DUNKIRK FC

League Cup Quarter Final

Tuesday 1st December

Dunkirk v Borrowash Victoria

F.A Vase 3rd Round

Saturday 5th December

Pickering Town v Dunkirk

It was F.A Vase day again for Dunkirk as again they faced a side from the higher placed NCEL Premier league as Lincoln Moorlands made the trip to the Ron Steel Sports Ground. The home side were also looking to make the 3^rd round of the competition for only the second time in their history. Dunkirk made 2 changes to their starting line-up from last week’s 6-2 win at Ibstock as captain Ben Moore was serving a one match ban and Jamie McKay was unavailable. In came Ross McCaughey at left back and Tim Wilkes also returned to the starting line-up after being out injured for a month. Lincoln have been struggling for form this season and certainly wouldn’t have fancied their chances against a Dunkirk side that remain unbeaten in 11 matches and with 8 straight wins behind them confidence is sky high.

The game got under way and straight away Dunkirk were taking the game to the Moorlands side, Day and Brady worked well down the left side which saw the latter break clear on goal, his low effort to the near post was well saved by the keeper to tip it behind for a corner which was knocked in was met by Soar and his looping header was scrambled off the goal-line. Dunkirk had strong penalty appeals waved away by the referee on 5 minutes when Garmston’s cross struck a Moorlands arm but the excellent referee waved the Dunkirk protest away. Minutes later Man of the Match Shannon Grant found himself clear when his good control with his knee pulled him clear, he only had the goalkeeper to beat but with the Moorlands defender chasing back he took his low effort early but again the goalkeeper Herrick dived to his near post to made a brilliant save. Moorlands had their first effort on goal on 16 minutes Buckley sprayed the ball across field from left to right and picked out Robinson who cut inside and as he fired his powerful effort on goal his team mate Beesley helped the ball on and it just went over the crossbar. Dunkirk had a bit of luck on 24^th minutes when the ball struck the referee and bounced kindly to Wilkes, he helped the ball on looking for Day and as the ball dropped to Gregory his effort was again well saved by the goalkeeper. On 32 minutes Garmston’s corner was again met my Soar and again as it looked to be heading in a combination of the goalkeeper and a Moorlands defender cleared the ball off the goal line. Dunkirk again had strong penalty appeals waved away by the referee as Garmston’s cross struck Buckley’s arm right in front of the Assistant referee but again they both waved the appeals away. Second later though Brady’s cross caused chaos in the Moorlands penalty area as first Day and then Grant were battling in the 6 yard area to scrambled the ball over the line but rugged Moorlands defending scrambled it clear. It was all Dunkirk but on 42 minutes the Dunkirk defence were all over the place when a cross field pass put Coupland clean through, his first touch was poor though which gave Ivanov the opportunity to rush out and dive at his feet to clear the danger with his only action of the first half. Just before half time Dunkirk still found chance to create the opening when Brady left Birdsall for dead and his ball inside picked out Lee Day whose clean strike on goal went straight at the well placed Goalkeeper. Moorlands though did go down the other end and had penalty appeals of their own waved away as the ball looked to strike Robinson on the arm as the ball was hooked towards goal by Garrick but again the referee didn’t want to know.

Half-time 0-0

The second half started much the same as the first with Dunkirk looking to attack and again Brady beat his marker and passed to Grant who fired the ball across the area looking for his strike partner but as the ball came out to Garmston on the right his low strike was again cleared off the goal line this time by Hewitt. The Dunkirk faithful were starting think it was going to be one of those days and that Moorlands were going to get a smash and grab result and in the 49^th minute they nearly went in front, a quick passing move played Garrick through and from just inside the area his wild effort went over when he should have done better. In the 51^st minute though Dunkirk’s elusive goal came, a long ball up field was flicked on by Day which played his strike partner SHANNON GRANT though, Grant was too quick and strong for his marker and as the goalkeeper came rushing out his cool finish across the goalkeeper nestled in the far corner for a much deserved goal. Day then rolled a short corner to Brady and as he cut in to the area his cross was met by Gregory who stretched to head the ball over, when he had Robinson better placed behind him. Still it was all Dunkirk, first Day’s turn and effort went just wide of the far post and then Wilkes looping header sailed harmlessly over. In the 64^th minute Gregory’s vicious effort struck the post and dropped kindly into the goalkeeper’s arms but in the 71^st minute they stretched their advantage, Brady sprayed the ball 50 yards down the channel with the outside of his boot which played in Day, he got to the bye-line took a touch before crossing the ball to his strike partner SHANNON GRANT who's volley from inside the area went through the keepers legs for his second of the afternoon to cap his excellent performance with a brace. Dunkirk made a change when Brady was replaced by White and immediately the change paid off, again Day was involved he held the ball up on halfway before playing a precise ball behind the Lincoln defence to LAVELL WHITE who from outside the penalty area his emphatic finish went into the top corner to seal a dominant Dunkirk display. Lincoln Moorlands did pull a goal back in the 88^th minute though when a cross from the left side picked out BEESLEY and his side foot effort went into the corner for a consolation goal for the Lincolnshire club.

DUNKIRK

1. N Ivanov 2. P Hopkinson 3. R McCaughey 4. T Wilkes 5. D Soar 6. D Robinson 7. D Garmston 8. A Gregory 9. S Grant 10. L Day 11. A Brady 12. L White 14. J Westcarr 15. L Beck 16. A Frawley GK J Want

LINCOLN MOORLANDS

1. L Herrick 2. S Birdsall 3. A Hewitt 4. J Mcgovern 5. R Creane 6. A Gilbert 7. T Garrick 8. N Robinson 9. L Beesley 10. S Coupland 11. A Buckley 12. J Bowden 14. B Griffith 15. T Parker 16. W Smith

Referee - Mr C Grundy - Assistants Mr T Horton & Mr L Freeman

East Midlands Counties League - Saturday 14th November 2009 - Kick Off - 3.00 PM

Ellistown v Dunkirk

From M1 Junction 22 take A511 towards Coalville. Go over first roundabout and in approximately 1 mile take left filter at second roundabout, signposted Ibsock. Take first left at next roundabout and follow road over bridge until T-Junction. Turn right and ground 300 meters on left.

The Ground - 1 Terrace Road, Ellistown, Leics. LE 67 1GD