Stockport County put on a late, late show on Tuesday night as the Hatters progressed to the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a 2-1 victory at Harrogate Town, thanks to a last-minute Luke Partington goal.
County, who were on top for large spells of the tie, felt as though they should have wrapped the game up long before the end, but a never-say-die attitude saw the Hatters over the finish line, following Ashton Mee’s first-half strike.
Despite County’s preparations for the tie, Harrogate opened the scoring within the opening three minutes. Finn O’Boyle twisted and turned inside the box and his low, left-footed strike found the bottom corner.
The home side came close again shortly afterwards. Josh Brodella found space on the right-hand side of the box and drilled a cross into the middle, but Billy Blake made a good save to keep the hosts at bay and keep Harrogate within reaching distance.
With 10 minutes remaining in the half, Partington founds space to whip a cross into the box. The ball took a deflection and landed at the feet of Mee, who composed himself and guided his effort into the far corner, leveling the scores.
Ollie Nicholson was inches away from regaining the lead for the hosts. His dipping free kick from distance hit the underside of the bar and was cleared, before another Nicholson effort was saved by Blake.
Substitute Nathan McFarlane tried his luck from distance for County and his curling strike narrowly missed the target, with Harvey Giles scrambling. The pressure continued as a fast break then saw Dallas Omoruyi have half-a-chance at goal, but his left-footed strike was well-wide of the near post.
HALF TIME: Harrogate 1-1 Stockport County
County started the second half brightly and could have gone in front in spectacular fashion. Keane Barugh beat two defenders with ease and cracked a dipping shot towards goal, but Giles was able to punch the ball to safety.
Midway through the half, McFarlane must have been wondering how he hadn’t put County ahead. Barugh nodded Mee’s looping cross back across goal and McFarlane’s header from point-blank range was somehow saved by Giles.
Similar to Nicholson’s effort in the first half, Barugh whipped a free kick from distance towards goal and struck it magnificently, but the ball cannoned back off the crossbar and away from danger. Barugh had an almost identical effort soon after, but this time Giles made a fantastic acrobatic save to deny.
Harrogate came within inches of re-taking the lead with 10 minutes to go and would be kicking themselves. Bobby Attree drifted to the back-post following a corner, completely unmarked, and somehow floated his header over the bar from close range.
The hosts looked to finish the half strongly and could have nicked it late on. A County mix-up at the back saw O’Boyle have the goal at his mercy, but Blake recovered well and denied the forward, just as it looked like he was going to stroke the ball home.
In the very last minute, the dying embers of the game, County won it, and it was nothing less than they deserved. Partington raced down the right wing, showed great strength to hold off his man and fire a low, left-footed strike into the near post.
County will now face Fleetwood Town at home in the second round of the competition – details for this fixture at Edgeley Park will be announced in due course.
Read the full post-match quotes from Under 18’s Head Coach Jamie Crowther and scorer of the winning goal, Luke Partington, here.
FULL TIME: Harrogate Town AFC 1-2 Stockport County
County Lineup: Blake; Partington, Jones, Kenny (Capt), O’Brien; Barry (Fligg 85), Johnson, Mee; Barugh, Omoruyi, Williams (McFarlane 10)
Unused subs: Harrison, Stokes, Bryning, Whittle, Bradbury-Allen
Attendance: 364
Goals: Mee, Partington
