Who’s made their way to the FA Cup first round?
RYAN UPWARD left it late to rescue Maidenhead United’s FA Cup hopes with a rather fortunate deflection four minutes from time denying Wealdstone a cup shock.
Dean Brennan’s high-flying Wealdstone looked to have one foot in the first round with Ross Lafayette converting one of several chances they created just after half-time.
But, with the clock ticking down, Upward was in the right place at the right time to nudge home the equaliser after Josh Kelly’s flicked effort had been palmed out by keeper Aston Oxborough.
United were far from their best but still carved out the odd dangerous moment, with Jake Cassidy curling narrowly wide of the upright after 10 minutes and Kelly testing Oxborough with a low, left-footed, effort.
Brennan felt his side shaded the opening period but they failed to take the halves’ two best chances. On 25 minutes, Danny Green’s corner was headed against the post by Jerome Okimo while Sanchez Watt blazed over the bar when well placed.
The game’s first goal arrived five minutes after the interval. Lafayette deserves huge credit for the way he pulled a high ball out of the sky, held off his markers and thumped it across keeper Chris Dunn and into the bottom corner of the net.
The Stones could easily have added to their tally five minutes later when Connor Stevens headed over unmarked from inside the sixyard box.
United, though, plodded away and felt they should have been awarded a penalty on 75 minutes when Josh Smile looked to be taken out by Oxborough in the box, but referee Samuel Allison felt the offence was committed just outside the area.
Then, just when the visitors looked like hanging on, Upward popped up to nudge home the equaliser after Kelly had been denied by Oxborough.
The sides will do it all again at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday night, but by then they’ll know what prize awaits them in the first round following tomorrow night’s draw.
Wealdstone boss Brennan said: “Our performance today was strong but we’re a little disappointed to concede at the end in the manner we did.
“There was nothing wrong with the performance, but it’s not about performances in the FA Cup. It’s about getting through to the next round and we’ve got to make sure that we’re on top of our game in Tuesday’s replay.”
Magpies’ boss Alan Devonshire admitted: “They were better than us. They scored but then we’ve put them under a lot of pressure and got the equaliser.”