Brigg were first to show, winning a free kick on the left wing but this was cleared from the goal area to the other end of the pitch. “The Steelmen” quickly replied with the ball played into space outside the home team’s penalty area but Steve McCarron intercepted to get a foot on it and safely back to his goalkeeper.
The opening goal was scored after twelve minutes of play with a slick attack down the Parkgate right wing when Brandon Bagley connected with a firm right foot shot into the corner of the net from twelve yards out. From the re-start, Brigg had the ball in the back of the net at the other end but an offside decision stood.
However, the equalising goal did come after twenty-seven minutes when Reece Newall got the final touch on a ball played across the goal area from the left wing. Both teams created opportunities to take the lead before half time with Brigg going close when Andy Taylor fired a shot over the crossbar and then forced a good goalkeeping save from Jordan Greaves after neat interplay with Ben Cousins.
In the closing minute of the half, Brigg won a corner kick on the right which was delivered into the crowded goal area and met with a powerful header going over the Parkgate goal.
The Steelmen began the second half positively with a free kick played right across the face of the Brigg goal and followed this up with a powerful header from a right wing cross going over the bar. Dayle Hutson, back in the team after a three-week absence, began to show his influence on proceedings and was being tightly marked but still forced Jordan Greaves into a low diving save before he was injured by a heavy tackle outside the penalty area.
The visitors restored their lead with a goal just after the hour mark, the goal coming from Elliott Simpson after a right wing corner kick was partially cleared away only to fall kindly for him at the edge of the penalty area to drive a low shot into the corner of the net.
The response from Brigg was positive and a second equalising goal came after just another five minutes of play. Jordan Greaves lost possession of the ball in the corner of his penalty area allowing Josh Batty the opportunity to find the back of the net after the ball was pulled back for him.
After seventy minutes of play, there was a hectic spell which saw the referee issuing red cards to a player of each team in two separate incidents inside a period of five minutes, – each the result of defenders pulling back opposing attacking opponents. Both teams searched for a late goal to win the match. When Brigg pressed forward, a free kick into the Steelmen’s goal area resulted in a scramble before the ball was eventually cleared and then Jack Bowskin drove a shot narrowly over the crossbar.
The score line after ninety minutes remained at two goals each, forcing a penalty shoot-out.
Dayle Hutson converted the first kick for the home team to seize the initiative, which was compounded by a miss from the corresponding Parkgate attempt. Brigg continued to score all of their penalty kicks to eventually win the shoot-out 4-1 and so progress to the next round of the competition.
