Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Maltby Main 0-1 Squires Gate
Gary Hibbert (right) was sent off after an off-the-ball incident during Maltby’s FA Cup defeat to Squires Gate
A controversial penalty sent ten-man Maltby Main out of the FA Cup and put Blackpool-based Squires Gates through.
The first half we extremely even with Squires Gate going close early on and Gary Hibbert just missing the target from a well worked set piece. The game changed on 37 minutes when Hibbert was dismissed for violent conduct after an off the ball incident.
The second half produced two shots on either goal as Squires Gate had plenty of possession but Main defended resolutely. But it was an incredible decision by the man in the middle that settled the game. Winger Jack Binney was judged to have impeded the Squires Gate forward and despite no appeals from the visitors a penalty was awarded and despatched by Joseph Noblet to the right of the diving Danny Rusling on 65 minutes.
Main threw everything at Squires Gate finishing with a 2-3-4 formation by the close, but could not force the goal to take the game to a replay.
What They Said
Joint Manager Spencer Fearn
“The penalty decision was one of the most staggering decisions that I have seen in football. When the referee blew, not for one second did we think he would award a penalty as it was Jack Binney that was fouled. The Referee was the only person in the ground that thought it was a penalty.
“Overall I was delighted with the lads in what was a young side with seven players 20 years of age or under. To play 53 minutes with one less man the way they did is credit to them. They worked their socks off and did not deserve this result today, but you don’t always get what you deserve in football. We move on and look forward to our opening league game against Athersley Rec next Saturday.”
The Teams
Maltby Main: Rusling, Mitchell, Hibbert, Wesley, Greaves, Lawrence, J Poole (Fletcher 74) , R Poole (Hemmingway 70), Hopewell, Carroll, Binney (Brunt 70): Subs unused: Stancliffe, Greg, Ballington, Roberts.
Squires Gate: Fletcher, Richards, Seear, Hall, Penswick, Carroll, McKendrick, Noblet, Seear, Riley, Danson.