Brad’s double steers Boro to FA Cup win
For the second game running, Scarborough Athletic rode their luck and withstood pressure in a 3-2 home win, on this occasion beating Dunston in the FA Cup 2nd qualifying round.
Boss Jono Greening made four changes, Kieran Burton, Tom Pugh, Brad Plant and Simon Heslop coming in for Bailey Gooda, Lewis Maloney, Dan Bramall and the unavailable Will Jarvis.
In the 20th minute Luca Colville’s shot was blocked by Dunston skipper Craig Scott, Pugh then had a shot charged down by Will Jenkins.
Boroopenedthescoringon 29 minutes, a Colville corner was cleared to Dom Tear on the right, and he sent a terrific cross to the far post, where Plant flung himself forward and directed his header just inside the right-hand post.
JonShawheadednarrowly wideforDunston,thenBurton made a great block when Will Jenkins fired in a shot.
On 35 minutes a terrific Coulson cross to the far post was met by a thumping header from Pugh, but Dunston keeper Dan Staples pulled off a great reflex save.
Boro doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Coulson sublimely curled a free-kickintothetoprightcorner,theballgoinginofftheunderside of the bar.
The visitors fought back magnificently in the second half, and Boro were forced to defend for long periods,
Burton, Ash Jackson, Kieran Weledji and Will Thornton all having to make tackles or clearances. Dunston reduced the arrears on 58 minuteswhenLiamTheartapped home from close range.
Boro restored their twogoal advantage with another
superb goal, a long-throw into the box from Jackson was headed out towards Plant, who drilled a fierce low shot into the bottom right corner.
Dunston again fought back, Jack Elliott having a strike beaten away by Cracknell, before they made it 3-2 on
72minuteswhenJenkins’shot flew into the top right corner.
Coulson’sshotwasblocked by keeper Staples, then Bramallhadashotchargeddown, but it was Dunston who were on top late on. Heslop flung his body in the way of an Elliott shot, Jenkins fired narrowly wide, and Plant blocked a Shaw shot.
Boro were relieved to hear the final whistle. It wasn't a vintage display, but they are in the next round and are now unbeatenineightgamesasthe finestarttotheseasoncontinued.