Nuneaton Borough have
caused one of the biggest upsets of this year’s FA Cup so far
by knocking out second division Stoke with an injury-time
winner.
A packed Manor Park
erupted last night in the fourth minute of injury time, when
Marc McGregor scored the only goal of the game.
In the first match, on
Saturday, Borough held ten-man Stoke to a goalless draw at the
Britannia Stadium.
The replay was looking
to be heading the same way until the final seconds, when in-form
striker McGregor slotted home.
Nuneaton’s Terry
Angus, voted man of the match, told Sky Sports:
"I've been on the
end of something like that a few years ago, but that's
unbelievable.
"When that ball
goes in the back of the net it's just brilliant. It puts us on
the map."
Nuneaton boss Steve Burr
added:
"We never got
near them in the first half but we got in at half-time at 0-0,
and in the second half we played superbly.
"The lads stuck
at it and the support was great. We don't always get 5,000
people, but it helped us tonight with the atmosphere.
"Both games have
been a credit to both clubs. There has not been a bad tackle
in either."
Warwickshire police, who
had to mount a hasty operation to deal with the crowds said
there had not been any incidents of trouble between the rival
fans.
Until last season, all
replays were delayed for at least a week to give police time to
prepare. But that restriction has been lifted.
Supt Gary Hollis, who
led the effort praised both sets of fans and the co-operation
between the police and the football club.
Nuneaton now face a trip
to Bournemouth in the second round, on 8 or 9 December. Stoke
must pick themselves up for a Worthington Cup tie against
Liverpool next week.