Shaun Avis netted a stoppage time winner as Newmarket
Town came from behind to defeat Hullbridge Sports at Cricket Field Road to
progress in their Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round tie.
The host had knocked out Cockfosters in North London in the
previous round whilst Hullbridge had netted a late win against Gorleston at
Lower Road to reach this stage, so both would have been confident of victory.
Newmarket had the first effort on target when swinging in a
free-kick from the right, but Bridge keeper George Marsh managed to palm away
the effort, whilst the visitors first effort saw Nathan Scarborough strike an
effort well wide of the Newmarket post ten minutes later.
Shaun Avis then saw an effort well blocked down the other
end, before two minutes later Adebayo Sotoyinbo struck a fierce long-range
effort wide of the hosts goal as the opening quarter of the game remained in
the balance.
Hullbridge then began to enjoy some good possession and as
the half wore on looked the likelier to find any opening that might have been forthcoming,
and five minutes before the break found that breakthrough when centre half
Daniel Okah found himself in on goal, and despite his initial effort being saved
by Alex Archer, the visiting defender managed to slot home the rebound and put
his side ahead.
The hosts tried to respond late on in the half and saw a
cross thump into the side stanchion before the next attack saw Avis send a
looping header wide of the far post, but they could not find that quick leveller
meaning the visiting side from Essex held the slender lead at the break.
Half Time Newmarket
Town 0 Hullbridge Sports 1
The hosts started the second period a lot more positively
and saw Avis strike an effort straight at Marsh after ten minutes of the half,
and then moments after full back Jack Whiting hit a terrific effort towards the
top corner of the visitor’s goal but keeper Marsh plucked the effort out of the
air brilliantly.
The visitors mounted an attack of their own on the hour mark
but it ended with Sotoyinbo blasting an effort way over the bar from a decent
position, before the hosts then drilled an effort across goal as they continued
to try and find a leveller in this tie.
Hullbridge themselves were trying to double their lead and
potentially see themselves put one foot into the next round and they mounted another
attack through Scarborough, and he laid the ball off to Aundre Spencer but the
attacker could only slice wide of the near post.
But in the 68th minute Newmarket should have been
level as Avis somehow headed against the post from point blank range, and then
three minutes later Marsh had to produce another brilliant save to deny
Newmarket’s Rhys Thorpe.
With twelve minutes remaining Hullbridge broke and that
ended with Joe Patison side footing an effort wide of the far post, and then
moments later they really should of doubled their lead when a cut back found
Sotoyinbo inside the box, but his effort was well saved by Archer, and the
visitors would rue this moments later.
This was because with nine minutes remaining Newmarket did
find an equaliser when a ball into the area saw Avis totally unmarked and he prodded
home from close range and it set up a rather interesting last few minutes.
Hullbridge caused some alarm inside the hosts box with three
minutes remaining but saw an effort blocked before they managed to clear their
lines, and the match entered its final phase all square with everyone wondering
if there was going to be a late winner.
Well, with three minutes of stoppage time played, the hosts
won a free-kick in a dangerous position, and Michael Shinn curled a free-kick
against the post and then saw Avis react the quickest to side foot home the
rebound into the net and send the hosts wild with delight.
Heartbreak for the visiting ESL Premier side but it meant
the Thurlow Nunn Premier hosts went through to Monday’s First Qualifying Round
draw.
Full Time Newmarket
Town 2 Hullbridge Sports 1
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