News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Late goal brings heartache for Town

Late goal brings heartache for Town

Steve Roberts3 Sep 2019 - 22:20
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.holywelltownfc.co.

Gresford Athletic's late 89th minute winner see's them win 2-1 and book themselves in the next round of the NEWFA Challenge Cup this evening.

The Wellmen got the match under way and pressed forward looking for an early goal. A deep cross into the box saw Jacob Wise rise to head the ball but Ben Jones was on hand to collect the ball before any danger was put on his goal.
With Gresford’s first real attack on the Holywell goal, they took the lead. A great cross to the far post by Joe Culshaw saw Jordan Macarter with a free header and he steered the ball into the back of the net. The early set back didn’t upset Town too much as they pressed looking for the equaliser. A great cross into the box saw the ball flicked on by the Gresford defender, as far as Mark Connolly at the far post, but his effort hit the post and went out for a goal kick.
A few minutes later however, Town had equalised. Mark Connolly burst through the middle and was brought down on the edge of the area. Connolly dust himself down to take the kick and his fierce drive came back into play off the post with the keeper beaten, then unexpectedly hit the defender and the ball ricochet back into the back of the net.
The Wellmen continued to look for a second goal, and it almost came with around half hour on the clock, Josh Robertson broke from the halfway line and fed the ball to Lee Buterworth, he controls well and his cross into the box is missed by the defender, but the keeper reads the danger and gathers with Josh Robertson ready to pounce if the ball broke loose.
Final few minutes and Gresford win a corner, the ball is crossed in and Macarter heads the ball back across goal, the defence stand firm, and clear the ball but only as far as Ashton Williams but he blazed his shot over the bar.
With the scores all level at the break, the match got back underway and the first real chance of the half fell to Gresford. Jordan Macarter found himself on side and managed to get away from his marker and was through one on one with Mike Platt. Macarter shot but Platt was equal to it and pulled off a great save to keep the score at 1-1. The wellmen were forced into a substitution as Charlie Hughes hobbled off the pitch and he was replaced by Paul Williams.
A few minutes later, Town should have taken the lead. Tony Roebuck delivers a great cross into the box and Mark Connolly is there and his diving header is brilliantly turned away by Ben Jones to keep the scores level. From the resulting corner, Connolly again finds himself away from his marker but his header across goal falls the wrong side of the post and out for a goal kick. Luke Edwards then had an effort brilliantly saved by Jones.
Town breathed a huge sigh of relief a few minutes later as Gresford attacked the Wellmen’s goal, a ball over the top for Steel to chase sees him take it near to the byline, he turns inside and shoots but his shot hits the post and rolls across the face of goal and is cleared off the line by Wise with Macarter ready to tap the ball home. Then, Gresford were once again indebted to their keeper, this time pulling off a great save to deny Tony Roebuck’s brilliantly struck half volley. The Gresford keeper caps his man of the match performance with yet again another good save, this time denying substitute Shaun Tuck.
Then heartbreak for Town in the final minute. Gresford break and Kerian Evans breaks clear through the midfield, he beats one challenge then threads the ball through to the onrushing Harley Steele, and his shot flies in giving Mike Platt no chance and to give Gresford the victory as soon afterwards, the referee blew for full time, ending Town’s participation in this years NEWFA Challenge Cup.
The result was hard on Town, and on another night, the Wellmen could have been 3 or 4 goals clear but for the heroics of Ben Jones in the Gresford goal to keep his side in the tie. The club would like to wish Gresford the best of luck in the next round.
Further reading