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Newton Arms FC finally broke Sanuk FC's long unbeaten record on Collins Park by winning the Gledhill Trophy quarter-final today.
Sanuk were once more badly let down as no less than four players didn't even bother to turn up and try to get the club to Bloomfield Rd for the ninth time running - a sad indictment of players today.
Sanuk however did take the lead when Will Watt's excellent free kick was flicked into his own net by a defender under pressure from Phil Thompson.
This lead was wiped out before half time when referee Mark Hughes decided that Mark Butler deliberately handled a ball blasted at him from short range. I always thought handball was supposed to be intentional, clearly Butts had no chance of getting out of the way, a harsh decision as the penalty was converted
Another strange decision by Hughes occurred in the second half. Matt Lawler was kicked off his feet by the Incredible Hulk of a right back off the ball. Hughes clearly saw it, but chose to ask him to calm down instead of administering the red card it deserved.
Let's not take anything away from Newton Arms here, they were the hungrier of the two sides over the 90 minutes, and deserved to win the game, but it is frustrating when big decisions like that go against you.
Newton Arms won the game scoring an excellent winner, converting a good move. Sanuk tried to get an equaliser and went close a number of times, but Newton Arms held firm to claim the win.
In summary, a disappointing exit from a cup we have claimed as our own over the years. No doubt the missing players absolutely killed us, we had players today having to carry on playing injured and not able to come off the pitch due to low numbers.
Newton Arms now deservedly have the chance to play at Bloomfield Road - make no mistake about it, at full strength they are a good side able to play and mix it when needed. With Sanuk having players not turning up, it gave them all the encouragement needed to go out and win the game, and they duly took it.
Pictures from the game on fyldesport.com.
Team
Smith, Braebaum, Thompson, Douthwaite, Watt, Butler, Lawler, Clark, Dickinson, Spedding, Dell.
Substitutes
Bracewell.
Scorers
Own Goal.
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