Leek Town are through to the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup as they saw off the challenge of Belper Town with a fantastic 5-2 victory.
Blues boss Neil Baker made a few changes to the Leek side that lost to Chasetown in midweek. Eric Merner made his debut for the club as he replaced Joe O’Shaughnessy between the sticks, while Jake Avery got his first start for the club and Aaron Opoku made his first start of the season.
Marc Grocott gave the visitors a deserved lead on 21 minutes when Opoku did well to hold the ball up before finding his captain. The midfielder had enough time to line up his shot before hitting a strike past the right side of the Belper goalkeeper.
After the break Belper came back into the game and, they were level on 60 minutes when an uncharacteristic mistake from Louis Keenan allowed Cameron Johnson to pinch the ball off him before firing across Merner for 1-1.
At that point, it looked most likely that the two sides would need a replay on Tuesday night at the F.Ball Community Stadium. However, Leek just simply blew their hosts away in the final twenty minutes of the game with four goals.
The first came on 71 minutes when Grocott burst into the area taking the ball right up to the byline. He cut it back into the danger zone only for Belper captain Phil Watts to turn into his own net to restore Leek’s lead.
Avery joined Leek from Belper last year and, he got his first goals in Leek Town colours on his old stomping ground. The first saw a cross fall to him just inside the area. He took a quick touch to set himself before curling a superb shot into the net on 76 minutes.
He got his second with five minutes to go when a mix up in the Belper defence allowed the former Hanley Town man to pounce on the ball and make it 4-1.
Liam Buckley got Leek’s fifth and final goal with three minutes to go when he got forward from his right-back position before playing a nice give-and-go with Rob Stevenson before slotting the ball past Johnathon Hedge.
Belper did get a second in injury time through Watt as he scored at the right end but, it was never going to affect the outcome of this thrilling cup tie.
You can watch our interviews with Neil Baker and Jake Avery.
Meanwhile, Kidsgrove Athletic also progressed to the first qualifying round for the first time in four years with a routine 2-0 win over Sutton Coldfield Town.
Defender Josh Thorpe grabbed his 4th goal of the season on 13 minutes to open the scoring. The defender showed great composure from about eight yards out to get on the end of a corner.
They got a second just before the break when Joe Woolley went on a great run before hitting a fantastic strike beyond Jonathan Brown to double the Grove’s lead.
Nantwich Town also join Leek Town and Kidsgrove Athletic in the next round of the Emirates FA Cup as they defeated Skelmersdale United 6-0 on Friday night.
On the other hand, Congleton Town will not be in the next round of the Emirates FA Cup as they were narrowly beaten 2-1 at home to Witton Albion.
In a scrappy game, it took until the 55th minute for the deadlock to be broken when Carl Dickinson played a ball through the middle of the Witton defence to George Sankey who teed up Dan Needham. The winger, who always seems to score in these big game occasions for Congleton, saw his rocket shot fly past Witton Albion goalkeeper Harry Wright to open the scoring.
However, the Bears were in the lead for just two minutes as Elliot Rokka, who was brought on in the aftermath of the goal, picked up the ball near the touchline and looped it over Dave Parton to equalise for the visitors.
There was always a bit of a needle in this local derby, and that needle boiled over with less than 15 minutes to go. Opposing managers Richard Duffy and Jon Macken clashed over a run-of-the-mill foul, which caused a bit of a fracas between the two teams. Once it all calmed down both gaffers as well as the Witton Albion assistant manager were sent off.
The Northern Premier League side grabbed the winner with eight minutes to go when Mike Koral got down the wing before pulling the ball back to the near post where Rokka was waiting, and he stabbed home.
After the game, I spoke to Congleton Town player-manager Richard Duffy to get his thoughts on the game.
I also caught up with Congleton’s recent signing Carl Dickinson about the game and, Congleton’s challenge in the Midlands Football League.
Despite Lewis Holdham giving Newcastle Town an early lead, they were dumped out of the competition as they were beaten 5-1 by Rugby Town. The Warwickshire side ply their trade in the Northern Premier League Midlands division.
Hanley Town, meanwhile, require a replay if they are to progress in the competition as Midlands Football League side Stourport Swifts held Ryan Shotton’s men to a 2-2 draw.
Tyrone Ofori scored his fourth penalty of the season just before the halftime break.
However, the visitors took a 2-1 lead in the second half, only for Hanley to equalised with 14 minutes to go as Kieran Brown finished off Charlie Walford’s cross to secure them a second successive replay in the cup.
Speaking of the Midlands Football League, Stone Old Alleynians were soundly beaten 4-1 by Uttoxeter Town at their King’s Park home. It is a result that leaves Luke Askey’s men sitting 13th in the league table.
Moving down to step 5, none of our teams in the North West Counties Football League First Division South won at the weekend.
Sandbach United’s indifferent start to the season continued as they lost 4-1 to the division’s early pacesetters Abbey Hey. Stanley Tatters replied on behalf of Sandbach United following Jake Parker’s early opener. After the break, the visitors extended their lead thanks to goals from Cleo Fraser, Leighton Egan and Ben McNamara.
Abbey Hulton United lost by the odd goal in seven as Stafford Town defeated them 4-3 at Evans Park. The team from the county town the game thanks to a Ben Harrington hat trick and one from Matthew Hearsay. While, Daniel Allen, Brad Wilson and Matthew Ward all replied for the Abbey.
Meanwhile, Alsager Town were beaten 2-0 by Stockport Georgians.
National League North side Buxton got their third draw in four games as they drew 1-1 with Curzon Ashton.
Sam Smart scored his first goal in Buxton colours when Jake Hull’s composed pass found the midfielder who rounded Cameron Mason before slotting home.
Conceding late goals has been a feature of Buxton’s season so far this season and, on this occasion, there was 80 minutes on the clock when Devon Matthews headed the Manchester side level.
