AC London’s dream of a place in the hat for the second round of the Buildbase FA Vase was denied by an equaliser in the dying embers of injury time, as they drew 3-3 with Highworth Town in another dramatic afternoon of action.
Prince Choudary’s side – who are playing senior football for only the second season but currently lead the Combined Counties League Division One standings – are embarking on their first ever FA Vase campaign.
And it looked as though they had booked their place in the second round as they went ahead in extra time, only to be denied by a sublime Ash Edenborough free-kick with virtually the last kick of the game.
The Buildbase FA Vase
First Round
Saturday 22nd October 2016
Winning clubs pick up £675 at this stage
The replay is set for Wednesday evening at the Elms Recreation Ground.
Elsewhere it was elation for Pickering Town and heartbreak for Bridlington Town as a last-minute penalty separated the sides.
Lewis Taylor was the hero for the Pikes as he stayed ice cool and swept a spot-kick home for the only goal of the afternoon to dump the Seasiders out, with the game already into time added on.
Meanwhile Bootle eased to a 6-0 victory over their Merseyside rivals AFC Liverpool, with Steve Jones and Carl Peers both scoring twice.
Jones gave the Bucks the lead after just seven minutes when his shot was deflected past Charlie Saunders in the hosts’ goal, and Peers doubled their advantage 19 minutes later.
A second for Jones effectively put the tie to bed at 3-0 before half-time with the Little Reds appealing for offside, but Bootle were only just getting started and went through the gears in the second half.
Saunders made a string of saves, but could do nothing to stop Jonathon Swatton turning the ball into his own net after 67 minutes, before Ryan Cox and Peers put the gloss on the win.
And Wadham Lodge came from behind to win a fiery tie at home to Hertford Town, despite going down to nine men in the closing stages of the contest.
Mark Summers put the visitors ahead after 25 minutes, racing clear and lobbing the keeper with a classy finish, but just seconds later Wadham Lodge were level.
And despite putting their hosts under the cosh all the way through the remainder of the first half, Hertford Town found themselves trailing when they let a high ball bounce and Alex Akanbi made them pay with a fine finish.
There was late drama as both Glody Nsamu and Christopher John saw red when tempers flared late on in the game, but the hosts clung on for a memorable win.
