Keeper plays blinder, but visitors too good
SOMETIMES effort, determination and an inspired from your goalkeeper is enough to cause an FA Cup shock.
For Crook Town yesterday, it was not quite enough.
Inspired by a fine performance from their number one Ronan Makepeace, and with the words of manager Jamie Tunstall ringing in their ears, Town fought tooth and nail with a Marske United side that ply their trade two levels higher in the non-league pyramid.
However, it is the Seasiders that will be eagerly awaiting tomorrow’s first qualifying round draw after second-half goals from Craig Gott and Kevin Burgess helped them overcome a severe test at Millfield.
Both sides played their part in a lively start to the game but without forcing the respective opposing keeper into any meaningful action.
That all changed just before the midway point of the first half when Crook keeper Ronan Makepeace palmed a Lewis Maloney free-kick out for a corner kick.
The NPL North West Division side created their second chance inside a minute from the resultant corner as Adam Boyes found some space but dragged a shot wide of the far post from around 12 yards.
The hosts burst into life as the half-hour approached and created their first chance of the game, when captain Matty Crossen nearly turned inside Craig Gott and angled a drive just beyond Ryan Catterick’s near post.
The two sides swapped chances as the last five minutes of the half approached and it was Marske that went first as Maloney and Makepeace went head-to-head once again, the hosts keeper helping a dipping drive go wide.
The flurry of action continued just two minutes later when Joe Hillerby tried his luck from 25 yards and saw his swerving shot brilliantly tipped over the bar by the also impressive Catterick.