Just 89 hardy spectators turned out at the Autonet Insurance Stadium to witness Kidsgrove Athletic progress into the next round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.
In horrible weather conditions, Richard Duffy and James Jennings scored their first goals for the club as the Grove beat Daventry Town 2-0.
Duffy scored midway through the first half from a corner, while Jennings made the game safe in the second half after Anthony Malbon set him up.
Despite the rain, the pitch looked in excellent condition thanks to the work of Vice-Chairman and head Groundsman Ian Cooper and his team as they ensured the game went ahead.
It was the Grove who settled quickly with Jennings and Malbon both going close but were unable to beat Matt Finley in the Daventry goal.
However, the Grove took the lead on 23 minutes when Daventry failed to deal with a corner and, the ball fell to Duffy who smashed the ball into the net for his first goal for the club since joining in August.
Jennings should have had a penalty as the game approached half-time when he was caught in the face as he burst into the area. However, the referee didn’t give the foul.
Daventry were unlucky not to equalise just before the interval when Adam Creaney smashed the crossbar with his effort as the Northamptonshire side looked for a route back into the game.
The Grove was able to put the game to bed just before the hour mark when Malbon played in Jennings and, he was able to find the back of the net. It was an excellent reward for the young forward who had worked his socks off all night long.
Malbon should have made it 3-0 just before the end when Ruben Wiggins-Thomas played him in. The Grove captain twisted and turned into the area before getting his shot away, which somehow hit the post and bounced away to safety. It left Malbon, Austin and everyone inside the ground scratching their heads as to why the club’s all-time leading goalscorer hadn’t scored a third.
However, the two goals were enough to see Kidsgrove advance to the next round where they will face Wisbech Town on Saturday 12th October. Kick-off 3pm. Before that game, Kidsgrove have a big FA Cup tie on Saturday when they welcome Gateshead to the Autonet Insurance Stadium. Kickoff for that game is at 3pm.
After the game Moorlands Radio spoke to Ryan Austin live on air.
Kidsgrove Athletic: Harrison, Hart, Morris, Hall (Rhodes, 86), Duffy, Butler, Diskin (Blake, 70), Thompson, Jennings (Wiggins-Thomas, 79), Malbon and Williamson.
Unused subs: Murphy and Bergin.
Daventry Town: Finlay, Stanbridge, Childs (Merill, 57), Harris, Wilkinson, Confue (Liburd,16), Orosz, Finch, Fitzgerald, McGowan and Creaney.
Attendance: 89
