CURZON ASHTON 1 CHESTERFIELD 1
Curzon Ashton won 7-6 on penalties
Not a good evening for Dave Bentley's Under 18's. His injury hit squad took an early lead at the Tameside Stadium but from then on were generally second best as the lively home side notched up the majority of chances and Curzon survived 30 extra minutes despite many attacks of cramp amongst the non-league side.
With no Roome, Williams, Cooper-Richards, Freestone, Jones and Burns through injury, the Spireites had to name four U16 players in their squad and their attack was led by two first year trainees, Jordan Bowery and Alex Winfield.
The best early move came when Ben Algar's run and shot was blocked as the crowd were able to watch plenty of secondary entertainment as the elongated fireworks festivals continued all around the Manchester panorama.
Josh Lowe was fouled 25 yards out and DAN GRAY hit the resulting free kick low through the wall and the deflected ball deceived a leaden footed home keeper Luke Barrett to give the visitors what they no doubt expected to be the first of many with 13 minutes on the clock.
Young Sam Clare crossed for Winfield but his header was easy for the keeper to gather but that effort was Chesterfield's last clear opening until the final few minutes of normal time whilst more bad news for Bentley's boys as Lowe limped off to join the injury list.
Cameron Fearon, majestic at the back for Chesterfield, made a stunning tackle to deny Jamie Byrne and just before the break the Curzon skipper was yellow carded for a dreadful challenge on another of the few Spireites man to come out of the game with any real credit, Michael Bearder.
The second half of normal time saw 40-odd minutes of one way traffic as Curzon Ashton pressed for glory.
Byrne saw Whatsize catch, he hit a long ranger just over as did Joe Nield before Richie Holmes was booked for a foul on Ryan Burgess.
Whatsize then made the save of the game to deny Richard Tait before Fearon had to match his first half tackle to prevent a Dane Buller goal opportunity.
It came as no surprise when the equalizer arrived after 74 minutes, BYRNE acrobatically converted a short corner routine, Gregory Wilkinson's cross gaining the assist.
Home sub Arran Bowskill had a couple of close calls before, on 86 and 89, Algar put in two decent crosses that just eluded Winfield.
Right at the death, Curzon missed a sitter when Danny Toft headed over from an unmarked close range position.
Spireites came more into it in extra time as their superior fitness came to the fore but they were unable to create a breakthrough.
It was in the 97th minute that Chesterfield gained their first corner of the game, it was headed clear and from the rebound Algar whipped in a 30 yarder that the keeper juggled with before bringing under control.
Bearder made a superb double tackle on Byrne before, at the other end, Winfield blew a chance with a header from a gilt edged position.
Adam J Smith had a shot deflected before, right at the end, Gray was booked for a foul as the home side battled through the pain barrier to take the game into penalties.
Spireites started the shoot out and took an early lead as Wilkin son hit the post but Gray saw his kick saved and after the regulation five each, it stood at 4-4.
Sudden death saw four successful penalties shared before Barrett saved from Holmes so it was left to Buller to convert the 16th penalty of the night to win it 7-6 for the hosts, who now face Marine in R2.
Curzon Ashton: Barrett, Burgess, Toft, Tait, Wilkinson, Leach, Neild (Gardner 72), Blair (Garlick 111), Buller, Byrne, Eaton (Bowskill 46). Subs (not used): Finnigan, Hardicre
Chesterfield: Whatsize, Bearder, Holmes, Fearon, Clare (Clay 91), Lowe (McLaughlin 20), Gray, Smith, Algar, Winfield, Bowery (Gibbons 63). Subs (not used): Adcock, Malak
Penalties
CFC CAFC
Winfield scored Tait scored
Bearder scored Wilkinson hit post
Gray saved Garlick scored
Algar scored Gardner scored
Smith scored Byrne scored
Clay scored Leach scored
McLaughlin scored Bowskill scored
Holmes saved Buller scored
