Elliott praises terrific Avenue display after FA Cup upset

Avenue secured a dramatic triumph at the Tameside Stadium, with Kareem Hassan-Smith beating his man and stabbing home the winner just as the game entered stoppage time.

It also capped off a wonderful afternoon for wing-back Hassan-Smith individually, who opened the scoring after poking home from close range in the 31st minute.

Despite substitute Ola Lawal turning the momentum and equalising for the Nash in the 81st minute, the West Yorkshire side dug deep to claim a famous cup victory against opposition from the league above.

“[I’m] just really proud of the players,” Elliott said.

“You’ve got to come here with a game plan, a certain way of playing. Because you have to respect that they’re a very good possession-based team. They have some fantastic players and the lads stuck to it superbly.

“I think in the end as an away team coming here, we deserved it to be honest with you. 

“The players deserve a lot of credit to come here and beat a very good team, who I expect to do well in their league this year.”

After booking their spot against Lancaster City in the next round, Elliott was honest in his assessment of match winner Hassan-Smith. 

The 23-year-old registered his first goals for the club since a 1-0 win in the NPL East Division against Hallam in March.

“We all know in the club how good Kareem is and what attributes he has got,” Elliott added.

“But if I’m being totally honest as well, he needs to start adding that [goals] to his game. More assists [too].

“If he starts to do that, he’s got a really bright future in front of him.”

A disappointing result in front of their home fans ends a run of three successive victories for Adam Barton’s side, who return to action with a trip to Lancaster City on Saturday. 

Avenue, meanwhile, host East Division rivals Grimsby Borough on Friday night.