Star date: 26th August 2012

MINERS SHAFTED AS SALFORD FA CUP DREAM BEGINS

Salford City 5 Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC 1

Salford City took the first steps to Wembley yesterday, as Yorkshire's Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC felt the full force of an Ammies team two divisions higher up the league pyramid. A wonder effort by Osebi Abadaki, two strikes from Rob Kinsella, and goals by Adrian Bellamy and Chris Thompson sealed the win.

Match report and photos here…

Salford fans sang `There's only one Arthur Scargill' and a Hemsworth fan wore his Happy Mondays t-shirt, as cross county cultures were respected in this Preliminary Round of the FA Cup that mis-matched Evo-Stik `giants' Salford City with Northern Counties East League minnows Hemsworth Miners Welfare.

The former colliery club were in trouble almost from the kick off, with Rob Kinsella just failing to finish after being put clean through. A few minutes later, though, the big centre forward latched onto a poor touch from the Hemsworth keeper to open the scoring. 1-0.

Ammies fans only had to wait another twenty minutes to see the goal of the season (so far), as Osibi Abadaki bamboozled a couple of defenders on the edge of the box before crashing in a shot that flew into the top right hand corner. 2-0.

The first half, totally dominated by Salford, ended with Adrian Bellamy hitting a third as the ball bounced around a crowded Hemsworth penalty area. Half time 3-0.

Within a minute of the second half start, Hemsworth were given hope after a pass to the far post was swept in. 3-1. But Salford continued to press, a Kinsella header judged offside, and a Steve Yarwood Arsenal-style walk-the-ball-in effort hacked off the line. Eventually, Chris Thompson swept the ball home for 4-1.

Hemsworth re-grouped and had a scorching shot turned around the post by on loan Ritchie Branagan, the Ammies' sixth keeper already this season. Kinsella finally put the icing on the Wembley cake with a fine header from Jimmy Holden's cross to make the final score Salford City 5 Hemsworth Miners Welfare1.

The Ammies only need to win another ten FA Cup games and we'll be running round the Precinct with the cup!!!

Next up in the FA Cup for Salford City is the winners of Lancaster City and Ashton Athletic.

• Note: The game due to take place on Bank Holiday Monday between Salford City and Radcliffe Borough has been postponed, as Radcliffe have to replay their drawn FA Cup tie with Clitheroe on Tuesday.

Photos by Andrew Goudie
Main photo shows a collage of Osebi Abadaki's wonder strike