk Sport 2.
Glory Hunting 