Gate progress to the next round of the Vase after winning there first game of the season.
Squires Gate travelled to Manchester on Tuesday night as they took on Irlam in the FA Vase. The two sides had previously met on Saturday where the result was 2-2 after extra time. Gate made just two changes to the team that played Saturday with McKenna and Buchan coming in for Higgins and Benjamin.
Ash Rowley was unlucky not to open the scoring for Gate after 7 minutes. A good run from McKenna down the right hand side and his ball in found Rowley but his shot was deflected out for a corner. The resulting corner for Gate was headed over the bar by Westwood. It would be Irlam who would open the scoring though, a brilliant ball down the right was eventually crossed in. Three Irlam players were waiting in the box with one of them stepping forward to slot the ball past Fletcher. The lively Rowley had the chance to level things up for Gate when the ball was pulled back to him on the edge of the box but his shot went over the bar. Irlam had the next chance this time straight from the goal kick. There ball going over the defences heads but Irlams striker put the ball wide. Gate had a penalty shout after 35 minutes when Ash Rowley was wiped out in the box by the keeper but the ref felt the ball was won much to the surprise of the players on the pitch. Gate would keep the pressure on the home side and equal up the game after 38 minutes. A free kick was fired onto Westwoods head who knocked the ball over to the waiting Cummings. He stretched to poke Gate level. Gate had the chance to make it two with two minutes left but Mckenna’s header was cleared off the line.
Gate started the second half like they’d ended the first. Richards with the free kick after a good run from McKenna but the set piece was saved. McKenna was again involved, the ball played over to him and with the defender missing the header his follow up shot just clipped the post. Gate would take the lead on 67 minutes after Mckenna’s cross was sliced into his own net by the unfortunate defender. Gate would make it two soon after, Ash Rowley closing down the back pass to the defender and the keeper bought Rowley down with a penalty being awarded. Mark Buchan stepped up and cooly slotted past the keeper to score his second in two games and put Gate 3-1 up. The home side had a chance with 6 minutes left but Fletcher kept Gate in the game. Sub Calrke had the chance to open his account for the club after good work from Buchan but his shot was tame and the defender cleared the ball. Defender Westwood made a good run from the back and almost found the net after a good exchange of passing with Nathan Trout but Westwoods shot went wide. Gate went on to see the game out and record there first victory of the season and go through to the next round of the Vase against Winford.
Gate are next in action on Saturday as they face Ashton Athletic at home, kick off 3 pm.
Gate: Fletcher, Richards, Westwood, Colquhoun,Ferguson, Kay, Penswick, Rowley, Mckenna, Cummings, Buchan. Subs: Trout, Clarke, Higgins, Rodgerson.
