Maid It! Classic Comeback Sees Hatters Head For Quarters
On a near-freezing replay-night in SK3, the Hatters warmed the hearts of the County Faithful by dramatically edging out National League side Maidenhead United after extra time.
In doing so, they have reached the Quarter-finals – in which their opponents at Edgeley Park will be fellow National League North play-off contenders Brackley Town, on 24 February.
But, even more impressively, County did it the hard way – having gone two goals down on the hour, before late strikes within the last eight minutes by Darren Stephenson and newly-arrived substitute George West forced extra time, and Jimmy Ball’s subsequent winner clinched the tie.
And, by way of added tension, the Hatters had to play out the match with ten men, after captain Harry Winter was dismissed in the first extra-time period for a second bookable offence.
County took to the field at the outset showing just one change from the starting line-up for the original tie at Maidenhead three days earlier. Ball, now recovered from illness that had ruled him out over the weekend, was recalled in place of Gary Stopforth and as part of a 3-4-1-2 formation.
The Hatters began in lively fashion – rendering Carl Pentney much the busier of the two goalkeepers. The visiting shot-stopper parried a low drive from Stephenson past the left upright after 17 minutes. And five minutes later, following a break by Jason Oswell, he blocked Matty Warburton before tipping over Adam Thomas’ follow-up.
Thomas and Warburton both went close again, courtesy of shots that were narrowly shy of the left post. And as half-time approached, Pentney was again called into action to smother a long-range effort from Stephen O’Halloran, as well as keeping out another attempt by the lively Stephenson.
HALF-TIME: County 0, Maidenhead 0.
The resumption of proceedings heralded a brisk flurry of corners at both ends – two of which followed shots that Ben Hinchliffe and Pentney tipped around their right posts to deny, respectively, Jake Hyde and Oswell.
Eleven minutes into the second half, and against the run of play, the ‘Magpies’ stole the lead. An attempted back-pass to Hinchliffe by Chris Smalley from the left did not properly carry on the slow surface – leaving Hyde to seize upon the ball, round County’s Number One and slot home.
Four minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage – as Harold Odametey’s looping cross from the right was headed in at the far post by Sam Barratt from close range.
Despite their forcing a couple of corners in the immediate aftermath, the Hatters looked to be exiting the competition – and in the face of opponents from non-league’s top tier who were content to play the game out. But eight minutes from time, County halved the arrears, after Scott Duxbury fed Stephenson down the left flank and the winger cut in to fire low past Pentney.
Two late substitutions were made, and both new arrivals had a part to play in setting up a thrilling finale. First, Bohan Dixon tracked back to mop up a Maidenhead attack after Odametey had broken into the County box. And moments later, with added time about to begin, George West, with the aid of a deflection off visiting skipper Alan Massey, converted a Duxbury cross to bring the scores level and take the tie into extra time.
FULL-TIME (after 90 minutes): County 2 (Stephenson, 82; West, 90), Maidenhead 2 (Hyde, 56; Barratt, 60).
The momentum was clearly with the Hatters as the first period began – and just four minutes into it, they went ahead. Duxbury completed his own hat-trick of assists for the evening by exchanging passes on the left with Stephenson, before delivering a low cross that was turned in by Ball.
Five minutes later, however, their numbers were reduced, when Winter picked up a second yellow card following a tussle with Odametey, and became the first County player to receive his marching orders since Lewis Montrose at Brackley almost two years previously.
Energy reserves were required on the part of the remaining County players – but one with seemingly little shortage in that regard was the tireless Stephenson, who forced another save from Pentney just ahead of the extra-time break.
During the second period, Maidenhead made a concerted effort to get back on terms. Substitutes Christian Smith and Maximilian Kilman respectively shot and headed wide, before the visitors’ third replacement Sean Marks was denied by Hinchliffe at point-blank range. But the Hatters held firm to book their place in the last eight.
FINAL SCORE (after extra time): County 3 (Stephenson, 82; West, 90; Ball, 94), Maidenhead 2 (Hyde, 56; Barratt, 60).
Team: Hinchliffe, Cowan (Dixon, 88), Duxbury, Winter (Capt.), Smalley, O’Halloran, Thomas, Ball, Oswell (Stopforth, 74), Warburton (West, 89), Stephenson.
Unused Subs: Clarke, Ormson.
Booked: Ball, Dixon.
Sent Off: Winter.
Man of the Match: Stephenson.
Attendance: 1,131 (21 away).
Reporter: Gareth Evans.
Photographer: Mike Petch.
