Sandbach crash out of the FA cup at the first hurdle

Jack Beresford reports as United traveled to North Counties East division 1 side Parkgate, however a goal either side of half time meant the home side came away with a 2-0 victory at the Roundwood sports complex.

Sandbach got off to a good start as straight from kick off Mike Blundell won his side a corner, the corner from the left was delivered to the back post and onto the head of centre back Kris Stockton who headed wide from the back post. After 11 minutes Sandbach had their first real opportunity of the game when Josh Lane played the ball in behind the defence and into the path of Mike Blundell who was then in on goal, Blundell got into the box and then unleashed a shot that well saved by the keeper down to his right.

The away side had started the brighter of the two sides and it didn’t look as though the nerves of playing in a big game had got to them.
Parkgate were being patient in possession, making Sandbach work hard to get the ball back, in the 14th minute they mustered their first chance of the game when a cross from the right was met by Martin Brissett who headed over from the penalty spot. Six minutes later the deadlock was broken when a low free kick from the right by Elliot Simpson was met by Brandon Bagley who nonchalantly flicked the ball towards the far post and into the net. It was a goal that the home side had earned as they were patient in their build up, however it was poor defending from Sandbach as Baguley was left unmarked in the box.

Sandbach had a lot of work to do to get back into the game and they almost did just that Blundell’s corner from the left was headed over by Josh Lane. Set plays were looking as though they were going to be the only way that either side were going score, this point was backed up when Tim Whittaker headed over from a corner from the right two minutes before half time.

As the first half concluded Sandbach were 1-0 down and they had plenty of work to do if they wanted to progress in this competition. The second half started poorly, and both teams took a while to get going, the home side had gone deeper as they looked to preserve their lead.

With 30 minutes of the game left, Sandbach were pushing for an equaliser, but when Billy Buckley was tackled on half way the ball ricocheted of Buckley and into the path of Lewis Szanto who rounded the on rushing keeper and then slotted the ball into the empty net to double his sides lead.

Sandbach heads had dropped and the game was fizzling out as Parkgate were playing the ball around nicely and keeping possession well. With three minutes of the game left Sandbach finally gained possession and had their first chance of the second half as Kirby cut in from the left and then shot with his left foot, his shot flashed across the goal and out for a goal kick, Sandbach knew that goal would put the pressure on home side, United had another golden chance one minute later when a long ball from Stockton was nodded down by Buckley into the path of Haughton who beat the keeper to the ball and poked the ball over the bar but the flag was up for offside anyway.

The referee had indicated four minutes of added time and Sandbach looked to use this to their advantage. In the 92nd minute Ryan Allcock sent in a cross that was perfect for Stockton, however he couldn’t keep his shot down from just six yards out.

Two minutes later Sandbach had one final opportunity to pull a goal back, as a cross from the left was met by Haughton whose shot from 12 yards out was blocked by his own teammate James Kirby, the ball then fell to second half substitute Luke Walley who half volleyed the ball down towards the bottom left corner, but the keeper was on hand to save well low down to his right.

The game ended 2-0 to Parkgate, it was a poor display from Sandbach who never really got going and didn’t take their chances.