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The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON

Connolly brace puts Saints through

Southampton hold on to see off Bristol Rovers in The FA Cup

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Bristol Rovers

2-3

Southampton

Duffy 73, Hughes (pen) 90+2

 

Connolly 63, 68, Antonio 70 

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
First Round Proper 
Friday 6 November 2009
Memorial Stadium, Bristol
 
Winning Clubs receive £18,000 from The FA's Prize Fund
Click here for the First Round results so far

Bristol Rovers felt the full force of a Southampton second half goal rush as they crashed out of The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON after a thrilling First Round Proper tie. There was little to suggest what was to come after a goalless first half in this battle between the two League One sides.

But then experienced striker David Connolly hit the first of his two goals to start a run of three goals inside seven second half minutes.

The striker first scored when he turned in Adam Lallana's cross in the 63rd minute and he added a second five minutes later.

Rovers looked down and out when Michail Antonio ended a clinical counter-attack to score the visitors’ third goal with 20 minutes remaining.

But then came what was almost a stunning comeback as Darryl Duffy got a goal back in the 73rd minute. Southampton substitute Oscar Gobern then conceded an injury-time penalty with a foul on Jo Kuffour.

Up stepped Jeff Hughes to score from the penalty spot with a left foot shot with a further four minutes of time added on still to be played.

But there were no more clear cut chances and Southampton held on for the win and a place in Sunday afternoon's draw.

Bristol Rovers
51 Rhys Evans, 2 Carl Regan, 15 Byron Anthony, 6 Steve Elliott, 11 Jeff Hughes, 8 Andrew Williams, 7 Stuart Campbell, 4 Chris Lines, 16 Dominic Blizzard (10 Darryl Duffy, 67), 3 Mark Wright (23 Ben Swallow, 67), 17 Jo Kuffour
Subs not used 46 Rob Holmes, 18 Ben Hunt, 20 Charles Reece, 21 Charlie Clough, 31 Mark Cooper

Southampton
1 Kelvin Davis, 23 Lloyd James, 3 Wayne Thomas, 6 Radhi Jaidi, 2 Dan Harding (29 Oscar Gobern, 73), 37 Michail Antonio (18 Joseph Mills, 79), 14 Dean Hammond, 38 David Connolly (10 Paul Wotton, 79), 19 Morgan Schneiderlin, 20 Adam Lallana, 7 Richard Lambert
Subs not used 28 Bartosz Bialkowski, 5 Chris Perry, 9 Ndiaye Papa Waigo, 11 Lee Holmes

Referee K D Hill
Assistant Referees L Swabey & R Merchant
Fourth Official A R Hendley

Attendance 6,446

Don't forget you can watch three First Round proper games live this weekend:

Paulton Rovers v Norwich City, 12.45pm, Saturday 7 November on ITV1.
Oldham Athletic v Leeds United, 5.15pm, Saturday 7 November, streamed live on www.TheFA.com/FACupLive (available in the UK and Ireland only)
Northwich Victoria v Charlton Athletic, 1.30pm, Sunday 8 November on ITV1, followed by the Second Round Draw live at 3.35pm.