Avro 2 Squires Gate 1: Narrow defeat on Gate's return to league action

After almost two months away, Luke Evans handed starts to new signings Danny Eccles, Oliver Southern, Sam Barrett and Chris Webster.

It was a bright start from Gate with Dean Ing and Kieran Feeney seeing early efforts blocked.

Ing fired wide from the edge of the area on the quarter-hour before confusion at the other end saw Eccles make a save at his near post.

Another block thwarted Ing, who also sent a further effort off target, while Eccles made a comfortable save as the first half ended goalless.

The second half started slowly but the deadlock was broken on 55 minutes.

Eccles parried away a free-kick from the home side but Avro reacted quickest and Martin Pilkington bundled home the ball.

Avro went close to scoring again as did Ing, who headed over from close range.

Moments later and Avro went 2-0 up as Webster’s attempted clearance only found his own goal.

Gate pulled one back in the 89th minute when Jack Iley scored on his return before Ryan Riley volleyed over a late effort from distance.

Squires Gate: Eccles, Ridings, Higham, Staunton-Turner, Barrett, Southern, Baldwin, Webster, Feeney, Ing, Boyd. Subs: Dodd, Pollard, Riley, Iley, Hanslip.

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