FOOTBALL: HIGHGATE were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first stage on Saturday when losing 3-2 to Tividale after surrendering a two goal lead.
Gate made just one change from their previous fixture with Richard Bryan joining the heart of defence in place of the absent Aaron Brown.
The move appeared to have a positive effect as Gate went two goals ahead within ten minutes.
The first came with just thirty seconds on the clock when Isaac Jagroop took responsibility for a free kick on the edge of the box firing the ball high into the roof of goalkeeper Ryan Cheshire’s net. The second on the ten minute mark came at the end of a flowing move between Trevor Edwards and Marco Adaggio, Jagroop completing a quick brace by turning in Adaggio’s low cross at close range. A high tempo half saw the visitors pull a goal back on 20 minutes when Tyree Clarke turned on his marker to beat keeper James Behan from 15 yards.
Gate continued to create numerous opportunities, the closest when Scott Turner headed against Cheshire’s crossbar before full back Darragh Bustin equalised with a crisp low drive just minutes before the halftime whistle.
Following on from an action packed opening 45 minutes, the second half was to prove uneventful.
There were chances few and far between and Gate rarely looked likely to add to their tally.
A lively Tividale gradually got on top and looked the better side in the latter stages.
Their late winner came when Walker strode in from the left hand side to beat Behan with a curler into the top left hand corner of the custodian’s net, setting up a meeting for his side against Walsall Wood in the Preliminary Round.
