Nuneaton Town 2 Walsall 0

Boro’ advance to Semi-Final with comfortable victory…

Nuneaton Town began life after Dino Maamria with a 2-0 victory as they hosted Walsall’s Development Squad at the LDJ Solicitors Stadium in the Quarter-Final of the Birmingham Senior Cup. Jon Ashton took caretaker charge for the second time this season, after being in the dugout for the Stockport County match following Tommy Wright’s departure earlier in the season. Second half goals from Adil Nabi and Jean Paul Jhonnes sent Boro’ through to the next round.

In a first half that offered little in the way of goalmouth action, Ethan Freemantle had the best of the early chances. After weaving his way past a couple of Boro’ defenders, the young attacker flashed his effort wide of Dean Lyness‘ right-hand post. The second half was a different story though, Nabi opened the scoring with a majestic right foot strike from the edge of the box. The Peterborough loanee picked the ball up, turned and struck a rocket that crashed in off the underside of the bar.

George Green almost made it two just moments later, his right footed curling effort produced a wonderful diving save from Brandon Ganley in the Saddlers’ goal. Boro’s second came in the 70th minute as substitute Jhonnes made an instant impact, just two minutes after entering the fray, with a tight turn and tidy finish at the near post. Andre Wright had the chance to cap the game off with his first goal since signing for the Boro’ but Ganley got a strong hand to his penalty to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

Academy player Patrick Casey, making his first start, looked assured at right back and was joined from the bench by fellow graduates Edobor Obaro, Ashley Elliott and Jhonnes. Boro’ now face a trip to Hednesford Town in the semi-final as they look for their first appearance in the final since winning the trophy in 2010. The match will be played at Keys Park in Staffordshire, with the date to be announced shortly. The Pitmen currently play in the Northern Premier League, just one tier below the Boro’, where they sit ninth, just four points outside the playoffs.