Kidsgrove Athletic bowed out of the Integro Sports Cup against BetVictor Northern Premier side Hyde United, but Ryan Austin’s men certainly did themselves proud against a team from a higher division.
Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi scored his 8th goal for the club. However, it wasn’t enough as Tom Pratt and Liam Tounge had given the Tigers a 2-0 lead after just 23 minutes of play.
Austin made a couple of changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday with the likes of Dom Kurasik and Jiri Boula both started alongside Rumenio who had returned to the club following his summer departure to Marine.
Kidsgrove had a couple of early chances through Tom France and Adu-Gyamfi. However, neither were able to get the ball past Lloyd Allinson in the goal for Hyde.
Despite the hosts making a bright start, it was Hyde who took the lead on 18 minutes when a cross from Kyle Brownhill found Pratt whose deflected shot beat Kurasik to nestle in the back of the net.
It was 2-0 just five minutes later when Kidsgrove failed to deal with a corner and, an unmarked Tounge was able to head home for 2-0. The second goal gave the Grove with a mountain to climb as they looked for a way back into the game.
Despite Hyde starting to get a foothold in the game, it was Kidsgrove who got the next goal as Adu-Gyamfi went on a blistering run down the right before cutting inside and firing past Allinson to bring the Grove back into the game with just eight minutes left of the first half.
Ruben Wiggins-Thomas could have got an equaliser on the stroke of half-time as he had a volley which was straight at the goalkeeper.
In the second half, Kidsgrove dominated proceedings with Wiggins-Thomas hitting the side netting, while Alex Morris almost scored his first goal for the club when he tried an effort from the edge of the area. However, it was a comfortable save by the former FC United of Manchester and Nantwich goalkeeper.
At the other end, Kurasik ensured his side remained in the competition when he made two exceptional saves to deny Pratt from making it 3-1 to the visitors. Had either effort gone in then it would have been game over for Kidsgrove.
With twenty minutes to go Austin gave Ben Chesters his debut as he replaced Tom France. Chesters is part of the academy at Kidsgrove Athletic and, he nearly marked his debut with a goal as his header at the back post was booted clear off the line.
It was a tough result to take for the Grove who had played well throughout the match and, Austin certainly got the reaction he was looking for following the performance at Sutton Coldfield Town.
The games continue to come thick and fast for Austin and his team as they welcome Stamford to the Autonet Insurance Stadium in a vital league clash this Saturday both teams are looking for points to keep their hopes of promotion this season alive.
Kidsgrove Athletic: Kurasik, Blake, Morris, Boula (Hall, 79), Duffy, Butler, France (Chesters, 70), Griffiths, Wiggins-Thomas, Adu-Gyamfi and Rumenio (Sankho, 88).
Unused subs: Jepson and Campbell-Gordon.
Hyde United: Allinson, Roscoe, Brownhill, Young, McCombe, Fagbola, Lane (York, 85), Tounge, Sharp (Dyche, 72), Pratt and Ndiaye (Turner, 90).
Unused subs: Dean and Hodges.
Attendance: 133
