Stowmarket Town beat higher-league Mickleover in penalty shootout to continue record FA Trophy run
James Bradbrook saved two penalties in a shootout as Stowmarket Town progressed past higher-league Mickleover into the first round proper of the Isuzu FA Trophy for the first time following a 1-1 draw at Greens Meadow this afternoon.
Elliott Reeves' finish on the break had put the Step 3 visitors from Derbyshire in control just after half-time while Jack Ainsley twice went close to levelling things up, his header 11 minutes from time hitting the crossbar.
But in the seventh minute of added time the hosts came up with the goods with Tevan Allen curling home a low finish following a free kick.
In the penalty shooutout Bradbrook proved to be the hero, saving the first two kicks to provide the platform for the victory with substitute Luke Hipkin wrapping up a 3-0 scoreline after Ryan Wilson had blasted his over.
Having never got through the entry first qualifying round on five previous occasions, Stowmarket followers will now be eagerly awaiting Monday's first round proper draw. But it is not until the following round that Step 2 sides enter and the third round proper before the like of Vanarama National League big boys Nott County and Wrexham are in the hat.
Home boss Paul Musgrove made three changes from the 2-0 league win at Basildon United last weekend. With recent signing Dylan Logan cup-tied and Bermudan international Reggie Lambe out of the country, Tevan Allen, Jack Wilkinson and Chris Casement came in with Luke Hipkin dropping to the bench.
There was a minute's applause ahead of kick-off to celebrate and honour the life of long-serving Stowmarket volunteer and avid supporter Geoff Squirrell while the home team were also wearing black armbands.
Musgrove's side switched to a back three for the tie with former Ipswich Town players Casement and Smith as the wing-backs and fellow former Blues professional Ainsley.
The Old Gold & Blacks had the ball in the net within three minutes when skipper Tom Bullard converted Ed Upson's free kick only to see the offside flag rule it out.
Stuart Beavon dragged a shot wide in Mickleover's first chance soon after while Mason Warren's sixth minute shot from the edge of the area was pushed up and over his near post by Bradbrook.
The next chance did not materialise until the 18th minute with the visitors seeing Elliott Reeves head over a cross from Warren.
It was not long before the number nine went close again with an effort that took a big deflection off Joe Jefford before dipping over the bar.
Despite their probing up the other end it was not coming off for Stowmarket in the final third while Ainsley failed to direct his header from a right-sided cross on target approaching the half-hour mark.
Six minutes before half-time a mistake at the back let Mickleover fashion another chance for Reeves but Bradbrook was behind it.
Stowmarket were forced into a change ahead of the interval with Upson going off following treatment with Evan Collard, back from his loan at Needham Market, replacing him on what had been an uninspiring half from the hosts.
Despite Stow beginning the second half on the attack they fell behind within three minutes. Wilkinson misjudged a long ball out of defence just inside his own half and Mickleover broke two-on-one with Beavon nodding across to Reeves who applied a low finish into the far corner from the edge of the area.
Three minutes later the hosts wasted a glorious opportunity to get themselves level. Ainsley saw his header from a flicked-on Casement cross produce a flying save from Hedge but with the 'keeper out of action then lashed over the bar in front of an unguarded net.
Musgrove's kept up the pressure with Allen's jinking run ending with shot being deflected past the near-post while Bullard scuffed his effort from the corner wide.
Up the other end a Curry block thwarted a fierce effort substitute Jahvan Davidson-Miller before he rattled the post with an angled effort soon after in the 69th minute as Mickleover looked to double their advantage.
With 11 minutes to go it was Stow who were denied by the goalframe as they sought the equaliser. Substitute Luke Hipkin released Allen down the left and Ainsley met his cross on the run before seeing it bounce off the face of the crossbar before being cleared.
Substitute Shaun Bammant headed a deep free kick harmlessly wide and it looked like Mcikleover were the ones heading through as the game entered added time.
But following a clash of heads that prolonger the wait, a last-gasp free kick from Hipkin was to spark joyous scenes among the home crowd. His delivery was not cleared and Joe Jefford knocked the ball into the path of Allen who curled low under Hedge shortly before the full-time whistle signalled a penalty shootout.
Things got off to a great start in front of the clubhouse end with Evan Collard's opening kick into the top right-hand corner being followed by Bradbrook going the right way to save Mason Warren's effort.
The Stow keeper followed up Ainsley's conversion with a one-handed save from Reeves as he went down the middle before Chris Casement was also thwarted by the goalkeeper.
But after Wilson blasted his kick over the bar, Hipkin had the chance to win it and duly delivered with a great effort into the top left-hand corner to continue the club's record run in the competition.
Stowmarket Town: Bradbrook, Casement, Smith, Curry, Jefford, Bullard, Parker (Bammant 61'), Upson (E Collard 43'), Allen, Ainsley, Wilkinson (Hipkin 70'). Unused subs: Munday, Zielonka.
Booked: Bullard (31'), E Collard (90+4').
Mikleover: Hedge, Mann, Dolan, Wilson, Butler, Watt, Mbakop-Fankwe ( Davidson-Miller58'), Milner (Horleston 85'), Reeves, Beavon, Warren. Unused sub: Atwal.
Booked: Watt (24'), Reeves (87').
Attendance: 303
SuffolkNews Man of the Match: James Bradbrook. Jack Ainsley did well pushed up front but it was the goalkeeper who provided the platform for a memorable cup victory with the starring role in the shootout.
