Saturday 17th August 2024
The Emirates FA Cup
Preliminary Round
Glossop North End 1
Reilly 6
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2
Abadaki 61, 87
Attendance: 422
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Kenny, 3 Sutton, 4 Moore (c), 5 Cole, 6 Rowney (16 Wharton HT), 7 Billingsley (15 Darkwah 54), 8 Whiteoak (14 Murray 79), 9 Abadaki (12 Jones 90+1), 10 Holt, 11 Matthews (17 Webb 79).
A double from Victor Abadaki completed a superb comeback and ensured West's passage into the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Glossop - playing in traditional but unfamiliar black and white - were quickest out of the blocks and opened the scoring on six minutes. A free-kick was sent into West's box from deep and cushioned into the path of Hillmen #9 Reilly, who fired past the exposed Ollie Martin.
The goal was a bit of a sucker punch but West benefitted from possession and grew into the game, while Glossop maintained threat on the counter. Matthews and Abadaki both saw shots deflected up and over for corners while Reilly almost produced a second for the Hillmen with a speculative snapshot on the angle.
Chris Rowney was front and centre of a flashpoint in the Glossop area just after the half-hour - both sides making heated appeals - but nothing was doing for referee Mr Jackson. West vice-captain Rowney escaped with a final warning, already booked earlier in the half, and was withdrawn at the break.
Kris Holt, Jimmy Moore and Lewis Billingsley all saw efforts go close as half-time arguably came at good time for the home side, the break disrupting West's momentum.
The second half was one-way traffic from the off and West's imminent equaliser finally arrived on the hour as Holt slipped a perfectly weighted ball through to Victor ABADAKI to finish powerfully into the top-right corner of goalkeeper Gladwin's net.
Early on, the Hillmen had looked a very different outfit to the one that left Brookburn Road empty handed last month, yet the second half saw West keeper Ollie Martin a bystander with the game played almost entirely in opposition turf.
Despite such a territorial advantage, West could produce only half-chances and although you'd typically expect at least one of such a series to find the net, a second goal wasn't forthcoming and thoughts turned to Tuesday's night replay.
That was until three minutes from the end of regulation time as ABADAKI took an opportunity of his own creation, dribbling into the Glossop box before unleashing a rising left-foot drive that didn't come down until the net halted its trajectory.
The goal was met with jubliant scenes down the Surrey Street side of the ground, flanked with 150+ travelling West fans.
A number of incidents and stoppages throughout the game saw ten additional minutes signalled and fourteen played; it had gone 5 o'clock when the final whistle arrived to confirm West's progress into the First Qualifying Round for only the second time ever, and a tie at home to Silsden.
Listen to Paul Marshall's post-match thoughts here:
Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Joe and his Player of the Match was Victor Abadaki.
Weekend results
Saturday 17th August 2024
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Avro 1-2 Bury
Barnoldswick Town 1-1 Northwich Victoria
Longridge Town 1-3 1874 Northwich
South Liverpool 1-1 Witton Albion
Whitchurch Alport 3-1 Pilkington
NWCFL Premier Division
Cheadle Town 1-0 Colne
FC St Helens 1-1 Lower Breck
Irlam 0-1 Chadderton
Litherland REMYCA 1-2 FC Isle of Man
Prestwich Heys 0-2 Stockport Town
Ramsbottom United 4-0 Burscough
Squires Gate 1-3 Abbey Hey
Sunday 18th August 2024
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Hallam 2-0 Charnock Richard
Campion 1-0 AFC Liverpool
Photographers: Nathan Ashmall and Chris Michell
