Abbey exit Macron Cup after Avro defeat
Abbey Hey produced a late comeback in their Macron Cup 2nd Round tie at Avro but they were unable to find a way back into the game as they crashed to a 3-2 defeat.
Terry Hincks made three changes from the team that secured a 2-1 win over Ellesmere Rangers on Saturday, as Elliott Fenton, Kieran Nolan and Mitch Nolan came into the team to replace Jordan Lazenbury, Aaron Fleming and Tom Murray.
Michael Afuye put Avro in front after only 17 minutes at the Vestacare Stadium, beating the offside trap before racing clear through on goal, where he finished low below Joe Lawton to break the deadlock for his side.
Jay Hamzat conceded a penalty for Avro with six minutes of the first-half to go, which allowed Louis Potts to step up from twelve yards to rifle his penalty down the middle to hand Avro a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into half-time.
Things got worse for Hincks’ side when Avro made it 3-0 on 77 minutes. Kyle Harrop rose highest to head home a free-kick played in from deep on the right-hand side.
Abbey Hey had chances to pull back a goal in the game, but Dylan Fitzgerald and Daryll Grant were both unlucky, seeing efforts on goal kept out by the woodwork.
Lazenbury came off the bench for Abbey and he did manage to pull a consolation goal back, finessing the ball across the keeper into the top-right corner after capitalising on a mistake at the back by Harrop.
Grant pulled another goal back for Abbey Hey in second-half injury time, getting onto a rebound to smash home from close-range for his first goal of the season.
Despite the late comeback, Abbey Hey were unable to find an equaliser as Avro progress into the 3rd Round of the Macron Cup, where they will play either Bacup Borough or Ilkely Town.
Attentions now turn for Abbey Hey to this coming Saturday where they travel to Stockport Town in their final league game of the season (3pm kick-off).
Abbey Hey: Lawton (GK), Grant, Grimshaw, Hamzat (Dunford 89’), Norris (C), Parker, Hincks, K.Nolan (Fleming 68’), M.Nolan, Fitzgerald, Fenton (Lazenbury 65’)
Unused Subs: Jones, Graham
Attendance: 117
