They may have been dreaming of causing a famous Emirates FA Cup upset, but instead it was heartbreak for Hartley Wintney as they went down to Nathaniel Pinney’s last-gasp strike at Eastbourne Borough.
The former Crystal Palace trainee, 24, stole in at the far post to nod home and make the scoreline 3-2 to send his side into the next round.
Wintney, three leagues below their hosts in the non-League standings, had stopper Craig Atkinson to thank for an incredible performance in goal, as time and time again he fended away goal-bound efforts from the Sports.
The Emirates FA Cup
Third Round Qualifying
Saturday 10 October 2015
Winners receive £7500 from prize fund
By Jack Miller
Darren Lok opened the scoring for Eastbourne with a quarter of an hour played, converting midfielder Jack Evans’ cross, before the visitors began to lead a charmed life with several shots cleared off the line.
But after the interval the hosts deservedly doubled their lead when Kane Haysman finished off a corner, before a remarkable comeback from the Row.
Goals on 73 and 81 minutes from Liam Eagle and Sam Argent meant a replay looked imminent for the Combined Counties League Premier Division side, but Pinney arrived to break Wintney hearts as the clock ticked into the red.
Elsewhere, Wealdstone marched into in the next round thanks to a comfortable 5-1 victory at Brockenhurst.
Jefferson Louis’ looped header gave the Stones the lead on 11 minutes, before Mark Barker’s stunning leveller on the stroke of half time.
But Wealdstone went through the gears in the second period, and goals from Tom Hamblin, Scott Davies, and Jonny Wright, as well as a Brockenhurst own goal, ensured they still have their names in the hat.
It was the third round qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday
Meanwhile, Brett Ormerod continued his love affair with the FA Cup, as he scored in Bamber Bridge’s 1-1 draw at Kettering.
The 38-year-old – who collected an FA Cup runners-up medal in his time at Southampton – put his side in front on 15 minutes before new signing Liam Canavan grabbed an equaliser with the Poppies’ firing on all cyclinders in the second half.
And it could have been far worse for Kettering – who have scored the most goals throughout the history of the competition – as former Blackpool man Jamie Milligan’s penalty was saved for Bamber Bridge.
That tie heads to a replay in Lancashire next week, as does Chasetown and Stalybridge Celtic who drew 1-1 – Steve Tames cancelling out James Dance’s early strike.
There were goals galore for AFC Fylde, who put an astonishing nine goals each past Coleshill Town whilst Stourbridge beat Rushall Olympic by a first-half free-kick from Justin Richards.
And Chorley edged a tight encounter at Whitley Bay by 3-2, as did Gainsborough Trinity at Droylsden who won 4-3 thanks to Matt Wilson’s first ever goal for the club to win it after the Bloods had come back from 3-0 down.
But the tie of the round was undeniably at East Thurrock United where Staines Town won a nine-goal thriller 6-3.
Patrick Cox was the difference for the Swans, as his late strike completed a stunning hat-trick and fittingly sent his side into the next round in style.
