Hyde United are in the hat for the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round after a battling 1-0 win against 10-men Matlock Town.
The visitors held the early initiative, but despite plenty of probing play the Tigers restricted them to a solitary shot from distance courtesy of a Conor Washington volley that flew well over the bar.
The former Northern Ireland international striker hobbled off the pitch moments later, blunting the Matlock attack, and swinging the game in Hyde’s favour.
Ben Kershaw’s scissor kick from the edge of the area took a deflection onto the post after half an hour, before Charlie Frost had a golden opportunity saved by Jake Oram from eight yards out.
The ex-Nelson forward spurned another opportunity in the 42nd minute, but the key moment in the game came just before half-time.
Matlock’s Tom Elliott kicked out at Hyde centre-half Will Hall after a 50/50 challenge between the pair left both on the deck, with Hall standing up to wag his finger in Elliott’s face.
The referee showed Elliott a straight red after an in-depth consultation with his linesman on the far side.
Hyde grew as the second half progressed, but it was a simple route one ball over the top by Hall on the hour that outfoxed the Gladiators defence.
His rocket from deep inside Tigers territory was picked up beautifully by captain Jack Redshaw, who skipped around Oram and squeezed the ball into an unguarded net for his 8th goal of the season.
The skipper made way with a dead leg for the final 15 minutes as Matlock brought on the cavalry, including Diego De Girolamo, so often the scourge of Hyde from his Buxton days.
However, he barely touched the ball, and it was Kershaw who came closest to scoring when he once again clattered the post following a deft Frost through ball.
Matlock only troubled Hyde from the aerial bombardment provided by Sam Giles’s pinpoint long throws, which captain Liam Ravenhill almost capitalised on in the 3rd minute of stoppage time following a scuffed clearance, but his shot squirmed wide.
“It went to a tee,” said Hyde interim boss Martin Coyne. “Everything we planned in training happened – obviously you can’t legislate for the sending off, but tactically we were absolutely perfect.
“I’m not really fussed with how many we score, I’ve had four games, three wins and three clean sheets, and I’m happier about those.
“Defensively, I thought we were excellent, we were picking up second balls, we didn’t give them time, we didn’t let them get crosses in.
“I don’t think Yusuf [Mersin] made a save, which is good because he’s injured.”
Hyde will be one of the lowest-ranked sides in the draw for the 4th Qualifying Round, which takes place a 2pm on Monday and is the stage when clubs from the National League enter the competition.
