| Gadeside Rangers were brought back down to earth with a bump as Headstone Athletic gained revenge for last week's league defeat with a deserved victory at Westfield in this Birkdale Trophy quarter-final. |
| Things had started well for Gadeside though as they put the visitors under relentless early pressure with Dan Campbell and Tariq Khan causing problems with their pace. Khan should have scored well following up a blocked Campbell effort but he delayed getting a shot away and Headstone scrambled clear. Tom Oliver saw a volley from a hit corner hit the side netting while Campbell saw a powerful volley fly over the bar. |
| Gadeside were rewarded on the half hour mark when an Adam Hills corner saw James Bridges' header blocked on the line before Tariq Khan stabbed home the rebound. However the lead was short lived as Headstone drew level. Having conceeded a free-kick on the edge of the area, Gadeside took an age to organise their wall and Abbe took advantage whipping a quick free kick into the far corner with Sam Green stranded. Worse was to follow as Headstone were ahead on half-time when the Gadeside defence got sucked in and allow Adam Gallichan space to rifle home a terrific low drive from 20 yards. |
| Gadeside came out looking for a quick response but struggled to get into any rhythm as Headstone worked hard to stop Gadeside's attacks. They did still however look dangerous from set-pieces and first Tom Oliver went close with a glacing header which somehow went wide while Tom Shurville saw a powerful header saved before Toby Zhou's scooped effort went over. But it was Headstone who grabbed the decisive goal on 76 minutes when Gadeside fell asleep at a corner where Abbe grabbed his second of the game with a cool finish. Gadeside pushed men forward desperately looking for a way back but the result was sealed in the final minute when Jason Choat Snr scored with a flick on from a throw which the wind took and looped into the top corner. A thoroughly disappointing day for Gadeside who wont be involved in any cup finals this season. |
| After the game player/manager Adam Hills was despondent: "I am very disappointed with today. I asked for some character at half-time and to show some fight. Losing at half-time was a new thing for us this season and I wanted a response. We must pick ourselves up and be ready for AFC Rangers next week." |
| Sam Green, Ian Freeman (Danny Everritt), Justyn Walcott, Matt Evans, Tom Oliver, James Bridges, Daniel Brooks, Tom Shurville, Dan Campbell, Adam Hills, Tariq Khan (Toby Zhou) |