Adders March On In FA Cup

Jimmy Ginnellys Atherstone boys took a step closer to a place in next Mays FA Cup final with an impressive display at unbeaten North West Counties side New Mills.

New Mills AFC 1
Atherstone Town 3
Attendance: 234

Atherstone made the trip to North Derbyshire hoping to maintain their own unbeaten start to the season and book a place in the next round and ended up doing so thanks to a Roy Dunkley hat trick.

On a fantastic pitch in a ground set in the Peak district with a view to match, the Adders kicked off and signalled their intentions from the start. As in the first minute Nathan Jones hit the outside of the post after some good hold up play from Roy Dunkley.

Just minutes later again the Adders who were dominating proceedings went close with the tenacious Luke Barlone flashing a cross/shot across the face of goal.

The Adders travelling faithful however didn’t have to wait long to see their hero’s take the lead. With 8 minutes on the clock Nathan Jones broke down the left and sent over an awkward cross which the home keeper could only half clear and Roy DUNKLEY tapped the ball home from 6 yards out.

With the North Warwickshire boys controlling the game with the commanding Leigh Everitt orchestrating things from the back, Ginnellys reds seemed certain to double their lead. But on 16 minutes a rear break from the hosts which was quickly stopped and resulted with Danny Haynes picking up his first booking of the campaign.

Shortly before the interval Atherstone again went close after great play down the right by Ezekiel Tomlinson gave Chris Tullin the opportunity to send over a good cross, which wasn’t converted.

The start of the second stanza saw the hosts up their work rate in a bid to try and compete with the adders. On 51 minutes however the visitors again went close to doubling their lead when Luke Barlone went agonisingly close after a Haynes up and under caused problems for the home defence.

In the 54th minute it was disaster time for the visitors as Stuart McGILL seized a half chance to head the ball home past Richard Williams in the Adders goal.

With hosts buoyed by the equaliser they began to enjoy a short spell of dominating the possession, but the Adders battling spirit was their for all to see.

With just 20 minutes remaining it was the visitors celebrating! A hopeful through ball was played into the penalty area, which should have been easily cleared wasn’t – and Roy DUNKLEY was on it in an instant and slotted the ball past the oncoming keeper into the net, and came and celebrated in front of the Atherstone travelling supporters congregated behind the goal at the clubhouse end of the ground.

In the 81st minute the game was made safe as the current Midland Alliance league leaders added a third. Roy Dunkley chased a through ball and despite being clattered in the process, DUNKLEY fired home his and the Adders third of the day as his shinned shot evaded the grasp of the home keeper and found the back of the net.

The final whistle saw scenes over celebration from the Atherstone players and supporters a like. With Jimmy Ginnellys unbeaten Adders boys leaving the field to rapturous applause from the 60+ travelling fans who had given New Mills their biggest attendance of season.

The delighted Adders secretary Steve Clark said,

This was a massive win for the club today. New Mills were unbeaten this season and would have really fancied their chances of turning us over. Jimmy and Craig have now put together a great side and they have a fantastic team spirit and that went along way today. It’s not only nice because of the prize money but it’s also great for the people of Atherstone, who have followed the club through the good times and the bad

Report by Steve Clark at Church Lane

Atherstone Team: R Williams, Tullin, Reece, Haynes, Everitt (Capt), Wells, Tomlinson, Jones, Barlone, Dunkley, Civzelis. SUBS: Beale, Wood, Long, G Williams, Francis