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by DJ » 23 Sep 2018, 12:57
Halesowen Town 0 Gainsborough Trinity 3
Halesowen limped out of the FA Cup in a dismally disappointing display as Northern Premier Gainsborough handed out a harsh footballing lesson to collect the £9,000 prize money.
Trinity controlled the cup-tie and were first to feature when Alex Byrne curled wide after 3 minutes before Asa Charlton produced a fine sliding tackle to clear from Damian Reeves. Alex Simmons caused particular danger all afternoon and he was blocked in the 14th minute after his captain Liam King worked free to fire across goal.
As the Yeltz eventually, but tentatively, ventured forward, a cross from debut defender Christos Shelis was cut out by Joe Maguire – brother of England’s Harry Maguire - at the end of a 20th minute run. Two minutes later Jack Kelly’s 25 yard free-kick was blocked and the loose ball allowed Babucar Sauane to cross for Lee Hughes to sky the ball high over the bar under challenge.
Ever-threatening Simmons was blocked again by a packed home defence but Trinity made their dominance pay to take the lead in simple fashion when Shane CLARKE raced into the six-yard box to power a downward header home from Simmons’ resulting corner after 24 minutes. Simmons then had two bites of the cherry in the 33rd minute but his final effort fell just wide.
James Roberts threatened with a blocked shot from the left in the 37th minute and just before the interval Ahmed Ali’s shot was turned away for a corner.
However, there was no sign of improvement from the Yeltz after the interval as the visitors added two further goals to coast to victory with some comfort in a one-sided second period.
Jordan Goddard fired a long free-kick straight at goalkeeper Jon Stewart in the Gainsborough goal after 48 minutes in a game where the Yeltz struggled to produce a proper shot on target all afternoon. By contrast, Trinity continued to create chances with Dan Platt pushing away a 53rd minute header from Reeves and the home defence clearing Nathan Stainfield’s header off the line from the resulting corner.
But The Holy Blues soon doubled their lead when Simmons was allowed to deliver a lovely cross from the right for Ashley WORSFOLD to place his 54th minute header into the top corner. Platt then kept out further efforts from Reeves and Byrne. With home heads visibly dropping, King was left in acres of space on the edge of the area to shoot after 71 minutes and Clarke skipped through the home defence forcing Platt into a 73rd minute fingertip save.
Inevitably, Gainsborough made it a well deserved 3-0 in the 74th minute with an individual, but far too easy goal from man-of-the-match SIMMONS, who twisted and turned the home defence before unleashing a fierce shot from the edge of the area to beat Platt.
With the contest over, visiting goalkeeper Jon Stewart created his own trouble by losing the ball but redeemed himself to save from Hughes after 77 minutes and an 87th minute Hughes shot was blocked by Stainfield after neat interplay between Roberts and substitute Sam Tonks.
Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Christohs Shelis, Jack Kelly (Sam Tonks 74), Jack Rea, Kieron Morris, Asa Charlton, Babucar Sauane (Aaron Gilpin 68), Jordan Goddard (Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 56), Lee Hughes, James Roberts, Ahmed Ali (c). Subs Not Used: Danny Bragoli, Ivor Lawton, Louis Ezewele.
Gainsborough Trinity: Jon Stewart; Neil Austin, Ben Gordon, Shane Clarke, Joe Maguire, Nathan Stainfield, Alex Byrne, Liam King (c), Ashley Worsfold, Damian Reeves, Alex Simmons (Simon Russell 78). Subs Not Used: Camaron Hough, Ioan Evans, Ross Hannah, Elliot Wilson, Jamie Ture.
Referee: Ollie Williams Attendance: 338
Booked: King (22), Sauane (45)
‘Tulleys Print’ HTFC Man of the Match selected by Steve Wood: Jack Rea
Non-League Paper Man of the Match: Alex Simmons (Gainsborough)