Squires Gate's FA Cup joy

Gate celebrate Noblet's winner Picture: ALBERT COOPER

They were two up in Manchester after eight minutes, and although their Hallmark Security League premier division rivals hit back to equalise, Joe Noblet scored the winner as he had in the previous round.

Straight from kick-off in this preliminary round tie, captain Andy Richards found Brett Dawson, who calmly scored his second goal in six days after Monday’s equaliser at Atherton Collieries.

West Didsbury’s Rob Black tested keeper Ben Fletcher with a shot from distance but within a minute Gate had doubled their lead.

Richards was again involved, finding Noblet down the right. He swung over a fine cross which Ric Seear headed home for his third of the season.

The home side missed a good chance on 17 minutes, when Ash Woods slipped as he shot and the ball flew wide, but four minutes later they were back in the game, star player Matty Kay volleying home from the edge of the area.

Gate ended the half with their backs to the wall, Fletcher saving superbly from Woods after a jinking run, but the visitors did have a good chance for a third when Dawson headed into the path of Seear and the normally lethal striker fired wide.

Jamie Gibson replaced the injured Mark Thornber for the second half and had a chance to increase Gate’s lead within three minutes. Seear played him through but the Didsbury keeper saved comfortably.

Fletcher faced more of a test to tip over a header by Woods, who was not to be denied and found the bottom corner from Martyn Andrews’ through-ball for the equaliser on 69 minutes.

But the hosts were level for only two minutes before Noblet beat his man and curled his shot into the top corner.

Gate saw out the game under pressure, defender Paul Carroll dislocating an already broken nose, to earn a home tie against Northern Counties League club Handsworth Parramore from Worksop on Saturday week.

Unbeaten Gate return to league action at home to Bootle tomorrow (7.45pm).

MARK ASHMORE

Gate: Fletcher, Richards, Carroll, Penswick, Higham, Hall, McKendrick, Thornber, Noblet, R Seear, Dawson. Subs: B Seear, Gibson, Buchan, Tanser.