Kidsgrove Athletic’s dreams of appearing in the 1st round proper of the Emirates FA Cup were dashed today at the hands of Gateshead FC.
The Vanarama National League North side run out 1-0 winners in the 3rd qualifying round at the Autonet Insurance Stadium. However, the Grove gave it everything and can be proud of how well they performed.
It was the side from the BetVictor Northern Premier League who had the first chance of the afternoon when Sam Hall headed narrowly over the crossbar from a Rhys Thompson corner.
At the other end, Nicky Deverdics almost caught Keiran Harrison out of his area, after the goalkeeper cleared the ball straight to him on the half-way line. However, the midfielder’s shot was to go wide of the goal.
Harrison was then on hand to make a fine save at point-blank range to deny Dom Tear the opening goal just three minutes before the interval.
Kidsgrove were forced to bring off Ruben Wiggins-Thomas midway through the first half when he got caught in the face. He was taken to hospital as a precaution and replaced by James Jennings.
The second half started similarly to the first half with both teams wanting to go for the win. However, the two teams didn’t throw too many players forward as they didn’t want to get caught out at the back.
It was the Grove who had the first chance of the second half when former Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson brought down Malbon just outside the area. From the free-kick Lee Williamson blazed his effort over the bar.
The games only goal came on the hour mark when Josh Koyde got down the byline and played the ball to JJ O’Donnell. The midfielder beat Harrison from close range.
O’Donnell’s goal saw the Grove go hunting for that equaliser to take the game to a replay on Tuesday night in the North-East.
First Malbon hit an effort into the side netting, while in the final minute of injury time James Butler volleyed an effort into the side netting. Had that gone in then there would have been astonishing scenes at the Autonet Insurance Stadium as the Grove would be in the hat for the 4th Qualifying round draw of the famous competition, even if it meant sharing it with Gateshead.
It was heartbreak at the sound of Michael Barlow’s full-time whistle for the Grove. The players can take heart from how they performed today and also throughout the run in this season’s Emirates FA Cup.
Kidsgrove Athletic: Harrison, Hart, Morris, Hall (Savage, 78), Duffy, Butler, Adu-Gyamfi (Diskin, 60), Thompson, Wiggins-Thomas (Jennings, 28), Malbon and Williamson.
Unused subs: Bergin, Rhodes, Blake, Diskin and Murphy.
Gateshead: James, Nicholson, Barrow, Agnew (Forbes, 75), Lees, Williamson, Tear, Deverdics, Koyde, Olley and O’Donnell (Preston, 91).
Unused subs: Gutheries, Oliver, Nelson, Thomson and Blackett.
Attendance: 322
