Tamworth

1-1

Stoke City

Jackson 42

 

Gallagher 80


The FA Cup
Third Round Replay
The Lamb Ground
Tuesday 17 January 2006
Winning clubs will receive £40,000





Championship outfit Stoke City avoided the embarrassment of going out of The FA Cup to non-league opposition with a penalty shoot out victory at Conference Tamworth tonight.

After the match finished 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes, the tie needed spot kicks when there were no more goals in extra time.

Goalkeeper Steve Simonsen, who saved two spot kicks, and Carl Hoefkens who calmly slotted the winner were the heroes, although Tamworth will take the plaudits for their brave performance.

After a scrappy opening 20 minutes where chances were few and far between, Stoke appeared to take charge as Luke Chadwick and Paul Gallagher forced themselves into goal scoring positions.

However, Gallagher failed to hit the mark with a header and a low shot on 26 and 37 minutes and Chadwick saw one shot blocked and another tipped onto the crossbar.

Tamworth, who had already beaten Bournemouth and Hartlepool in previous rounds, weren’t overawed and after going close with a Nathan Jackson half-volley, they took the lead just before the break.

Michael Duberry’s clearance was charged down by Carl Heggs and with goalkeeper Simonsen needing to close down the threat, the ball was chipped across goal to the unmarked Jackson who made no mistake from five yards out.

Stoke boss Johan Boskamp made two changes at the interval with Peter Kopteff replacing Chadwick and Junior replacing David Brammer.

But this made little difference to the pattern of play as Tamworth defended in numbers and Stoke carried on missing the few chances they did create. Gallagher was once again the main threat, although he was also the main offender, as he fired over on 57 minutes before wasting a great chance four minutes later.

Following a goal-mouth scramble, the man on loan from Blackburn Rovers took too much time over a close range shot allowing Adie Smith to block.

When Marlon Broomes' shot bounced off the post and back into the arms of Tamworth keeper Scott Bevan, the visiting fans feared the worst.

But Gallagher finally gave them something to cheer when he eventually got his name on the score sheet nine minutes from time when his overhead kick from three yards levelled the tie at one-a-piece.

There were no goals in a tight extra time period, meaning spot kicks were needed to decide who would play host to Walsall in the Fourth Round.

Eddie Anaclet missed for Tamworth but Kevin Harper saw his spot kick for Stoke also saved meaning sudden death. Touhy failed with Tamworth’s first attempt allowing Hoefkens his moment of glory.

Tamworth: Bevan, Touhy, Smith, Redmile, Anaclet, Wright (Turner 66), Melton (Storer 83), Ward (Stamps 116), Bampton, Heggs, Jackson.
Subs Not Used: Cooper, Gayle.

Stoke: Simonsen, Henry, Hoefkens, Duberry, Broomes (Rooney 80), Chadwick (Kopteff 45), Brammer (Junior 45), Harper, Buxton, Gallagher, Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: Sweeney, Duggan.

Referee: Phil Joslin

Attendance: 3,812