Newcastle Town face a trip to Warwickshire on Tuesday night after they were held to a 1-1 draw byNorthern Premier League Midlands side Bedworth United in the Emirates FA Cup.
The Greenbacks took the lead after just seven minutes through former Stafford Rangers forward Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls following a mistake from Joe Slinn, only for Tommy Van Der Laan to equalise just 11 minutes later. However, neither side could find a winner meaning they have to meet again in 72 hours.
Newcastle manager Robin Van Der Laan was forced into making one change to the starting 11 that beat Hanley Town on Tuesday night as James Askey was suspended following his red card on the opening day of the season against Witton Albion. To fill the void, Newcastle moved to bring in George Lewis on a one-month loan deal from near neighbours Stoke City and he started the game at centre back.
It was a disappointing start for Newcastle as they fell behind on seven minutes when a backpass to Slinn wasn’t dealt with properly. The former Port Vale goalkeeper has clearly been watching Ederson too much recently as he tried to show off some fancy footwork but got it hopelessly wrong and, it allowed Bailey-Nicholls to nick the ball off him before slotting the ball into an empty net to score Bedworth’s second goal of the season.
Newcastle were then lucky not to go 2-0 down on 15 minutes when captain Luke Dennis slipped and, it allowed Liam Lockett to break clear on goal. However, he didn’t have the composure like Bailey-Nicholls and he put the effort well over Slinn’s crossbar.
That was the wake-up call Newcastle needed as they grew into the game with Jayden Hunter shooting wide of the goal before Tommy Van Der Laan equalised on 20 minutes. A corner from Joe Hurst was met by the head of Van Der Laan, who saw his bullet header fly past Sam Lomax and, into the back of the net.
From there it was all Newcastle as they pressed for a second goal with the best two chances falling to Mikey Conlon. The first saw him put a volley over the crossbar from outside the area on 27 minutes. The second was just moments before the half-time whistle as he ran at the Bedworth defence before cutting inside. It allowed him to create the space to have a chance but, ultimately, he was to put the effort straight into the hands of Lomax.
After the interval, chances were really at a premium, both teams saw plenty of the ball and got the said ball into the final third, but that all-important killer pass to unlock the defence was missing.
Jayden Hunter should have added to his midweek goal at Hanley Town when he got a shot away on the hour mark. However, his chance was blocked by a covering defender. While Conlon was able to get down the left wing before putting a cross-come-shot over the bar. On another day that sort of chance flies over the goalkeeper’s head and, into the back of the net.
Bedworth’s best chance of the second half came when Tyler Haddow could only head a cross from Lockett over the crossbar. The cross was probably a bit on the high side for Haddow but he did well to fashion any sort of a chance.
New signing Lewis could have won the game at the end for Newcastle when he got on the end of a Hurst corner at the back post. However, there was to be no debut goal for the young defender as he headed the ball into the hands of Lomax.
Bedworth substitute Jazz Luckie had the final chance of the game with five minutes left when he had a chance from the edge of the area, which flew into the hands of Slinn. However, the goal would not have stood had the ball hit the back of the net as the assistant’s flag was up for offside.
The result means Newcastle are in the hat for Monday’s draw which will be made around 1pm. However, before they can think about who they’re playing they must go to Bedworth on Tuesday night for a replay.
After the game, I spoke to Newcastle Town manager Robin Van Der Laan to get his thoughts on the game.
Newcastle Town: Slinn, Hurst, Ritchie, Vale, Lewis, Dennis, Conlon, T.Van Der Laan, Hunter, J.Van Der Laan and Lloyd.
Unused subs: Baxter, Smith, Parker, Torjussen, Morley, J.Lovatt and C.Lovatt
Bedworth United: Lomax, Moore, Rowe (Sanderson, 53), Parrott, Edjenguele, Barnett, Lockett, Blakemore (Sawyers, 72), Bailey-Nicholls (Luckie, 80), Haddow and Blythe.
Unused subs: Johnson and Dixon.
Attendance: 126
