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Eton
Manor suffered
FA Cup heartbreak after being cruelly beaten by an injury
time penalty by Stanway Rovers.
The Manor had
the better of the contest, and the game looked like
it was going to a replay on Wednesday evening before
Steve Reading felled Luke Callander inside the box leaving
the referee no option but to award a penalty kick to
the visitors.
Bailey made no
mistake from the spot to give Stanway a place in the
next round, however, the Manor can take great pride
in their performance. The home side lined up 4-5-1 with
Scott Lovett restored in a central role to provide support
to Danny Clarke as the lone frontman.
The game started
at a good tempo, with both sides competitive in the
middle of the field. However, the Manor did settle into
their stride more quickly and when Joe May harried the
visitors defence into a mistake Danny Clarke was on
hand to react with a low first time finish that beat
the keeper at this near post after 22 minutes.
There were further
half chances for the Manor to increse their lead before
half time but they went in leading 1-0 at the interval.
The visitors started the second half in a more lively
fashion and they were rewarded after 55 minutes, although
there was more than a touch of fortune about the goal.
A free kick whipped into the box glanced off a Manor
head, and despite Nicky Mitchell turning it onto the
bar it bounced down right in front of Callander who
nodded the equaliser.
Manor then lost
Scott Lovett to a head knock, but within minutes had
created a golden opportunity to restore their lead.
Great work by Danny Clarke down the left allowed Joe
May a clear sight of goal, but he hit over the bar.
May had another chance soon after, but couldn't controll
his back post volley and it bounced wide.
Stanway were
now hanging on for grim death and looking to take the
game into a replay, however, 2 minutes into added time
Callander's forward charge was stopped by Reading's
sliding challenger and the penalty kick was converted.
Despite 4 further
added minutes Manor couldn't muster a chance and they
bow out of the Cup.
Manor boss Kevin
Durrant said: "I can't believe it. I can't fault
my boys tonight I feel like I've been kicked in the
guts. I just want us to take the positives from the
performance, which was superb."
And the reaction
from the Stanway manager at the final whistle summed
it up as he admitted to Manor coach Paul Norris: "We
knicked that."
Man
of the Match
Danny
Clarke - Goal capped an outstanding display.
Manor
Team:
1 Nicky Mitchell
2 Carl Bailey
3 Chris Barratt
4 Steve Reading
5 Joe Nightingill
6 Richard Simpson
7 Joe May
8 Dean Frett (c)
9 Danny Clarke - 1
10 Scott Lovett (replaced by number 14)
11 Tom Nyama (replaced by number 13)
12 Tony Hadley
13 Courtney Linton
14 Paul Marin
15 Danny Alleyne
16 Michael Georghiou
17 Aaron May
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