Football / FA Cup: Misery for Richardson

Wimbledon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

Aston Villa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

(aet; Wimbledon win 6-5 on pens)

THEIR detractors would say there are penalties for watching Wimbledon, and last night we were forced to endure 13 of them before the Villa skipper, Kevin Richardson, skied his attempt. Normal time had passed into extra time, which gave way to penalties and then, lo and behold, a sudden-death shoot-out.

It was a nerve-shredding and unsatisfactory conclusion to an FA Cup replay which was always gruelling, sometimes grim and lacking in goals, though not in goal chances, for the entire 120 minutes.

Sympathy was afforded to Richardson as he held his head in his hands while the Dons wombled in celebration, and also to Villa's brave and capable stand-in goalkeeper, Mark Bosnich.

But maybe for all their faults the club that has to exist on gates that would be an embarrassment for many lower division sides are deserving of their good fortune. Now Wimbledon, having knocked out Villa - manager Joe Kinnear's old club - for the third time in five years, look forward to another all-Premier League meeting, in the fifth round at Tottenham on Sunday week.

In a passionate rallying call in which he took to task all their critics Sam Hammam, the Wimbledon owner and their most voluble supporter, had claimed that the controversial south London club were in truth 'good Christians', giving but taking from no one. You would not have guessed God was on their side as Dean Holdsworth, given the chance after Neil Cox's miss to win the penalty contest, hit a post. Dwight Yorke, the next on the spot, did likewise, but his effort trickled over the line to give the lottery yet more nail-biting moments and eventual misery for Richardson.

Christians? Vinnie Jones resembled anything but as he was late with a 14th-minute tackle on Richardson and, in his final appearance before his third suspension of the season, went into the book for the sixth time in his last eight appearances. John Fashanu followed soon after for an elbow on Earl Barrett.

Thankfully, the fog which never left Selhurst Park hid some of the early naughties, but the tie progressed into an exciting affair, producing chances at either end.

Early on, Dean Saunders twice escaped the attentions of John Scales in an early race of pace, but Hans Segers proved equal to his left-footed strikes. Wimbledon's attacks were of a more rudimentary nature, preferring the direct route via the head of Fashanu.

He was first to a corner, which Holdsworth followed up with a supplementary header from close in, yet somehow Bosnich, the young Australian deputising after Nigel Spink reported ill at lunchtime, leapt to make a miraculous save.

Bosnich would be the first to admit, however, that he was the beneficiary of some wayward Wimbledon finishing, as Andy Clarke twice failed to hit the target and then, at the start of the second half, Neal Ardley was woefully wide when there should have been no contest between him and the target.

In extra time, Bosnich distinguished himself further by twice denying Holdsworth. He hoped his reward would come with the penalties, but he was unable to get to any of the efforts and was struck by cramp midway through. He might have known then he was to become an unfortunate loser.

Wimbledon: Segers; Joseph, McAllister, Jones, Scales, Blackwell, Ardley, Earle, Fashanu, Holdsworth, Clarke (Dobbs, 78). Substitute not used: Sanchez.

Aston Villa: Bosnich; Barrett, Staunton, Teale, McGrath, Richardson, Houghton, Parker, Saunders, Yorke, Cox. Substitutes not used: Regis, Beinlich.

Referee: K Redfern (Whitley Bay).

DERBY COUNTY reached the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup last night, despite losing 2-1 at home to Brentford in the second leg of their semi-final. The aggregate score was 5-5, but Derby won on away goals. Gary Blissett scored two late goals for Brentford after Marco Gabbiadini had given Derby the lead. In the first leg of the other semi-final Cremonese beat Bari 4-1.