FA CUP ROUND 4 WIN.....POTTERS DO IT IN STYLE

STOKE CITY FC 3 V ARSENAL 1

I have to confess to feeling less than confident before the match.We have so much cup history with Arsenal,most of it bad in my lifetime,especially the two semi-final swindles in the early '70's.O ye of little faith!!


Total elation then, within 70 seconds of the start,when Fuller headed home a Delap long throw,to give us the lead.Ominously the visitors began to get their game together,as the half progressed.It was no real surprise,although somewhat fortuitous,when they got an equaliser just before halftime.

Whitehead somewhat harshly was judged to have handled just outside the box.Arsenal played the ball square.Denison's low drive was deflected by Collins beyond Sorensen into the Stoke net

In the second half Stoke took a measure of control.Tony Pulis was just about to sub his strikers when they combined to craft a fine goal to restore our lead.

Now Mama Sidibe sometimes doesn't look particularly quick,but on this occasion he took off down the right wing his long strides leaving the Arsenal fullback trailing in his wake.Cutting in slightly he clipped the ball delicately towards goal where the incoming Fuller headed home for his second of the day.

Arsenal had introduced additional big guns Arshavin,Edwardo,and Ramsey but they made no impression on a combative Stoke outfit.

Etherington had been busy and successful down the left.He played a number of tremendous balls across the Arsenal six yard box without a Stoke player getting a finishing touch.On 80 minutes he crossed again,but this time Whitehead was on hand to tap home,and put the game beyond The Gunners.Unbelieveably shortly afterwards Tuncay had the ball in the net again,a classy finish, but he was adjudged to have handled.

Stoke played out the remaining time reasonably comfortably,securing a well deserved victory,and earn a tie against...Manchester City !!!!

Anyone at home would have been a fitting reward...but what the hell.Enjoy the evening!

MEDIA FOCUS ON THE SPANISH WAITER......

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STORMING AND SWEATING WITH THE POTTERS

STOKE CITY FC 3 FULHAM 2

The country crippled by snowstorms,freezing temperatures,gridlocked roads,schools and factories closed,grit and salt running out....and still SPORTING OASIS STOKE SHRUGGED IT ALL OFF!!

Lunchtime saw the postponement of the Blackburn v Aston Villa League Cup Semi-Final,so Sky switched its live coverage to Brit.What a bonus for stranded Stokies everyhere.

The only question then - as heavy snow fell outside the window in deepest Cheshire - would the match survive the worst the elements could throw at it?

There was no doubting the club's determination to get this match played.Messageboard reports from fans working near the ground testified to the mammoth effort the club was making.Not to do a Wigan,approach roads and pavements were kept clear, gritted and salted.Inside the ground stewards were attending to safety issues,clearing the snow,salting.The ground staff busy keeping the pitch in condition.

Brilliant effort from everyone.Both managers wanted to play,the ref's initial doubts were overcome.7.30pm and Sky's Jeff Stelling said it for all of us...amazing performance to get the game on at all,couldn't quite believe our luck.Beautiful green playing surface,with snow still swirling about as the match kicked off.

Stoke had the ball in the Fulham net in less than two minutes.....Etherington's effort disallowed for offside.After a brief spell of Fulham pressure,Stoke took over,got the press on the visitors,and almost unbelieveably powered to a 3-0 lead.The impressive Etherington had a hand in all three goals scored by Tuncay,Abdy Faye,and Mama Sidibe.

Tuncay went off injured,and his replacement Ricardo Fuller was unlucky not to net another two goals.

Halftime 3-0 up, Fulham blown away,still SNOWING and FREEZING.....those of us with long 'STOKE' memories REMEMBERED.... Oldham,I think it was,in the Cup at The Victoria ground...Stoke 2-0 up at halftime.....match ABANDONED.It couldn't happen again could it?

Things seemed different from the start of the second half.Our heroes seemed to have gone into a state of semi-hibernation...Fulham began to threaten.You feared the worst,Wolves style.A major deflection off Ryan Shawcross gave them their first goal and hope.The second from Dempsey was a beautifully struck long range shot which dipped over Simonsen into the net giving The Cottagers (?)belief.

Heart in mouth time,serious increase in blood pressure,sweating (although probably not amongst those at the ground itself I would suspect)....could we hold out with all the momentum going Fulham's way?

That we did was down to that magical ingredient...LUCK.Ref Clattenburg missed a penalty area handball,of the sort that we've seen given before now.Fulham shot wide...

But we got there.A vital win,up to 10th in the table,opening a 6 point gap from the drop zone.

STOKE CITY INTO 4th ROUND FA CUP DRAW

STOKE CITY FC 3 YORK CITY 1 FA Cup 3rd Round


Conference side York arrived at The Brit just on kick off time 3.00pm,having been delayed on the M62 by adverse weather.The match started half an hour late,the visitors with a 4,500 following,all looking for a cup shock

Stoke were indeed shocked by the non-league visitors who took the lead from a Lawless freekick,Barnett netting(22mins).Stunned silence amongst the home faithful was soon replaced by cheers as within a minute or so the Potters,first equalised then took the lead.Both goals resulted from Delap long throw ins.The first was an own goal by Parslow (24mins),the second a Court header finished off by Ricardo Fuller (26mins).

From a foul on Fuller -easily Stoke's liveliest player in the first half- Matty Etherington's freekick curled beautifully around the defensive wall into the top corner of the net (58mins).

With 20 minutes to go Tuncay replaced Beattie,and Sidibe came on for Fuller 10 minutes later,as Stoke played the game out with little threat from the visitors.

Stoke : Sorensen (Simonsen 45min),Huth,Cort,Higginbotham(Capt),Collins,Etherington,Whitehead,Delap,Lawrence,Beattie,Fuller

Attendance :15,580