Manchester City 3-1 Basford United (FA Trophy)

Michael Donohue gave the hosts the lead before they were pegged back just minutes later through Brad Gascoigne’s header.

Paul Ennis restored the hosts lead four minutes after the restart and the win was confirmed in the 43rd minute when Tunde Owolabi slotted home.

Basford United named an unchanged line up from the one that won 3-1 away to Atherton Collieries in their last game.

After a cagey opening five minutes Basford came close to opening the scoring. A quick counter saw Callum Chettle burst away down the right before rolling the ball to Liam Hearn who saw his effort blocked. The visitors did well to keep the chance alive and Hearn found Kane Richards. The forward took a touch and forced Cam Belford into a save at his near post.

Up the other end Tunde Owolabi looped a header over the bar before FC United came even closer. A corner was cleared to the edge of the box and captain Mike Potts was there to volley the ball onto the cross bar.

The hosts then saw the majority of the ball and that brought with it the opening goal in the 22nd minute. A chipped ball towards the back post was headed across goal and into the far corner by Donohue. Basford’s response was immediate. A corner from the right was flicked across goal and into the net by Gascoigne to draw Basford level.

The next goal of the game came just four minutes later as the hosts went back in front. A low ball across the box was fired in by Ennis from just inside what was a crowded penalty area.

The hosts continued to control the game and looked dangerous every time they ventured forward and that saw them strike the woodwork for a second time in the game. Donohue beat several Basford players down the right before his effort clipped the bar on its way out of play.

Their pressure did bring a third goal with three minutes left to play. Owolabi was slipped through on goal and his just Kieran Preston to beat he slotted the ball low and into the bottom corner to give his side a two-goal advantage at the break.

The second half started in frantic fashion. A low free kick from the right was directed goal wards only to come back off the post as the hosts looked for a fourth goal. Straight up the other end Hearn’s effort was not held by Belford and fell into the path of Watson but he could not make clean contact under pressure from several defenders.

Basford looked to find a way back into the game and were on the front foot. Chettle hit a cross over everyone’s head and out of play before hitting a first time shot over the bar. It was the hosts who looked the more likely to score when Owolabi got to the by-line and pulled the ball back but no was on the end of it for what would have been a tap in.

Owolabi was then inches away from tapping in a low ball himself before Richards headed over the bar for Basford up the other end. The visitors continued to press and James Carvell twisted and turned away from several players but could not get a shot away.

On the counter FC United looked dangerous and in the 80th minute Owolabi was played through in on goal but his effort was tame and easily held by Preston in the Basford goal.
Owolabi did force the Basford ‘keeper into action minutes later as the hosts had several efforts blocked as they continued to look the more likely to score.

Basford still continued to push and Chettle came close in the 89th minute when his long-range effort beat Belford only to come back off the post.

Even with four minutes of added time there was no way back into the tie as the final whistle saw the conclusion of a game that was over at the break.

Starting XI: 1- Preston, 2- Bateman, 3- Wilson, 4- Thornhill, 5- Gascoigne, 6- Galinski, 7- Richards, 8- Chettle, 9- Hearn (Grantham), 10- Watson (Thomas), 11- Reid (Carvell)

Up Next: HOME vs Whitby Town
16/11/2019
Kick Off 3:00pm