BRIGHOUSE TOWN manager Vill Powell just cannot buy any progression in the Emirates FA Cup and he was the first to admit this after the 2-1 home defeat to Step 5 Penistone Church last Saturday.
“I don’t know what I have to do to win an FA Cup tie, “lamented Powell in his post match interview.
He felt as low as the Town supporters after Town blew chance after chance in the first half and failed to put possible goals away in the second period.
Against the run of play Town went a goal down in the 28th minute when experienced Penistone forward Jordan Corduri blasted home from the edge of the box with several Town defenders shouting to the assistant referee that they thought some of his teammates were offside. He had all the time in the world to pick his spot.
Ten minutes later Town were level when Mohammad Qasim came into the box on the right and then unleashed a cracking shot to easily beat visiting keeper Harry Ambler.
That is how it stayed until the break, but Town, with better finishing from Jack Boyle and Jack Normanton, could have been comfortably in the lead.
Leading goalscorer last season Laurence Sorhaindo, back from injury,. was brought on after 55 minutes for Normanton and eight minutes later ex-Doncaster Rovers striker Myron Gibbons was on for Boyle. Nothing came in the way of a goal or two and it was the visitors who took the lead again when 6ft 5ins centre back Wayne Hughes outjumped keeper Michael Roxburgh from a cross coming in from the left and he headed home.
Town had a great chance to level for a possible replay but Harry Wilkinson’s powerful header was just wide of Ambler’s right hand post.
On came experienced ex-pro Zeph Thomas and despite some crafted football from Tom Haigh, the home side just couldn’t find the back of the net for a second time in the afternoon.
With Monday evening’s NPL opponents Shildon drawing their tie 1-1 at Newcastle Benfield, that game was postponed. On Saturday, September 3 when the next round of the FA Cup takes place Town will now entertain Nottingham-based Carlton Town instead of playing them two days later on Monday, September 5.
On Saturday Town break new ground with an away game at Grimsby Borough (3.0). Like Town they still have to grab their first win of the season.
The coach leaves the Old Pond, Hove Edge at 11am prompt.
On Bank Holiday Monday Town host Tadcaster Albion (3.0) and the day after the club’s U-18 side travels to Tadcaster to take on the Brewers in the FA Youth Trophy Preliminary round tie (7.0). This will be new Academy manager Harry Birro’s first involvement with a FA tie and he will have first team staff around him including physio Emily Harden.
Former Bradford Park Avenue wide player Alex King, who was an unused sub on the bench against Penistone Church, has moved on a dual registration to Handsworth Parramore.
