Saturday 3rd August 2024
The Emirates FA Cup
Extra Preliminary Round

West Didsbury & Chorlton 3
Abadaki 2
Matthews 41
Billingsley 90+4
Burscough 2
McGrath 64
Brewster 79

Attendance: 756

West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Jones, 3 Kenny, 4 McGonigle, 5 Cole, 6 Rowney (c), 7 Darkwah (18 Billingsley HT), 8 Holt, 9 Abadaki (17 Wharton 61), 10 Whiteoak (14 Murray 55), 11 Matthews (16 Lescott 71). Subs not used: 12 Webb, 15 Grimshaw.

A last-gasp Lewis Billingsley winner snatched the tie for West to overcame a resilient Burscough side and advance in the FA Cup.

On the same day as the Olympics’ ‘Super Saturday’, it West who came out of the blocks the quickest, Victor Abadaki firing in after only three minutes. He was first to react to Cameron Darkwah’s parried header, drilling the rebound high into the net. The remainder of the half was an evenly matched affair but when Billy Matthews found himself through on goal as the half drew to a close, he composed himself and placed the ball under the on-rushing keeper to double the lead and put West in the driving seat at the break.

While many of the supporters basking in the August sun could be forgiven for thinking that West would gently coast to victory, the visitors had other ideas and came out with a vengeance. West keeper Ollie Martin made a number of smart saves to keep West’s noses in front, but he was beaten twice in fairly quick succession to see Burscough draw level with little over 10 minutes to go. The momentum was undoubtedly with the visitors and, as the sun started to come in, the prospect of a midweek replay at Burscough had evolved from a last resort into a safety net. 

That was until deep in stoppage time when substitute Lewis Billingsley received the ball at his feel on the right-hand touchline. He beat his first defender to reach the corner of the penalty box and unleashed a powerful shot that flew through a crowd of bodies, taking a nick off one or two on its way past the Linnets keeper. Brookburn Road erupted and all eleven West players were amongst a mass of limbs celebrating a vintage FA Cup moment. Remarkably it was Billingsley’s first goal at the Shed End and it sets up a trip to Glossop North End in the Preliminary Round in two weeks’ time.

Burscough will be out for revenge when the sides meet again in the league next Saturday, and West will know that it’ll be a match that they can’t be complacent about.

Listen to Paul Marshall's post-match thoughts here:

Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Dan and his Player of the Match was Lewis Billingsley.

Today’s @burtonrdbrewing Supporter of the Match is Dan and he chose Lewis Billingsley as his Player of the Match. pic.twitter.com/EogEb72uP9

— West Didsbury & Chorlton (@WD_CFC) August 3, 2024

Photos by Nathan Ashmall

Weekend results
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Friday 2nd August 2024
AFC Liverpool 2 Abbey Hey 1
Saturday 3rd August 2024
Barnoldswick Town 0 Brighouse Town 0
Colne 0 Mossley 4
Congleton Town 2 Bury 4
Emley 1 FC St Helens 0
Hallam 2 Lower Breck 1
Handsworth 2 South Liverpool 2
Litherland REMYCA 1 Glossop North End 3
Longridge Town 2 Cheadle Town 0
Northwich Victoria 3 Squires Gate 2
Padiham 1 Golcar United 1
Penistone Church 1 Charnock Richard 2
Ramsbottom United 1 Stalybridge Celtic 3
Stockport Town 1 1874 Northwich 2
Stocksbridge Park Steels 2 Prestwich Heys 1
Whitchurch Alport 3 Irlam 0
Wythenshawe 0 Pilkington 0
Wythenshawe Town 7 Chadderton 1