Cheadle Town's particpation in the F.A. Vase ended for another season in what was certainly a game of two halves against Worksop based side Handsworth Parramore.
Northern Counties East League side Parramore play at Step 5 of the Football Pyramid and are currently third with only one defeat all season. So it was always going a tough ask of Cheadle Town to overcome a strong side like Parramore.
Cheadle nearly caused an upset as early as the first minute of the start of the game when Thabiso Magida was played through on goal by Darrhyl Mason, but could only fire his shot at the Parramore keeper.
Then on 4 minutes it was the turn of debutant Cheadle keeper Joshua Samberg who made a good save following a downward header from Parramore's Steve Warne. Samberg was also called into action on 17 minutes as he attempted to clear a loose ball, only for it to fall to the feet of a Parramore player who could only shoot over an unguarded goal.
Cheadle then took the lead on 21 minutes when Mason collected the ball on the right wing and fired a low cross into the area that was met by Magida at the back post who scored from close range.
Soon after, Cheadle increased their lead on 27 minutes when Magida was the provider on this occassion as he played through Christopher Sherrington who fired a shot, that despite the best attempts by Parramore to clear the ball eventaully went over the line.
Cheadle continued to press for a third goal during the remainder of the first half, but were thwarted by a renewed Parramore defence who made tactical changes soon after our second goal was scored,
HT: Handsworth Parramore 0 Cheadle Town 2
During the early stages of the second half, Cheadle continued to search for that 'game-killing' goal and Magida had a half chance on 53 minutes when he shot from 20 yards which was well collected by the Parramore keeper. Then on 55 minutes, Cheadle had their best chance to seal the game as Mason was put through one-on-one with the keeper but he tried to lift the ball over the the advancing keeper and could only agonise as the ball went wide of the goal.
Maybe that was the turning point as Parramore pressed in search of clawing themselves back into the game. Parramore finally reduced the deficit on 58 minutes when Wells scored from close range from a corner.
On 68 minutes Samberg made a fantastic double save to deny Parramore an equaliser, before they finally scored on 76 minutes when Wells headed home following a counter attack from Parramore.
As Parramore went in search for a victory, Cheadle were trying to hold on for at least a replay before victory was taken from us on 87 minutes when Warne curled the ball into the net from 15 yards.
Cheadle shouldn't be too down hearted by this performance as they certainly match their higher opposition throughout the majority of the game and they need to take this into the League now.
Here are the highlights recorded by GroundHopTV....