Jamie Cole netted a 79th minute winner as ten-man Whitton United set up an Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round home tie with Hertford Town in two weeks’ time after defeating West Essex at Oakside in a feisty Extra Preliminary Round encounter.
The Thurlow Nunn Premier visitors had the first chance when Harry Wales headed wide, and then another United chance saw the ball break to Kevin Inglis, but his effort was sent wide of the near post.
On 18 minutes though the visitors did find the net when a long-range effort from Liam Wales caught out keeper Jack Coker and nestled in the bottom corner of the net to give the visitors from Suffolk the early advantage.
The Essex Senior League hosts should of levelled though when after Joe Lefley had broken the offside trap, his finish was saved by keeper Lewis Higgins, before a follow up effort from Michael Mignot was well saved again, and then from another cross moments later Mignot sent his effort over the bar.
Just before the half hour mark came a big moment of controversy as Mignot was fouled on the edge of the box by defender Harry Wales, and the visiting player was shown a straight red, much to everyone’s amazement. It didn’t look like a red card in all honesty but it meant the visitors would have to play the remaining hour or so with ten men.
Brad Russell then curled the resulting free-kick over the bar, but then more controversial moments followed at the end of the half when hosts attacker Mignot was fouled and it an attempt to get the ball off the defender who was holding onto it threw him to the ground. We all assumed a red would follow for the West player but no, only a yellow, and to be honest he could count himself lucky.
The game was getting rather spicy now and the half time whistle couldn’t come soon enough so both teams could calm down and go again.
Half Time West Essex 0 Whitton United 1
West knew they needed an early goal in the second period to really rattle their ten-man opponents, but the visitors almost saw an Inglis corner sneak in at the far post, before West attacked down the other end and see a cross almost find Mignot, but a decent tackle prevented him from shooting.
Nine minutes into the half though West were on level terms as Tom MacLeod powered home a brilliant header in off the bar and you thought the hosts may go onto win it with the extra man advantage.
Mignot then found himself in for the hosts but keeper Higgins managed to save as the attacker tried to take the ball around him, whilst down the other end Jack Baker sent a free-kick high over the bar from what was a decent position.
Hakim Medfai then created an opening all by himself for the hosts, but the final effort was way over the bar, and then Inglis tried a dinked effort down the other end for the visitors but it went straight into the arms of Coker.
The visitors were beginning to look threatening, despite having the numerical disadvantage, and saw an effort from Zehnn Young blocked, this after good work from Jacob Lay, who had been having a superb game for the visitors, and then they struck another effort wide soon after as you felt the momentum shifting towards the Suffolk side.
And with 79 minutes on the clock the visitors got themselves back in front when after Mignot had seen an effort saved by Higgins down one end, Whitton broke and after Cole and Coker had collided,
Cole got back up to lob the stranded keeper and send the visitors wild.
The game, which had been rather competitive you could say throughout, threatened to boil over in the closing stages, and at times became rather silly it has to be said. West came close to levelling late on when they saw the visitors scramble a goal bound effort away, before another effort was blocked and then a cross into the danger zone by substitute Izzy Ogedi-Uzokwe was pounced on by keeper Higgins.
And after several tense minutes of stoppage time for the visitors the whistle went and the Suffolk side had prevailed after playing over an hour with a man light, terrific from them, whilst for West Essex disappointment at not playing to the levels they expect. They had chances yes but two silly goals given away cost them at the end of the day.
Whitton United now take on Hertford Town from the Isthmian League South Central in two weeks’ time in Suffolk, good luck to them in that one.
Full Time West Essex 1 Whitton United 2
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