Walker’s goal gives Kidsgrove Athletic bragging rights

Kidsgrove Athletic proved too much for local rivals Newcastle Town as they secured their place in the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup with an impressive 1-0 win at the Lyme Valley Stadium, writes Mike Carter

The Grove had plenty of chances throughout the game and could have been three up by half-time thanks to some poor Castle defending.

Top-scorer Dave Walker was the hero though as his second-half goal was enough to put Kidsgrove into the last four.

The match got off to a fast start with the visitors almost finding the net in the opening minute, but Liam Shotton’s effort was blazed narrowly wide.

Pre- match build-up

Shotton then had another great opportunity as winger Ricky Bridge delivered a great ball from the left but the frontman sliced his shot wide.

Newcastle had a penalty appeal turned down in the 18th minute after Alan Nagington took on two players only to be pushed to the floor but the referee waved play on.

Kidsgrove kept pushing for the opening goal though and on 22 minutes Walker’s shot went narrowly over with an overhead kick after Jordan Johnson’s poor clearance.

Peter Ward’s side were not taking their chances and Bridge should have scored when he was through on goal but Castle keeper Danny Read saved well.

Town still were looking dangerous on the break and a wonderful cross from the left by Johnson found Nagington who volleyed just wide from 18 yards.

The biggest chance of the half fell to Shotton again after he was found unmarked in the box after a lovely ball from Tim Sanders. Shotton could only head wide from ten yards.

The home side started much better after half-time and almost scored in the 48th minute.

Chris Burdry’s through ball was met by Nagington who did well to shrug off his defender but could only force a good save out of Steve Inithar.

Grove continued to create chances and Bridge’s spectacular half-volley was well parried by Reade.

Dave Walker

On 60 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken. A long ball from Karl Charlton was misjudged by the Castle defence and Walker did well to finish just inside the box with a half-volley into the bottom left corner. Kidsgrove should have doubled their advantage five minutes later after Walker’s shot was well saved only for the rebound to fall to Bridge but he sliced his shot.

Greg Clowes’s team never looked like turning the game with their only effort in the last period coming from Dan Skelton whose 30-yard shot blazed over.

Walker could have sealed the victory late-on after running onto Charlton’s flick but his shot was just wide.

Kidsgrove hung on for the win and will now look forward to repeating their success in the competition in 2009, while Newcastle will reflect on a night where they just didn’t play well.

Newcastle Town: Read, Espley (Willis 45), Skelton, Donnelley, Dicker, Douglas, Johnson, Connor (Price 86), Budrys (James 70), Nagington, Sidibe

Subs not used: Hughes, Dutton

Kidsgrove Athletic: Intihar, Smith, Dove, Ward, Harper, Charlton, Unwin, Sanders, Walker, Shotton, Bridge

Subs not used: Morris, Turner, Schwarz

Referee: Mr M D’Aguilar (Cannock)

Kidsgrove bounce-back with 3-0 win at Loughborough Dynamo

Kidsgrove Athletic boss Peter Ward said he was impressed with his players bouncing back from defeat as they beat Loughborough Dynamo’s 3-0 on Saturday (Nov 13).

Goals from Karl Charlton, Liam Shotton and Dave Walker sealed the win which lifts the Grove up a place into 8^th in the Evo-Stik First Division South.

Tom Urwin and Tim Sanders started but Ward sidelined striker Shotton and Alex Morris and he said he was pleased with how individual player’s reacted to their 1-0 defeat to Romulus last week (Nov 9).

Peter Ward

Ward added: “We did very well and I was pleased not only for the three goals, but we managed to stay solid and keep a clean sheet too.

“Liam (Shotton) hadn’t been firing but when he came on his goal was superb.

“It was a fantastic result and hopefully last week was the kick up the backside that some of the players needed and we can put some wins together.”

Shotton’s goal was the highlight of the match. He picked up Tim Sanders’s through ball, slid past two Loughborough defenders and smashed his shot in via the underside of the crossbar.

On Tuesday (Nov 16) night Kidsgrove face Newcastle Town in the Quarter Final of the Staffordshire Cup.

Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Kidsgrove boss calls for players to remain confident

Kidsgrove boss Peter Ward has said his side need to go into tomorrow’s (Nov 13) clash with Loughborough Dynamo’s full of confidence.

Ward’s men lacked a killer instinct in their 1-0 defeat to Romulus midweek and Wrad has warned his players to bounce back.

Adam Beasley

He said: “We need to be going into these sort of game full of confidence.

“We are not playing well and even though we have five or six players out we should be killing teams off with the team I put out.”

Ward is waiting on late fitness tests for midfielder Adam Beasley (shin), and defenders Tim Sanders and Danny Schwartz.

Kick-off is 3.00pm at Dynamo’s Nanpantan Sports Ground.