...involving Football Conference clubs.
Blue Square North`s bottom club Harrogate Town could not repeat Saturday`s fine performance when they held Blue Square Premier Gateshead for a replay in the FA Trophy First Round, although the Tynesiders had to wait until the 63rd minute to break the deadlock.
Daryl Clare’s seventh goal on loan from Mansfield Town put Gateshead ahead and then Chris Swailes doubled the lead to ensure the prize money was heading to the International Stadium.
It was a similar story at the KitKat Crescent where Blue Square Premier York City took care of Blue Square North visitors Hinckley United 4-1.
Leading scorer Richard Brodie was yet again the hero for the Minstermen with a second hat trick.
The England 'C' international striker opened the scoring with a first half penalty, followed by two neat second half finishes to seal a second hat trick of the season and render Matt West`s headed equaliser after the break meaningless.
In an all-Blue Square Premier replay, Altrincham won through by beating Wrexham 1-0 at Moss Lane.
The hosts booked themselves a trip to AFC Wimbledon in the next round, courtesy of a goal 20 minutes from time when Greg Young diverted Nicky Clee’s corner into the net.
Gainsborough Trinity recorded an `upset` by defeating high-flying Blue Square North rivals Southport 1-0 to book their place in the Second Round.
A first half strike from Lewis McMahon was enough to ensure the Blues host Tamworth in the next stage on January 9th.
Captain Dave Rainford made a perfect return to the side after suspension as his early headed goal set Blue Square South side Chelmsford City on their way to a narrow victory at the second attempt, the Clarets eventually prevailing over a brave Zamaretto League Premier Division outfit Truro City at Treyew Road.
Rainford was one of two changes to the team which drew 2-2 at Melbourne on Saturday and his impact was immediate, meaning his team can look forward to a round two meeting at home to Crawley Town of the Blue Square Premier.
With Ben Martin named at centre half in place of the suspended Mark Haines, Rainford’s addition in midfield instead of striker Rob Edmans meant a change in system which Head Coach Glenn Pennyfather believed was a key factor in prevailing this time around.
“We defended well and worked hard as a unit to show that Saturday was just a blip,” he claimed after the match. “This long trip shouldn’t theoretically have changed much of our build-up though it does have natural physical effects and I knew we’d tire but we could easily have been two or three up by half-time. For the last 20 minutes they threw the proverbial kitchen sink at us and we defended magnificently.”
The contest was competitive from the very start and Martin Watts tested visiting goalkeeper Ashley Harrison with a free-kick early in the game which the custodian collected comfortably. But it was Chelmsford’s initial effort which was to make the only impact on the score sheet as a 4th minute delivery into the danger zone was glanced into the net by Rainford to cap an ideal return to the side.
Truro’s enthusiasm had got the better of them for the first five minutes but once they settled down they began to impose themselves more, some tidy passing eventually leading to a goalbound Andy Watkins header which was cleared. However, they still had work to do in defence and diminutive central midfielder John Martin was unfortunate to see one effort cleared off the goal line by Lee Hodges and another find the side-netting.
Hodges himself supplied an unconverted cross on the half hour though his team were becoming more of a force in the match until a lengthy spell of treatment was required for Chelmsford left-back, Michael Haswell. He suffered a head injury in an accidental clash with Les Afful but regained consciousness and was taken to hospital for routine checks. The stoppage enabled a substitution as the visitors were forced to adapt their positions.
After a break of around eight minutes, Truro had the better of the remainder of the half, Martin Watts sending a header narrowly off-target following Watkins’ centre while Harrison was forced into an excellent double-save to thwart Watts and skipper Jake Ash. The captain tried again with a header from a corner shortly after Ricky Holmes fired over the bar in injury time though Chelmsford preserved their slight advantage at the break.
The second half took time to get going, several free-kicks braking-up the play, though interval substitute Arran Pugh managed a 54th minute header just wide for the hosts, who threatened again 10 minutes later, courtesy of Watts’ swerving dead ball.
The Cornishmen were prepared to commit players forward in their search for a leveller though Matthew Lock reminded them of their need to maintain a defensive shape with a dangerous, curling delivery into the box which ‘keeper Martin Rice collected.
Chelmsford absorbed a great deal of pressure as time ticked away but they refused to buckle, leaving Pennyfather to reflect: “If we continue our run these are the sorts of games you look back on. In the last two rounds we’ve had home draws then gone away and won, which was disappointing in a way, but our performances at Melbourne will start to come soon. Some players had to alter their work commitments to be here tonight and there were lots of good displays. These players are desperate to do well for the club.”
