By David Barber. Wednesday, 14 January 2004.
A round-up of all the action that took place on Tuesday night in The FA Cup, FA Trophy, FA Youth Cup.
On a night of thrills and spills in three competitions Tranmere Rovers and Northampton Town secured romantic away victories in The FA Cup, three-time winners Woking crashed out of The FA Trophy and holders Manchester United won the big derby match in The FA Youth Cup.
Tranmere have made a habit of knocking Premiership sides out of The FA Cup in recent seasons - like West Ham, Everton and Southampton - and they were at it again last night with a 2-1 extra-time win in a Third Round replay at the Reebok. Canadian-born Iain Hume scored a minute into the extra period to set up an away tie at Luton in Round 4.
Northampton, struggling in the bottom half of the Third Division, won 2-1 at First Division Rotherham to earn a glamour tie against Manchester United and revive memories of an extraordinary Fifth Round match at the old County Ground more than 30 years ago. United won 8-2 and George Best, just back from suspension, scored six. Martin Smith notched the Cobblers’ winner last night, nine minutes into the second half.
It was a win that put a massive smile on the face of Town chairman David Cardoza, who said: "I am absolutely delighted for the fans because that is the most amazing support I have seen.
"It was a terrific night and the players were tremendous. They all gave 100 per cent from start to finish and you can't ask for anything more than that.
"But the supporters were amazing and they played a major part in us winning this game. Now bring on Manchester United!"
Skipper Paul Reid said: "To play Manchester United means absolutely everything to us as players.
"As soon as the draw was made there was a big roar in the dressing room and everybody could see what it meant to the fans last night, they were absolutely tremendous. It's going to be a big day for all of us."
"What a night," beamed midfielder Chris Hargreaves. "It was a brilliant night for the supporters and what a change from Torquay on Saturday. We're all happy now and I am so pleased for everybody at the club.
"We've got a magnificent draw to look forward to and I am sure all of the fans will remember this night and we will because we deserved it over the two games."
"It's the dream tie for everyone involved," said experienced defender Ian Sampson.
"It's great for everyone connected with the club – fans and players, and now I'll just have to see if I can get tickets for all the family."
Wolves won through comfortably this time 2-0 after nearly going out at the first attempt at Kidderminster and Accrington Stanley, one of the three surviving non-League "minnows", lost controversially at Colchester to leave just Telford and Scarborough still flying the flag. The other teams to go through last night were Preston, Wimbledon and Third Division Scunthorpe.
Woking, FA Trophy winners three times in the 1990s, were beaten 3-2 at home by Kettering Town in last night’s Third Round replay. Pushing for a Conference play-off spot, Woking were expected to finish the job after forcing a 0-0 draw at Ryman League Kettering at the weekend - but the Trophy specialists were chasing the game after Eliot Paschalis had shot the Poppies into the lead on the half-hour with a superb left-footer into the corner.
Raphael Nade, Woking’s "Man of the Match", equalised with a towering header from Amos Foyewa’s accurate cross on the run early in the second period. Then two long-range free-kicks into the swirling wind proved particularly problematic for Woking’s tall defenders and produced simple close-range goals for Kettering’s Paul Fewings and Brett Solkhon. The home team made a final effort in the four minutes of added time - a fierce Foyewa shot was blocked and Nade slid the ball in to make it 2-3 - but they ran out of time and Poppies now have an interesting tie at Burton.
Cup heroes Telford march on in the Trophy too, more than 2,000 seeing them beat Alfreton 2-0 at home, and there were wins for Arlesey (4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Hayes) and Dagenham & Redbridge (2-1 after extra-time at Crawley).
The Manchester United v Manchester City derby in The FA Youth Cup’s Fourth Round attracted more than 5,000 fans to Old Trafford last night. United, the Cup holders, won 2-0 with a goal in each half from Ramon Calliste and substitute Callum Flanagan. Kasper Schmeichel, son of Peter, played in goal for City.