WHITEHAWK 1 ST ALBANS 1

WILFRIED TAGBO’S last-gasp strike saw Whitehawk stay in the hat for tomorrow’s FA Trophy draw after forcing a replay.

Louie Theophanous had put Ian Allinson’s side ahead at the Enclosed Ground with 11 minutes to go, only for the Hawks striker to get his first goal for the club to earn his side a replay in this all-National League South tie.

Early on, Danny Mills and Tagbo had chances for the hosts, with Theophanous and Shaun Lucien going close for the Saints.

City had the best chances of the first half and came close to going ahead before the break, with Lee Chappell’s ball picking out Junior Morias, but the forward – who had a loan spell last season at the Hawks – was off target.

And the visiting team came close to going ahead again before the interval, with defender Dan Harding heading the ball against his own crossbar from a corner, before Marvin Hamilton hooked away Theophanous’s goal-bound effort after the break.

Mills then saw his opportunistic effort saved by James Russell, with Tagbo denied by the visiting side’s goalkeeper as the game stayed in the balance.

However, St Albans went ahead on 69 minutes. The prolific Theophanous turned well before slamming the ball past the helpless goalkeeper Ross Flitney.

But the Hawks lived to fight another day – with Tagbo, a Frenchman recruited from Swedish club Pars, taking advantage of some slack defending to earn Richard Hill’s side a draw.

The teams will meet again for the replay at Clarence Park on Tuesday night.

STAR MAN: Michael West (Whitehawk) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★