TROPHY KINGS!
Orient see off plucky Rocks while East Thurrock take Chester scalp
LEYTON ORIENT needed extra-time to get past Bognor Regis Town in the FA Trophy – and they’re joined in the last 16 by East Thurrock United who upset National League Chester.
Josh Koroma fired the O’s through with a 105th-minute strike after Bognor’s Jimmy Muitt had equalised for the National League South side with just two minutes left.
But there was victory for the other Rocks with Calvin Ekpiteta winning the day for East Thurrock.
National League Solihull Moors were another side to tumble out to lower league opposition as Spennymoor Town brushed them aside 2-0.
Step 3 Warrington Town were seconds away from beating Ebbsfleet United, only for Sean Shields to spare their blushes in stoppage-time.
EVO-STIK Premier Marine pushed Dover Athletic all the way, eventually falling 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller, while Bromley safely negotiated their way past Blyth Spartans.
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers fought back from two goals down to earn a replay with Stockport County in an entertaining FA Trophy tussle at Aggborough.
Goals from Jason Oswell and Darren Stephenson looked to have sealed County’s passage to the third round for the first time ever, but four-time finalists Harriers hit back with two goals in three minutes from Fraser Horsfall and Emmanuel Sonupe.
Sonupe redeemed himself for an earlier penalty miss but Horsfall turned from hero to villain, seeing red for a second bookable offence four minutes from time.
Despite a dramatic afternoon it was no surprise that these two in-form sides could not be separated. Harriers have lost only once in all competitions since mid-September, Stockport are now unbeaten in seven after this result, and only three points separate the teams in the National League North table.
Harriers had the better of the chances throughout the first half with Elton Ngwatala and Dan Bradley both going close, but Stockport went ahead on the stroke of half-time against the run of play. An imposing break from Darren Stephenson saw him power forward down the left wing, before crossing for Oswell who nodded home his 23rd goal of the season.
The hosts, who had defeated County at Edgeley Park 2-1 in October thanks to a Joe Ironside brace, spurned a golden chance to level shortly before the hour mark. Stockport’s Harry Winter, introduced after half-time when Dan Cowan limped off injured, fouled James McQuilkin in the box but Sonupe’s low curling spot-kick was saved by Ian Ormson who guessed correctly and dived to his left.
The Hatters doubled their advantage in the 70th minute with a cleverly worked move. Scott Duxbury’s low corner found Stephenson on the edge of the box who turned towards goal to fire a low shot past Hall from eight yards out.
Harriers grabbed a lifeline seven minutes later as McQuilkin’s free kick from the right-hand side saw Horsfall steal a march at the front post and nod in a free header past Ormson.
They so nearly equalised seconds after the restart as Ironside couldn’t quite force home Ngwatala’s low cross, but Harriers only had to wait three minutes before being on level terms. Substitute Liam Truslove’s incisive through ball saw Sonupe swivel in the box and finish past Ormson to make amends for his penalty miss.
Horsfall saw red four minutes from time, earning a second yellow for a foul on County sub Bohan Dixon, but it was Harriers who almost completed the perfect comeback as Truslove fired in a rasping stike from distance, however Ormson was again there to thwart the hosts, before Jimmy O’Connor steered the rebound wide.
County manager Jim Gannon was pleased with his side’s efforts in earning a replay despite letting slip a two-goal lead. He said: “There were lots of positives for us to take out of the game, especially for us to come here and be 2-0 up and to be in the position of winning the tie.
“Kidderminster threw all their options on and it was disappointing how we let them back in, and conceding those types of goals is a problem we need to address.
“We had to make a couple of enforced changes but the lads who came in did well and we’re looking like a team who can compete on any patch with any team above us.”
Equally, Harriers’ boss John Eustace had mixed emotions afterwards, adding: “We showed great character and we’re happy with the result. It’s going to be another tough game on Tuesday.
“We were disappointed to go 2-0 down early in the second half but we showed good spirit and great togetherness to get a draw at the end of a tough week.
STAR MAN: Ian Ormson (Stockport) ATT: 1,348 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Paul Marsden 7/10