Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round

Alsager Town marched into the First Qualifying Round of this season’s Emirates FA Cup with a magnificent victory against Shaw Lane Aquaforce at Wood Park on Saturday afternoon and in the process collecting winner’s prize money of £1925 and a home tie against Evo-Stik League Division One North side Burscough on 12th September.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce (SLA) from Barnsley, South Yorkshire were only formed in 2012 and after three successive promotions they currently play in the Evo-Stik League Division One South, one tier above the Bullets in the football pyramid. The Wood Park faithful could therefore perhaps be forgiven for having few expectations of making further progress in the competition.
Alsager made one change to the team that had made a creditable midweek 1-1 draw at 1874 Northwich, with Tom Brown replacing George Mannion at left back.
There was an early scare for the Bullets when a well-taken SLA free-kick from the right edge of the Bullets penalty area struck the left hand post, however on 6 minutes, the home team took the lead with their first attack of the game. Jonathan Crane played the ball through to Jake Chadwick in the inside right channel and his shot from twelve yards out was beaten away to safety by SLA keeper Ian Deakin. The resultant corner was struck low across goal and the unmarked Chadwick side footed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
Two minutes later, the Bullets extended their lead when Jack Woolley’s lofted ball to the left edge of the SLA six yard box found Jonathan Crane whose volley lacked power but found the net after being fumbled by Deakin. As expected, this double set-back sprung a robust SLA side into action and they pressed forward at every opportunity. They deservedly reduced the arrears in the 29th minute when Lee Morris rounded Bullets keeper Krystian Burzyski and tapped the ball into the net after the ball had been needlessly given away. With Joe Thornton and Morris causing all sorts of problems for the Alsager rearguard, Burzyski twice came to the rescue as the half came to an end with a leg-block from the former and a point-blank save from the latter.
The second-half started brightly for the Bullets, when Woolley’s free kick from outside the area flew wide of the left post, but SLA continued to press, although Burzyski and the Town rearguard dealt admirably with each attack. Alsager still continued to pose a threat when going forward, and substitute Jonathan Jones was unlucky not to extend the lead in the 78th minute when he dribbled into the SLA area and saw his well struck shot beaten away by Deakin. Five minutes later Jordan Johnson forged forward on the right but failed to find Jordan Southwell or Jones with his pass into the area. Burzyski was continuing to be the star of the show and saved the best till last, when in the third minute of added time he somehow managed to tip a pile-driver from the impressive Muhammed Sabo over the bar. The final whistle sparked great scenes of celebration from the players and even a smile from the chairman!

Alsager Town: Burzyski, Taberner, Brown (Jones), Heler, Dawson, Warren, Crane, Chadwick, Johnson, Main (Southwell), Woolley. Subs (not used): Williams, Booth, Houghton, Middleton-Hill.

Attendance:99.
Ian Woodward