So near, but yet so far as Moors give MK a scare
SPENNYMOOR TOWN nearly completed an astonishing fightback at League One MK Dons, as the Northern Premier League side lost 3-2 despite trailing by three goals inside 15 minutes.
It looked like being a long afternoon for Jason Ainsley’s side as goals from Ben Reeves, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Kieran Agard put MK in the driving seat.
But Joe Tait snatched a 19th-minute reply and Andrew Johnson set up a grandstand finish with a strike six minutes from time, but the visitors couldn’t add a third.
Ainsley said: “I thought we were outstanding in the second half. The lads can come away with a lot of credit because for the final five minutes they were holding it up at the corner flag.
“The supporters were magnificent and I’m glad we gave them something to shout about.”
Liam Trotter helped Bolton scrape nervously past Grimsby and chalk up a seventh successive win in all competitions.
The League One highfliers looked set for a comfortable day at the Macron when former Mariners loanee Trotter headed home Zach Clough’s corner for his second goal of the season after 20 minutes.
Several chances went begging for Phil Parkinson’s side and Jamie Proctor rattled a post, but their failure to put the game beyond the plucky League Two outfit nearly cost Bolton dear.
Grimsby came into their own after the break. Brandon Comley was denied by a brilliant Mark Howard save at pointblank range and Scott Vernon headed narrowly wide from Danny Andrew’s left wing cross.
James McKeown made two important saves from Sammy Ameobi and Proctor as Bolton made a rare foray into opposition territory.
Backed by nearly 2,000 travelling fans, the visitors pushed hard for a replay and nearly snatched one when sub Rhys Browne stabbed a late effort towards goal, but it was tipped round a post by Howard.
Ninth tier Westfields were denied a historic victory after Curzon Ashton forced a replay at Allpay Park.
Midland League Premier Division side Westfields took the lead via Craig Jones’ penalty.
The visitors had a goal chalked off, but got their reward nine minutes from time as a goalmouth scramble saw the ball fall to Adam Morgan, who scored from close range.
Solihull Moors fought back from two goals down to force a replay against 10-man Yeovil at Huish Park, while Brackley Town returned to haunt Gillingham and earn another crack at the League One side thanks to a 2-2 draw at Priestfield.
National League side Macclesfield produced one of the few shocks as they won 1-0 at Walsall, with John McCombe grabbing the only goal of the match.
In one of the games of the day, goals from Craig Eastmond, Maxime Biamou, and two each from Ross Stearn and Roarie Deacon helped Sutton United claim a 6-3 victory at Dartford, while Braintree hammered National League South side Eastbourne Borough 7-0.