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GILLFORD PARK FC |
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Jimmy McMurdo added Gary Milne, previously of Penrith Town, and Wigton Harriers' Michael Riding to his squad for this League Cup tie against Newcastle East End Railway, a team who fell at Gillford's sword on both occasions last season. Gillford Park put their First Division hosts under good early pressure, with Darren Addison shooting straight at home 'keeper Hamilton in the first minute before the stopper did well under pressure to claim a Stuart Moffat corner two minutes later. The game was jolted into action after eighteen minutes when a clash between two players saw referee John Harbertson caution Gillford's Ian Johnstone and give home defender Blakey his marching orders, and East End were evidently seeing red as they began recklessly flying in to tackles, unpunished by the Whitley Bay based official. With the game goalless at half-time East Ends physical tactics appeared to be working, and the upset was most definitely on eight minutes after the break when the home side was awarded a penalty for a foul by Johnstone. However, Gavin Armstrong dived the right way to turn the spot-kick round the post and after Captain Robbie Short cleared the resulting corner to debutant Michael Riding, the ex-Wigton forward sent Daniel Rayson clear through and he slid it passed the keeper to open the scores. There were further chances, and the lead was doubled with a quarter-of-an-hour left. Substitute Steve Skinner had had a big impact since being brought into the game and he hit a half volley into the bottom corner giving the keeper little chance. Five minutes later the result was put behind doubt when Stuart Moffat was upended in the Railway box and Skinner stepped up to calmly strike the ball home, capping off a fine performance and seuring the Man of the Match award. In the last min N E E R got some consolement courtesy of striker, Rush, whose deflected shot gave Armstrong no chance, but come the final whistle it was a fine three-one victory for the Park, bringing with it a trip to Heddon in the next round. |