Football: Sarjo Cham on the spot to send Kirkbymoorside through (From Gazette & Herald)

Football: Sarjo Cham on the spot to send Kirkbymoorside through

9:10am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

TWO late penalties from Sarjo Cham rescued Kirkbymoorside in their North Riding County Cup clash with York St John University.

A Charles Caseley strike midway through the second half had put the home side on course for a barelydeserved victory, but Cham stayed cool from the spot to clinch a first away win of the season for Kirkby, a 2-1 result sending them through to the second round.

On a narrow and muddy pitch, both sides had to work hard to make chances, with Kirkby looking the more dangerous. Cham had an early chance to open the scoring, but couldn’t get on the end of a deep Matty Bower throw.

Mark Tansey was on hand to parry away two efforts from York St John, but Kirkby looked the more likely to break the deadlock, Jordan Rivis drawing a save from the edge of the area before Jonathan Birback fired over a presentable chance.

Chris Rhodes and Paul Hodgson also saw shots sail wide as the sides went in goalless at the break.

Kirkby picked up where they left off in the second half, another Bower throw causing chaos in the York box.

And the visitors had the ball in the net 10 minutes after the restart, Cham’s effort ruled out for offside.

Two minutes later, the students took the lead against the run of play.

Tansey could only parry a low drive into the path of Caseley, who had the simplest task of tucking the ball into the unguarded net.

Kirkby stepped up the tempo in search of an immediate equaliser, with Johnny Brown’s flick-on from another dangerous Bower throw drawing a good stop from the York ‘keeper.

Rivis and Brown had further efforts on target, but York dug in to keep the Moorsiders at bay.

The visitors felt they should have had a penalty after 74 minutes as Cham was seemingly barged over in the box, before a second goal was ruled offside for the away team. Alex Strickland’s acrobatic effort flew into the net, but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag.

Kirkby were not to be denied for long, however, as Cham was tripped in the area and the referee finally pointed to the spot.

The forward picked himself up to coolly stroke the ball to the goalkeeper’s right for the equaliser.

St John responded well, and Tansey had to be alert to prevent the home side retaking the lead immediately with a smart stop.

But Kirkby made their pressure count as Strickland won his side a second penalty, fired confidently into the corner by Cham.

The Moorsiders had little trouble seeing out the rest of the game against a dispirited side, and could even have added to their lead, Brown’s 20-yard effort whistling past a post.