FA Cup qualifying: Haughmond 3-2 Matlock Town
Haughmond’s FA Cup fairytale continued as Steve Hole scored with the last kick of the game to book the Shrewsbury outfit a place in the second qualifying round.
The biggest game in the club’s history at home to Matlock couldn’t have started any better as Hole played a neat one-two with Joe Parry before firing into the top corner after two minutes, writes Jonny Drury.
Ten minutes later the hosts couldn’t quite believe it as Hole was taken out by Matlock keeper Phil Barnes in the box, and the striker picked himself up to fire into the top corner from the penalty spot.
Former Burton Albion man Shaun Harrad was the main Matlock threat, glancing wide on the half-hour, but the visitors couldn’t find a way back into the game.
Parry passed up a great chance to make it three before the break, and the miss proved costly as Matlock pulled one back with the last act of the half.
Luis Rose beat the offside trap to flick home and set up an interesting second half.
Matlock laid siege to the Haughmond goal throughout the whole of the second period, and levelled on the hour mark.
Captain Adam Yates tapped home Ryan Wilson’s free-kick and it looked as if only one side was going to win.
Chances came and went, with keeper Ash Spittlehouse producing a sublime one-handed save to keep Wilson’s long-range strike out in the last minute of normal time.
Despite not having a chance into the second period, the home side struck in stoppage time.
In the 93rd minute George Carpenter kept his cool in the box, before squaring for Hole who took a touch and smashed the ball into the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick and an historic win for Haughmond.
Angered by Market Drayton Town’s tame 5-1 FA Cup demise at the hands of a fast, fit and well drilled Alvechurch side, manager Martyn Davies says he’s planning a shake-up for tomorrow night’s trip to Chasetown, writes Terry Morris.
“We gave Alvechurch a penalty in the eighth minute and had lost the game by half-time,” he complained.
“That level of performance is simply not good enough, especially in what was such a huge game for the club.
“There’ll be big changes for Tuesday evening. I’ll be giving a lot of players who have been on the bench a chance – and there could be a surprise new face or two as well.”
Chief candidate for the chop must be Jeff Watkins, whose crude challenge on Daniel Dubidat after being caught out of position gave Tom Turton the chance to score his fifth penalty of the season.
Town threatened briefly to fight their way back into the game but did nothing to really test keeper Jasmin Keranovic, although Jud Ellis and Glyn Coney got close with a couple of long-range efforts.
But that all changed when Church’s Josh March had bags of room to make it 2-0 on 25 minutes, clipping the ball over an onrushing Ash Rawlins.
Town’s defence, which has been their strength this season, was all but overwhelmed as Alvechurch went for the kill – and in the chunky March they had an able executioner.
Twice more from defensive scrambles and Rawlins’ parried save, he hammered chances past the desperate keeper on 28 and 40 minutes for a hat-trick that took Alvchurch into the mix for today’s draw. Drayton, however, recovered a lot of lost pride with a spirted second-half showing, pulling one back with the help of a 55th-minute penalty when substitute Andre James was fouled by Ashley Carter.
Keeper Keranovic batted away Coney’s spot-kick but James, following up at pace, got the ball past him from amid a scramble of defenders.
Town might have had another penalty when Ellis was sent sprawling a few minutes later but referee David Hunt rejected the claims.
And just to add insult to Drayton’s grievous injuries, they had to suffer two more heavy blows.
Five minute into added time, Javia Roberts gave Church a flattering 5-1 scoreline and the attendance was revealed to be a paltry 82, not nearly enough to fund hiring Nantwich Town’s Weaver Stadium which they were using to enable a celebration funday by Palethorpes Pork Farms at Greenfields.
