Squires Gate and Runcorn Linnets will both be in the draw for the next round of the FA Cup on Monday after both sides failed to break the deadlock in a goalless draw at School Road.
In the only all-NWCFL tie in the First Qualifying Round, Linnets enjoyed the better of the possession over the course of the game, but Gate had the better chances and a number of crucial saves by Linnets keeper Richie Mottram in the second half kept them in the tie.
Neither keeper was seriously tested in the opening half hour, and the first save of note arrived in the 31st minute when a looping volley from Squires Gate’s Scott Harries was collected under the crossbar by Linnets keeper Mottram.
The visitors hit back and created two good chances in the space of a minute. Phil Holland just missed the target with a 25 yard effort, and then Gate keeper Neil Beesley made a fine reflex save, turning a header from Rob Whyte over the crossbar from close range.
Squires Gate’s best effort of the first half came three minutes from the break, when Joe Shelmerdine collected a ball down the right flank, cut inside a defender and curled a shot just wide of the far upright.
The opening stages of the second half produced plenty of endeavour from both sides, with Linnets enjoying territorial advantage without seriously testing Beesley in the home goal.
Shelmerdine, who converted a penalty in Gate’s midweek win over St Helens, elected to take the kick himself but his effort was blocked by Linnets keeper Mottram low down to his left.
With eight minutes remaining, Mottram was called into action again, this time making a great one handed save from Scott Harries shot after he had collected a terrific through ball from Shelmerdine that split the Linnets defence.
The closing stages of the game belonged to Linnets, who had a claim for handball in the penalty area turned down shortly before substitute Paul Prescott had a shot blocked by a last ditch tackle in the six yard box.
“But also they put a lot of pressure on us in the last ten minutes and we rode our luck a bit, but all in all it was a decent game and I think we probably just did enough to nick it with the chances we had.
“We are playing well at the moment, and hopefully we can take that form into Tuesday night and get a win over there.”
Runcorn Linnets manager Paul McNally: “We’re probably lucky to still be in the FA Cup. The commitment from their players was tremendous today, they never stopped running, and had two clear cut chances towards the end, one of them being the penalty which Richie Mottram saved, and the other being a shot that was going into the bottom corner that he got a hand to.
“The lads are under no illusions about how tough it’s going to be in Tuesday’s replay, and we’re just happy to be in Monday’s draw. The good thing about a cup tie is that if you don’t get it right the first time, you’ve always got a chance of having another go in the replay.
"Hopefully the lads will come back on Tuesday with a better approach and we can go on to progress in the FA Cup.”
In the NWCFL Premier Division, AFC Blackpool returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory away at Silsden thanks to a 57th minute goal from Niall Cummins. That strike brings Cummins total to 7 for the season - 5th in the Premier Division scoring standings.
AFC Blackpool are now 14th in the Premier Division table with 11 points from 8 games. They are next at home to Bacup Borough on Tuesday 20th September - 7.45 kick off.
Visit their website at: http://www.afcblackpool.co.uk/
