Chem Campbell saved Reading’s blushes as he helped engineer a comeback 5-3 win over Harborough Town in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup.
The Royals, in League One, trailed their step seven opponents 2-1 at the break, but two goals in six second-half minutes around the hour turned the tie on its head.
But after Abraham Kanu saw red with 15 minutes to go, Kai Tonge levelled for the visitors, only for Campbell to wrap up the tie in extra-time and send Reading into the third round draw.
Harborough, who are currently in 18th in the Southern Football League Premier Division Central, made a mockery of the gap between the two sides as they broke the deadlock on 19 minutes, Freddie Robinson heading home a corner.
And even after Reading equalised immediately through Mamadi Camara, they kept coming, with Riley O’Sullivan restoring their advantage in a spell of three goals in four minutes.
They maintained that advantage through to the break and beyond, only for Charlie Savage, the son of Leicester legend Robbie, to curl home an equaliser.
Akande then punished Harborough from close range after they were slow to clear their lines, giving Reading the lead for the first time.
Kanu’s second yellow opened the door for Harborough once more, and the Bees took full advantage as Tonge equalised with four minutes to go in normal time.
While momentum was on the side of the underdogs, the superior fitness of the League One side told, with Campbell scoring twice in four minutes to take the game away from Harborough.
An incredible run 💛@HarbTownFC 👏#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Tj6kKVGYwK
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 1, 2024
In similar fashion, Kettering Town, also from the Southern Football League Premier Division Central, were denied a stunning upset by 38-year-old Billy Sharp as Doncaster Rovers came from a goal down to beat the Poppies 2-1 after extra-time.
Despite three divisions separating the sides, it was Kettering who took a deserved lead into the half-time break, Isiah Noel-Williams putting them in front with a low strike from the edge of the box.
Doncaster, currently fourth in League Two, trailed heading into the final quarter of an hour, before Sharp levelled, and it was the veteran striker who did it again in extra-time to send Rovers into the third round.
It was not all disappointment for the non-league sides on Sunday though, with Tamworth getting the better of Burton Albion in a shootout.
After neither side could break the deadlock in 90 minutes, Burton hit the front through Mason Bennett two minutes into extra-time.
Ronan Maher responded immediately as he pounced to knock home a rebound and level the tie.
Jasbir Singh was the hero for the Lambs, saving Danilo Orsi’s opening penalty before also saving Ben Whitfield’s effort. Haydn Hollis then stepped up to send his side through 4-3 on penalties.
Jas Singh 🐐@tamworthfc#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/tyTBr7j5QM
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 1, 2024
In a battle between a pair of League One sides, Steve Bruce’s former club Birmingham City proved too strong for his current side Blackpool, winning 2-1.
Lyndon Dykes opened the scoring for the Blues, with Lukas Jutkiewicz extending the lead with just 24 minutes gone.
And while Jordan Rhodes pulled a goal back for the home side in the second half, they were not able to fashion an equaliser.
In the final game of the day, Bromley came from behind to knock out Solihull Moors 2-1.
Conor Wilkinson had given National League side Solihull the lead in the clash, which was a repeat of last year's National League play-off final, but Omar Sowunmi hit straight back for Bromley.
And they secured their place in the third round for the first time thanks to Danny Imray's strike just before the hour.
