End of an FA Cup dream for Brennan and Barnet

THE FA Cup dreams of the National League Barnet, managed by Dubliner Dean Brenan, were ended with a 1-0 defeat at Accrington through a late goal from Ethan Hamilton yesterday.

It was always going to be a big challenge away to the League One side but Brennan (left), the 42-year-old who came over to England in 1997 when he was on the books with Sheffield Wednesday, had high hopes going into the clash. ‘The FA Cup is a competition of upsets,’ he told Philip Quinn in yesterday’s Irish Daily Mail, ‘it is for the underdog.’

Unfortunately for Brennan and Barnet, the upset never materialised but Barnet gave an excellent account of themselves before suffering their late heartbreak.

Elsewhere, Forest Green Rovers ended non-league Alvechurch’s FA Cup hopes with a 2-1 win to book their place in the third round. Former Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham put Rovers ahead from the penalty spot but Alvechurch equalised three minutes into the second half before Josh March put the League One side back in front.