BY JONATHAN EELES

This was very much a banana skin if Leek failed to play at the required level and took the tie as a mere formality, and that proved to be the case with a first half horror show defensively and a lack lustre performance from across all as aspects of the team, in fact very few players came out with any credit except the substitutes. Leek were a pale shadow of the team that blew Bootle away last week and went toe to toe with league favourites Macclesfield on Tuesday.

Atherstone were well organised, competitive, tactically better and relished their role as underdogs and nothing should be taken away from their performance. Apart from the first 10 minutes Leek rarely looked at the races and were always chasing the game after conceding the first goal.

Neil Baker rotated the squad and brought in Jessy Bavanganga, Alex Morris, Jack Tomlinson & Will Saxon for the game, this was expected and in theory should not have weakened the side but for much of the time this starting eleven was second best to their Step 5 opponents.

Leek had their best period of the game at the start and attacked the Macclesfield Road end, some neat combination work between Rob Stevenson and Daniel Trickett-Smith resulting in a shot wide of the upright. Next it was Billy Reeves who delivered a good ball to the near post from a free kick only to see Stevensons header just flash wide. Atherstone counter attacked and delivered the ball to the far post over Alex Morris, Perry Cotton had peeled off crossed the ball back into the centre for Josh Beeson to run onto the ball and deliver a powerful header into the roof of the net on 13 minutes.

Leek had a few half chances but Atherstone were content to soak this up and counter when they could, the second goal was a horror show firstly with Bavanganga failing to clear and then Ryder under hitting his clearance to Chris Cowley who speculatively delivered the ball into the box only for Scott Wara to mis-control the ball and gift a chance to Ryan Quinn on the edge of the area who drilled the ball past Sam Booth.

Again Leek tried to get back into the game with Trickett-Smith and Stevenson combining but to no avail. Atherstone countered and were awarded several corners in quick succession with Leeks defense looking very nervous. A near post header was flicked on by Ryan Quinn and the unmarked Mitch Piggon was on hand to fire the ball into the net from the middle of penalty box to make the score 3-0.

The fourth goal was even worse, a long ball over the top down the left which Scott Wara failed to deal with under pressure from Beeson fell to Quinn, he picked out the onrushing Chris Cowley who was being marshalled by Bavanganga and Reeves, instead of clearing the ball they ran into each other allowing Cowley to turn in the box and pick his spot.

It was now 4-0 and the remainder of the game a mere formality for Atherstone.

HT Leek Town 0 - Atherstone Town 4

Baker brought on Carr for Tomlinson and Leek did have more of the ball and began to press, but Atherstone did not need to press for another and merely had to manage the remainder of the game.

Further changes were made with the introduction of Tim Grice on 65 minutes for Rob Stevenson and Lucas Baker for Jessy Bavanganga on 70 minutes. To compound Leek misery Mitch Piggon was found at the left hand post with a long ball, he cut in and rifled a shot into the goal beating Sam Booth at the near post, where he should have done better.

Leek countered and Trickett-Smith found Lucas Baker on the right who passed across goal to find Will Saxon to score for the smallest consolation.

The refs whistle could not come soon enough for Leek and he duly obliged bringing the game to a conclusion. A thoroughly miserable day for the Blues who have a really poor record in the FA Cup in recent seasons.

Thoughts turn to Tuesday night where the Blues travel to highflying Glossop who have won the opening three fixtures of the 2022/23 campaign - surely a chance to redeem themselves for the True Blues travelling faithful.

Leek Town line up as follows

1. Booth

2. Bavanganga replaced by Baker (70)

3. Morris

4. Grocott (c)

5. Wara

6. Ryder

7. Saxon

8. Reeves

9. Tomlinson replaced by Carr (45)

10. Trickett-Smith

11. Stevenson replaced by Grice (65)

Substitutes : Davidson, Harrison, Hinton, Keenan (unused)

Attendance : 355