Poor Penny feels the ‘cruel’ pain of last-gasp exit

KIDDERMINSTER’S Alex Penny admitted the pain was like ‘a knife in the heart’ as Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen rescued West Ham with seconds to spare in their FA Cup fourth-round tie.

After Penny’s first-half opener, Rice equalised in the 90th minute, to force extra-time at Aggborough and Bowen struck in the 120th minute to send the Premier League side through at the expense of their hosts from the National League North.

‘It’s cruel,’ said Penny. ‘We took a Premier League team all the way. We had a game plan, set up the way did and we were achieving that until the 90th minute. It shows any team can perform if they have team spirit, commitment and their fans behind them.

‘It was like a knife into our hearts. But that’s what they do. They grind out these goals. We’ve got to take as many positives as we can.’

As for his goal, Penny said: ‘We worked on our set pieces. I made my run and it fell to me. I was in the right place at the right time and got a good contact on the ball.

‘I’ll always be proud of that moment. I thought I was going to be the match winner. It’s just unfortunate we conceded those two late goals.’

Russell Penn, the Harriers’ manager, had dared to believe that his team could be the first from the sixth tier to beat top division opposition in the FA Cup after Kidderminster beat Championship side Reading in the third round.

‘With two minutes to go I was believing it,’ Penn said. ‘Then a minute later…

‘They got desperate and we looked a bit tired and leggy. They were piling the pressure on, I thought they’d have another chance but to see them score from that chance was heartbreaking. I think I would’ve felt better if we’d lost three or four-nil. I thought we’d get blown away in extra time but we didn’t. It’s disappointing to come so close. I’m gutted for the lads but it’s been fantastic.

‘To be managing across from David Moyes is a huge honour. Hopefully this is a catalyst.’

West Ham’s players congratulated the Kidderminster parttimers. ‘Massive respect to them, they were excellent,’ said England midfielder Rice.

‘We don’t come to places like this very often and sometimes it’s just a shock to the system.

‘Luckily we got one late in the second and then nicked it at the end. I’m delighted we’re through.

‘We need to improve if we want to push on.’