An assistant referee’s flag and a coat of paint were all that separated Avro from booking their first ever appearance in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round, as Albion Sports held on for a goalless draw to earn a replay in Leeds next Wednesday night.
Alex Frost made three changes from his starting eleven that played in the previous fixture against Barnoldswick Town, with Joe Rathbone, Max Davidson and James Coates coming in to replace a suspended Kyle Jacobs, an injured Grant Shenton and captain Jake Cottrell.
The blazing sun and gusting wind very clearly showed its effects in the first half, as neither side set the world alight. It was just after the half hour mark before the first real chance arrived, when Michael Afuye was played in behind the visiting defence by a lovely through ball. However, his low driven shot towards the bottom right corner was easily saved by Sports keeper, George McMahon. It was the home side again with the next clear cut chance when Max Davidson bullied his way through the middle of the park and delivered another perfectly weighted through ball for Afuye, but the first in a series of decisive interventions by an offside flag cut short the attack.
The second half started with a substitution for Avro as Jamie Hill came on to replace Adam Owen, and soon afterwards Tommy Lent entered the field for an injured Sam Rathbone, who took a heavy hit to the back. Avro started the half much better than they had the first, and on the hour mark, Kane Wallwork fired in a thunderous free kick from distance which smashed against the underside of the crossbar and to safety. Nine minutes later, Joe Rathbone delivered an inviting cross into the path of Sutcliffe, but his shot flew over the bar.
The most controversial moment in the match arrived moments later, when Afuye was sent through on goal and he calmly placed his shot past the keeper in the bottom left corner, only for a late flag to interrupt his celebrations.The woodwork then took another pounding when Jack Morrow met Wallwork’s corner and his flicked header hit McMahon’s left post. And with just five minutes left, Rathbone also got on the end of a corner, but his fierce header was wonderfully saved by a diving McMahon, ultimately keeping his team in the competition.
This was the end of the goalmouth action, and all eyes now turn to tomorrow’s First Qualifying Round draw, in which the name of Avro will appear for the first time. It is to be hoped that after Wednesday night’s replay, it is still there.
