Town fall at first hurdle

After a very even first 15 minutes the first real chance fell to Town forward Tony Edwards. With the keeper off his line he couldn’t direct his chip goalwards and the ball ended up the wrong side of the post. On 20 minutes Michael Harness played a neat one-two with Edwards and his shot from a narrow angle just cleared the crossbar.

With five minutes of the first half remaining Gainsborough scored what turned out to be the winning goal. The visiting left winger who caused the Town defence problems all game cut in onto his right foot and hit a shot from 25 yards which took a deflection off captain Chris Johnson and sneaked in the corner past keeper Lewis Burchnall.

The second half started much like the first with Town enjoying lots of possession without being able to create any real cut chances. On the hour Luke Blondel came on for Danny Bent and Brad Wilson replaced Olly Johnson. Towns best chance of the half came with ten minutes to go as Gareth Melia came in off the right to strike the ball with his left foot but as his shot was heading goal bound it took a slight deflection and went narrowly past the post. Town failed to break down the visitors in the last few minutes and so exited the cup at the first hurdle.

A much more positive performance from Town who deserved to take the game to extra time at least but will be looking to get back to winning ways when they return to league action on Wednesday night at home to Cleethorpes Town Reserves (7:45 ko)

Town team: Burchnall, Rawdon, C.Johnson, Marshall, Shinn, Harness, O.Johnson, (Wilson), Lovett, Melia, Edwards, Bent (L.Blondel). Unused subs: C.Low